With the need to diversify educational models,more and more schools are utilizing interactive whiteboards to enhance student engagement and interactivity.You may have heard of Promethean. Promethean Board is an established brand that specializes in developing interactive teaching tools. From the original interactive whiteboards to modern multifunctional touchscreens, it is dedicated to improving teaching effectiveness and learning experience. And as opposed to such an established brand, NearHub Board may be able to bring a new experience to education.
Promethean Board and NearHub Board are both interactive whiteboards that greatly assist in the classroom. Whether it's mirroring content, annotating on real-time whiteboard, or sharing a canvas from any device, they make it easy for teachers and students to teach anytime, anywhere. Besides,they have their own strengths in different areas. We've chosen hot products from Promethean Board and NearHub Board, the ActivPanel 9 and The NearHub Board S55, and in this blog post, we'll compare them point-by-point on a number of fronts, including hardware, software, price, and customer support.
NearHub Whiteboard
NearHub Board S55 is an all-in-one huddle room solution in modern classrooms and meeting rooms designed to enhance learning and interactivity. It transcends the limitations of traditional whiteboards by integrating a projector, computer, whiteboard, display, TV, monitor, camera, and more into a single device. With exceptional cost-effectiveness, it is the ideal choice for remote education and remote work.
Hardware Comparison of ActivPanel 9 and NearHub Board S55
Both ActivPanel 9 and NearHub Board S55 are interactive whiteboards that provide an immersive and engaging teaching and learning experience. I will analyze below the main differences between the two in terms of hardware from the perspective of expertise evaluation.
Common Hardware Comparison
CPU and Storage: The NearHub Board S55 is powered by an 8-Core Processor and features 8GB RAM and 64GB flash storage(For more storage space, choose the NearHub Board S65 and the NearHub Board S75.), while the ActivPanel 9 is powered by a 4-Core Processor and features 4GB RAM and 32GB flash storage. The NearHub Board S55 has a more powerful CPU and chip technology than the ActivPanel 9. It facilitates better compatibility with the system and other software,which means it runs more consistently when you need to open multiple programs at the same time, such as presentations and video conferencing software.
System: The Promethean Board runs on the ActivPanel OS, while the NearHub Board runs on NearHubOS Based on Android 11.0. The two boards run on different operating systems, but both can be made compatible with multiple systems like Windows, macOS, or various cloud-based platforms. Not to be ignored, NearHub also has an open ecosystem, which gives developers the freedom to develop, invent, and build products, applications, and solutions that lead to valuable work. It also allows everyone in the community to participate in the development process. It is an environment that inspires creativity.
Touchpoints: The ActivPanel 9 features a 65-inch 4K UHD display with 20 points of touch sensitivity, while NearHub Board S55 features a 55-inch 4K UHD display with 20 points of touch sensitivity(For more touchpoints and larger screen, choose the NearHub Board S65 and the NearHub Board S75.). This means both of them are sensitive to touch, allowing multiple users to interact with the board at once without any lag or delay. When teachers need students to participate in class collaboration, they can have several students interact with the whiteboard at the same time.
Accessories: NearHub Board S55 comes with a built-in 8MP AI camera, built-in 24-element MEMS microphone array, and speaker system, making it easy for users to collaborate and communicate during presentations for free. However, the ActivPanel 9 requires the additional purchase of an external camera and microphone system, which makes for more options but not enough portability. When you need to move an interactive whiteboard to another space, for example, too many and too fragmented devices may cause you to leave one behind while moving, whereas an all-in-one interactive whiteboard doesn't need to worry about that.
Unique hardware highlights
Promethean Board - Customizable User Interface: The panel allows for a personalized interface, making it easier for educators and users to access frequently used tools and resources.You can access your customized settings, shortcuts, and layouts on each Promethean Board you sign into. Teachers can adjust the settings at any time according to specific needs and flexibly respond to different teaching or presentation scenarios.
NearHub board - OPS Support and AP WiFi: The biggest advantage of NearHub is that it has both OPS Support and AP WiFi. Not only does it have a strong open ecosystem for developers, which provides a wide range of support services for developers to develop, invent, and build products, applications, and solutions that lead to valuable work freely, but also equipped with AP Wi-Fi for fast multi-party collaboration.
