In today’s office environments, meeting room schedule displays are becoming more common as companies look for ways to manage their meeting spaces more efficiently. These digital displays show information about a meeting room’s availability, who has reserved it, and when the next meeting is scheduled. They help prevent scheduling conflicts, reduce frustration, and improve time management.
To set up meeting room displays, it’s important to choose the right hardware. This includes the screens that display the information, the mounting options, and the software compatibility. In this article, we’ll cover some of the best hardware options for meeting room schedule displays, looking at their features, pros, and cons to help you decide what’s best for your office.
1. Tablets as Meeting Room Displays
Tablets are one of the most popular choices for meeting room displays. Many businesses use tablets because they are compact, affordable, and versatile. Tablets can be mounted outside the meeting room and display real-time scheduling information.
Some of the popular tablets used for this purpose include:
- iPads: Apple’s iPads are a common choice for meeting room displays because they have great screen quality, are reliable and durable. They also have a sleek design that looks good in any office setting. Visit this documentation page for instructions on running Roombelt on iPad.
- Android tablets: There are thousands of available Android devices and Roombelt will work just fine on all of them, except of the cheapest ones (from our experience the low-budget devices tend to have performance and memory issues when running for an extended period of time). See our documentation for details.
Pros of Tablets:
- Easy to set up and mount
- Wide range of price points
- Works with most room scheduling software
- Touchscreen capability makes it easy to interact with the display
Cons of Tablets:
- Battery needs to be recharged unless always plugged in
- Limited size options compared to larger dedicated displays
2. Dedicated Meeting Room Displays
Dedicated meeting room displays are specifically designed for this purpose, unlike tablets, which are more general-purpose. These displays are often used in large offices or corporate environments where more advanced features and durability are needed.
Some of the most common brands include:
- Philips 10BDL4151T/00: a 10-inch touch display designed for meeting room scheduling, featuring an Android OS for easy integration with apps. Its durable build and versatile mounting options make it ideal for compact spaces like office doorways or information kiosks. Roombelt has a native integration for this device as documented here.
- Qbic TD-1060: a 10.1-inch touch display designed for smart meeting room management, offering a sleek, compact design with easy integration into scheduling systems. It features PoE (Power over Ethernet) for simple installation and reliable performance, making it an efficient solution for professional environments. For instructions on running Roombelt on Qbic devices visit product documentation.
Pros of Dedicated Displays:
- Designed specifically for meeting room management
- Long-lasting and durable
- Some models offer advanced features like LED lights
Cons of Dedicated Displays:
- More expensive than using tablets
- Less flexibility for other uses outside of displaying room schedules
3. Raspberry Pi-Powered Displays
For those looking for a custom, budget-friendly solution, Raspberry Pi offers a flexible and affordable way to create meeting room displays. A Raspberry Pi is a small, low-cost computer that can be connected to a screen to display room schedules using open-source software or third-party applications. This approach gives offices the freedom to customize their displays and features, making it perfect for tech-savvy teams or those on a tight budget.
Some components you’ll need include:
- A Raspberry Pi (usually a Raspberry Pi 4)
- A compatible touchscreen or monitor
- Software, such as Roombelt, which can display meeting schedule.
Pros of Raspberry Pi Displays:
- Very affordable compared to commercial displays
- Fully customizable in terms of design and software
- Low power consumption
Cons of Raspberry Pi Displays:
- Requires some technical know-how to set up and maintain
- May lack the sleek, professional look of commercial displays
- Limited support compared to ready-made, dedicated solutions
4. E-Ink Displays
For offices that want a simple, energy-efficient solution, e-ink displays are a good choice. These displays are similar to the screens used in e-readers like the Kindle. They don’t use much power, so they can be battery-operated for long periods of time without needing to be recharged. E-ink displays also work well in both bright and dim environments, making them easy to read no matter where they’re placed.
- Joan Displays: Joan offers e-ink displays that are lightweight, wireless, and easy to mount. They’re perfect for offices that need a clean, minimalist look while keeping energy usage low.
Pros of E-Ink Displays:
- Extremely energy efficient
- Can be mounted without worrying about power cables
Cons of E-Ink Displays:
- No color display (usually black and white)
- Limited in terms of interactive features
- Can be more expensive than basic tablet solutions
Conclusion
Choosing the best hardware for your meeting room schedule displays depends on your office’s needs, budget, and how much functionality you want.
Tablets are a versatile, affordable option that work for many businesses, while dedicated meeting room displays offer advanced features and durability. E-ink devices provide an eco-friendly, minimalist option. Raspberry Pi-powered displays provide a budget-friendly, customizable solution for tech-savvy teams.
Whichever device you choose, it will need to run some kind of software. You might want to take a look at Roombelt—it's a reliable and affordable option used by many companies worldwide.