Choosing hardware for digital signage isn’t always a piece of cake for systems integrators. With numerous manufacturers out there and all the configuration options available, making a quick decision seems impossible.
To help you with your decision-making process, we took five of our products and analyzed them against some common decision-making factors when choosing hardware for digital signage:
- CMS
- Number of displays
- Computing power
- Use cases
In addition to evaluating the media player’s capabilities, it’s also important to consider the manufacturer’s strengths. Yes, there are several hardware options, but many manufacturers don’t have the product to ship. Yes, there are plenty of digital signage vendors, but how many can guarantee the technical support and the warranty program you need as a system integrator?
Hardware for Digital Signage: the chosen ones
Here’s the list of Seneca digital signage products that will help you complete almost any project, confirming why they are “The Right Product for the Job.” Before starting, it’s important to highlight two key attributes available on any Seneca device:
- A reliable and secure Operating System. All our digital signage products operate on Windows 10 IoT LTSC. To learn more about why this aspect matters, read our whitepaper, “Finding the Right OS for Digital Signage.”
- Compatibility with the leading CMS of the industry. Our hardware has been validated to work smoothly with the most recognized digital signage Content Management Systems. Visit our Digital Signage Partners page to learn more about our setup tool Maestro.
First, we’ll focus on the media players, and second, we’ll review the Seneca Video Wall Controller.
The media players we’ll describe below excel in use cases such as:
- Digital signage
- Kiosks
- IoT edge applications.
On the other hand, the Video Wall Controller is recommended for applications such as:
- Video walls
- Security Operations Centers (SOCs)
- Projection mapping
Element Fe4-i3. Powerful performance for the most pressing environments
Choose this media player when you need a “rock star.” This is the most sought-after media player in the product line.
This Element can push video to up to four displays and comes with a GPIO header, enabling the device to exchange data with other IoT devices, such as sensors and relays.
Powered by the Intel® Core™ i3 processor, it offers a fanless chassis and external power, resulting in a small form factor.
It also provides an optional 4G/LTE connectivity, achieved through an embedded Verizon Wireless sim card, ready to be activated in minutes.
Pick this media player for projects on a 1:1 ratio (one display per media player.) Powered by the Intel Celeron® N4500 processor, the HDSv4 provides a small form factor and can deliver reliable performance in rugged environments.
One key differentiator is the HDsV4 swap warranty program. If an HDsV4 stops working, you’ll get a new one. Just send the defective unit back.
Element Fe2-C. More Punch with Added IoT Capabilities
Go with this media player when your customers are looking for extra punch without breaking the bank. This unit is powered by the Celeron® N6211 processor.
This unit can push video to two displays and comes with a GPIO header, which enables the device to exchange data with other IoT devices, such as sensors and relays.
The Celeron® Element offers a fanless chassis and external power, resulting in a small form factor, which proves to be useful for applications with reduced space to fit the media player.
Element Ae4-i7. High computing power for the most compelling content
Choose this new media player when your digital signage project demands a powerhouse. This unit delivers top performance for the most demanding applications, thanks to its Intel® Core™ i7 processor. It also comes with an actively cooled chassis with external power.
The Element i7 can push video to up to four displays. Use its GPIO header to exchange data with other IoT devices, such as sensors and relays.
It also provides an optional 4G/LTE connectivity, achieved through an embedded Verizon Wireless sim card, ready to be activated in minutes.
Seneca’s Video Wall Controller. Unbeatable performance. Small Form Factor
Go with Seneca’s Video Wall Controller series when your video wall project requires hardware capable of reproducing the most compelling video content with a small form factor. It is also compatible with the leading CMS in the industry via our Maestro tool.
The VWC series can push the most compelling video to up to eight displays (VWC Mini) and up to 16 screens (VWC Plus), and they can be powered by i5, i7, or i9 processors.
Download the VWC Family Spec. Sheet
At this point, you may be wondering why we only talked about Seneca hardware. We certainly know that there are great brands out there, but Seneca ensures benefits such as:
- Stock availability. Thanks to our relationship with Arrow Electronics, our supply chain is robust, and we always have access to the components we need to build the hardware our customers need.
- Enterprise-grade components. We only use the components capable of delivering unbeatable performance in the most demanding environments.
- Award-winning customer service. In case of questions or comments, a digital signage expert will pick up the phone on the other end of the line, addressing issues before they become problems.
- Committed engineering team. We work with our partners to ensure that our customers pick the right hardware for their needs and that it performs as expected.
If you have comments or questions, contact us now.