Some educational software has different functions in windows system and android system. The NearHub Board’s OPS Support allows teachers to connect their own computer plug-ins, such as windows, to the interactive whiteboard. At this point, it is equivalent to having a dual system. This not only supports a wide range of educational software, but also ensures that the system runs stably. At the same time, the NearHub Board come with a hotspot, so even if the school is not equipped with a network, or the network is not smooth, the NearHub Smartboard can still run freely.
|
Hardware |
NearHub Board S55 |
The ActivPanel 9 |
|
CPU |
8-Core Contex ARM |
4-Core Cortex ARM |
|
Storage |
8GB DDR4 + 64GB Storage |
4GB RAM + 32GB Storage |
|
Touchpoints |
20 |
20 |
|
OPS-Support |
√ |
× |
|
AP-WiFi |
√ |
× |
|
Camera |
Built-in AI Camara |
Extra Cost |
|
Microphone |
Built-in (Price Included) 24-element MEMS microphone array |
Extra Cost |
Software Comparison of Promethean Board and NearHub Board
As for software, both Promethean Board and NearHub Board have excellent performance,while they have different focuses. The following is a comparative analysis of Promethean Board and NearHub Board in terms of software compatibility, cloud storage and real-time collaboration, applicable conferencing software, and Multifunctional screen operation.
software compatibility
Both the Promethean Board and NearHub Board come with their own proprietary software platforms. Promethean Board's main software platform is ActivInspire, designed for interactive teaching and learning. It’s rich built-in educational resources and templates support teaching of a wide range of subjects. It is compatible with other popular educational and presentation software, such as Microsoft Office and some online platforms.
On top of supporting interactive teaching and learning, NearHub Board uses NearHubOS to facilitate distance learning and conferencing. It adapts to a wide range of conferencing, teaching software and even niche software, allowing users to share content, video conference and collaborate in real time across multiple devices. The interface is designed to be simple and easy to use for teachers and students of all ages.
cloud storage and real-time collaboration
Collaboration is the primary use of these whiteboards, and both products support cloud storage and screen share. Promethean screen share can shares your ActivPanel screen with others using the Promethean Desktop App. It can be integrated with third-party applications such as Google Play and ActivInspire and ClassFlow software and so on.
The NearHub whiteboard software, on the other hand, offers similar collaborative features like screen sharing and document annotation. It integrates with third-party apps such as Google Drive, Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Unlike Promethean software, which require third-party software to enable access to other devices to operate the whiteboard, NearHub whiteboard support real-time whiteboard operations directly from any device. Thus NearHub whiteboard software is able to help users to iterate and update their whiteboard software more directly and quickly, as well as provide more after-sales service.
Multifunctional screen operation
Split-screen Operation: The NearHub whiteboard software has a unique feature - split screen. When you need to show the content of two software or websites on the screen at the same time, it can fulfill your needs. NearHub whiteboard software is able to easily realize split-screen operation, allowing two screens of different applications to run simultaneously, as well as supporting four-screen collaboration.
Annotation: The Promethean whiteboard software and NearHub whiteboard software both support annotations, allowing you to freely annotate and mark up any online or local documents, websites and third-party applications, significantly improving the efficiency of office collaboration and making communication more timely.
I will list a table to show the software features：
|
Software |
NearHub Board S55 |
The ActivPanel 9 |
|
System |
NearHub OS (Android 11.0) (Open Eco-system) |
ActivPanel OS |
|
Cloud Based Whiteboard |
√ |
√ |
|
Realtime Whiteboard from Any Device |
√ |
× |
|
3rd Party APP |
NearHub Store & Google Play |
Google Play and ActivInspire and ClassFlow software |
|
Video Conferencing Software |
Zoom, GoToMeeting, Google Meet, Cisco Webex, Skype, Skype for Business, Tercent Meeting |
Extra Cost |
|
Simultaneous App Usage |
√ |
× |
|
Splitscreen |
√ |
× |
|
Annotation |
√ |
√ |
Overall, there is little difference between the two in terms of software, with similar functionality and software features. However, Promethean whiteboard software focuses more on traditional teaching tools and resources, and is suitable for lower grades and other user groups that require a fixed classroom. NearHub whiteboard software, on the other hand, has a combination of online collaboration and cloud-based features, which makes it suitable not only for fixed classrooms, but also for mobile classrooms, such as open lectures at universities.
