The new SMART boards (which is a brand like Kleenex) is actually IFP (Interactive Flat Panel). I work on the sales side of the industry now, but I grew up with, and worked on those SMART boards as my district had them, but they’re technically an interactive board and projector.
Also, if you didn’t know (and mannnnyyyy people in IT/Facilities don’t realize this for some unknown reason) there is major differences between TVs. Specifically consumer and enterprise/commercial grade TVs. Especially around LED/Backlight tested lifetime. Tons of education institutions have IT departments just buying off the shelf TVs. Which is horrifying for the network/unmanaged aspect alone…
SMART still has a bit of market control (last I looked they made up like 10% of IFP market), but they basically cost a fortune to buy (beyond competition) and then they still have a subscription on top of that.
I was a SysAdmin for K-12 so I pushed a lot of device agnostic stuff since I didn’t want more to manage. SMART was basically a major pain since users always wanted their old software installed. It was horrible, and it often required more than just app deployment through SCCM.
Officials with Alberta Education confirmed they finalized the purchase of the SMART Technologies building this month, but that the lease with Kids & Company had been terminated before then. “The purchase of the SMART Technologies building by the Government of Alberta was finalized in April 2023.
They were on the university grounds, so I don’t know where their office is now.
The new SMART boards (which is a brand like Kleenex) is actually IFP (Interactive Flat Panel). I work on the sales side of the industry now, but I grew up with, and worked on those SMART boards as my district had them, but they’re technically an interactive board and projector.
Also, if you didn’t know (and mannnnyyyy people in IT/Facilities don’t realize this for some unknown reason) there is major differences between TVs. Specifically consumer and enterprise/commercial grade TVs. Especially around LED/Backlight tested lifetime. Tons of education institutions have IT departments just buying off the shelf TVs. Which is horrifying for the network/unmanaged aspect alone…
It’s crazy what happened to them, and the market they could have locked down.
They are headquarted in my city, was still kicking around until late last year iirc.
SMART still has a bit of market control (last I looked they made up like 10% of IFP market), but they basically cost a fortune to buy (beyond competition) and then they still have a subscription on top of that.
I was a SysAdmin for K-12 so I pushed a lot of device agnostic stuff since I didn’t want more to manage. SMART was basically a major pain since users always wanted their old software installed. It was horrible, and it often required more than just app deployment through SCCM.
They were on the university grounds, so I don’t know where their office is now.