Hi Jim,
As always, the answer is 'it depends'.
ELO are the best all-round screens for shops and museums, they are designed for unattended public use, so rugged, and generally the cables can be secured behind screw-down panels and the buttons locked out (unless the kids have read the manual on how to unlock them). Importantly, because they are designed for people like us to build in to things the design doesn't change every few months, so if one does need replacing in a year or two, the chances are you can still buy one that fits in the same aperture. I can't fault their service either.
They do a very smart desktop/VESA monitor, but that does still have a couple of vulnerabilities to the determined British yob.
If protection is important you can buy an ELO 'open frame' monitor that is designed to be built into a panel or enclosure. Then everything except the touch screen itself is out of reach.
A smart new enclosure is due to be released very soon that will allow you to take one of those 'open frame' screens, lock it inside and then mount the whole assembly using a standard VESA mount or hole pattern. Then everything is secure.
One thing to note is that open frame screens don't have built-in speakers. Although the ones built in to the desktop screens are a bit too feeble to use in busy places anyway.
If budget is an issue Iiyama are an up and coming alternative to ELO, but they are really more consumer-focused. They would be my second choice. (There is quite a reasonable rationale that says pay half as much and just expect to replace it more often).
All-in-one machines are great if you want the portability and convenience of a single box, say for outreach. However, you have the disadvantage that if the screen fails or the PC runs out of steam you are likely to end up replacing the entire unit rather than just upgrading or replacing one component. So the investment protection isn't as good as separate components. You tend to get less bang for your buck too.
The new Dell all-in-ones are good value and quite rugged, we can recommend them where they are going to be attended by or used by responsible people. Things like buttons, cables and the DVD drive are all vulnerable unless you take steps to protect them, so these machines aren't so suitable for unattended locations.
ELO also do all-in-ones that are intended for public use. They are more expensive than the Dells but are more rugged and better protected. They do still have some accessible buttons and covers though. We ended up designing a slim metal cover to protect those.
A final consideration might be theft, the least desirable (and most difficult) touch screens to steal are the open frame ones.
I hope this helps, please don't hesitate to ask if I you want to know more.
Kind regards,
Dave.
David Slater,
Managing Director.
InfoAktiv Limited.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: 18 February 2016 15:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MCG] In gallery touchscreen hardware
Hi All
Can anyone recommend a company / brand of touchscreen displays for usage in gallery (hardware not what’s on it).
Thanks!
Jim
—
www.museumnext.com<http://www.museumnext.com>
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