Consumer Vs Commercial Players

Commercial and consumer grade players can look very similar; however, there are drastic differences between the two. When comparing a commercial grade product to a consumer grade product, the commercial grade product is better to use in order to run a hassle-free digital signage network. A consumer grade player may be more affordable; however, a commercial grade player provides a more reliable performance. The construction of a commercial grade player is robust and typically has a higher computing performance than consumer grade products. Commercial grade players typically have an extended life cycle, are more reliable, contain powerful components, and better service options, including repair. Commercial grade players often have better quality fans to help cool the unit, allowing for it to run for a long period of time without failing. There are also better warranty options and technical services available with a commercial grade player.

There are a number of reasons you should decide to use commercial media players over consumer media players. Listed below are the following reasons:

1) The material for the consumer grade players are typically made from plastic. Plastic is cheaper to produce, however, overtime the plastic exterior can create problems for your digital signage, such as overheating. The plastic material is sensitive and cannot withstand heat as well as commercial grade players. A majority of commercial grade players are constructed with metal; this is more durable and can last a long duration period without overheating. Using commercial grade players, your digital signage can last for a long duration period without fail.

2) Commercial grade players are typically more robust and sturdy. It can handle damage and harsh environments. For instance, extreme temperature changes or being moved and adjusted frequently. Commercial grade players can handle quite a bit of stress and still play without any problems. Consumer grade players typically cannot withstand a lot of stress and can weaken overtime.

  3) A consumer grade player can be ideal for offices and act as a mini PC for the corporate environments. It often contains common connectors, such as HDMI or DVI and can easily connect to a consumer based display. However, it will not have the appropriate inputs to connect to a commercial grade display. For instance, a majority of consumer grade players do not have an RS232. However, commercial grade players have the above connections, including RS232 and more. In order to accommodate numerous types of network connections, commercial grade screens include all the required PC inputs, serial ports, and legacy parts.

4) Commercial grade players are built to last, and like commercial grade screens, are built with high-quality materials and components. Many top-grade manufacturers will offer a robust warranty program for commercial grade screens, whereas, consumer grade players and screens are not provided with a warranty program.