Finding the right hardware for your business can be a confusing realm of the digital signage industry. Depending on what your objectives are, you’ll hear all sorts of recommendations about the type of equipment you’ll need. This can range from screens to PCs and other forms of media players. In this article, we’ll break down exactly how all these facets come together and what you should look for when selecting your hardware. Want to learn more and try digital signage yourself? Click here to sign up for a free demo, today!
One of the first things people will think of when they start considering digital signage is what kind of screen they will want or use. As with everything, it all comes down to how you plan to use it. For typical digital signage means, such as promoting announcements, calendars, events, and other marketing materials, a 42” LED, LCD, or OLED screen is recommended. The size of these models ensures they are big enough to catch the eye of most pedestrians, but compact enough to fit in most office spaces.
However, perhaps you’re aiming for a bigger, bolder approach with your displays. Through digital signage, you can connect multiple screens at once to display one image to create video walls. If this a route you are considering, you’ll want to invest in 55” screens and possibly even 4k models. No matter what, you’ll want to ensure all your displays are at least full HD, but 4k tends to look better on bigger displays. Ultimately, however, this comes down to preference.
Finally, there are vertical displays. These displays are usually found within kiosks and are meant to serve a specific purpose. For example, many colleges and universities will use vertical displays to provide wayfinding information and tools to visitors. Restaurants such as Mcdonald’s are using touchscreen kiosks to introduce an interactive element to their signage. However, vertical displays are not just restricted to these kiosks. Interactive screens can be purchased and implemented in much of the same way horizontal displays are. You will just have to consider the orientation of your content when streaming to these screens.
When it comes to selecting the PC or player that will stream your content, there are countless options. While all of these pieces of hardware are capable of streaming content, some come with additional features that give you some added flexibility. Below, we detail our top choices.