Price Comparison
The NearHub Board S55 have the product launch price of $3,299, which will change accordingly depending on promotions on the official website or sales platform. The ActivPanel 9 is sold primarily through resellers, and it costs around $3,049. Compared with the direct sales model of NearHub Board, the price set by resellers may fluctuate,then leading to an increase in the purchase cost. In addition, the after-sales service provided by the direct sales model will be more efficient and direct, giving customers a better shopping experience.
As for accessories, there is a big difference between these two. The NearHub Board S55 is equipped with a free built-in camera and microphone system, and you only need to spend an additional $499 on the stand to put together an entire smart whiteboard device. And the stand is having a limited time freebie recent time. If you choose to purchase the ActivPanel 9, you will need to spend extra money for the Promethean Mobile Stand,the external camera, ActivCam, and microphone, ActivSound Bar. Comparing the prices of the two in total, the NearHub Board S55 is more affordable and economical.
|
Pricing |
NearHub Board S55 |
The ActivPanel 9 |
|
Board |
From $3,299 |
From $3,049 |
|
Accessories |
Free Built-in Camera & Mics $499 Stand |
Camera & Mics at extra cost $500 Stand |
How does Remote cloud whiteboarding & cloud storage work on each display?
Both Promethean Board and NearHub Board support remote cloud whiteboards and cloud storage through their respective software platforms. With these features, users can collaborate on documents or projects in real time, no matter where they are. However, NearHub whiteboard software focuses more on cloud collaboration and conferencing than Promethean whiteboard software, while Promethean places more emphasis on using it in conjunction with native software such as ActivInspire.
NearHub Collaboration Whiteboard
NearHub Board focuses more on the development and utilization of remote collaborative whiteboards and cloud storage features, and here is a more specific introduction to NearHub Board.
The NearHub Board S55 is a highly advanced whiteboarding solution that offers users an intuitive and user-friendly platform for collaboration, ideation, and presentation. One of the key features of the NearHub Board S55 is its advanced whiteboarding capabilities. Users can easily draw, write, and annotate on the board using their fingers or a stylus, making it ideal for brainstorming sessions and collaborative work. The board also supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to contribute to the same document simultaneously.
In addition to whiteboard functionality, the NearHub Board S55 offers a range of other advanced features. It integrates with a variety of software platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Webex, making it easy to share content and collaborate with remote teams. It adapts to a wide range of third-party software, including some niche programs. Its brush enables low latency, and its built-in speaker and microphone, as well as HDMI and USB connectivity, make it easy to connect to other devices and present content from a variety of sources.
Customer Support
Customer support is an essential aspect of any product or service, and both Promethean Board and NearHub Board offer excellent customer support. Both companies provide online documentation, tutorials, and FAQs to help users troubleshoot common issues. They also offer email and phone support during business hours. Since Nearhub is a direct model, it will be more time efficient in dealing with after-sales issues.
Summarize
In short, both Promethean and NearHub smartboards are equipped with high-performance hardware and multi-touch capabilities for a premium touch experience. They are both suitable for the education sector, providing teaching tools and resources to facilitate learning.
Promethean smartboards are designed with concepts and features that fit the educational environment and support rich teaching resources and interactive tools. It has rich teaching software, such as ActivInspire, and provides a large amount of educational content and templates that are well suited for basic education.
As an All-in-one Smart Board, NearHub smartboard offers convenience, low latency, and compatibility with third-party software and educational software. Its user-friendly interface is easy to use and suitable for students and teachers of all ages, making it not only suitable for basic education, but also able to support higher education, research on fine-tuned subjects, etc. by emphasizing online collaboration and cloud storage.
NearHub is an all-in-one solution for meeting rooms and classrooms. NearHub possesses an interactive digital Board with cutting-edge whiteboard software. By combining your favorite programs with mess-free writing canvas and video conferencing, you can improve your interaction and productivity in the online meeting room or classroom. Besides, NearHub also provides MagicPad S13 to improve digital learning and creativity.
sales@nearhub.us
