BETT Show 2010 success - Case Study



Out with the old…

Mike Ruddell is an IT Technician for Westcliff High School for Boys, a Foundation Grammar School and Humanities College based in Essex.  Ruddell develops and maintains the high level of ICT facilities within the school.   Earlier this year he was tasked with completely replacing a number of old computers and his first stop was the BETT Show to see what was on offer.

Try before you buy

Ruddell explains, “Previous suppliers had been fine in the past, but we were looking for an all round package deal that offered great service as well as competitive price and good quality products.  I’d seen Viglen computers before at South East Essex College, and was impressed enough to seek them out at the show.”

A veteran of the BETT Show, Viglen had a number of show deals on computer packages, which included the 17” and 19” range of Hard Glass displays which had a lasting effect on Ruddell.  The displays integrate toughened safety glass behind the bezel that offers 8H hardness.  Not only is it capable of withstanding some very hard impacts to the monitors, it also still looks modern and fits in most ICT classrooms, unlike some retro-fitted displays.

Viglen’s reputation for outstanding service meant that Ruddell could try out the display with no obligation to purchase and after the show they supplied an evaluation unit to the school.  Ruddell says, “This was excellent for us – there is nothing worse than buying a system online, taking the time to install it only to find that it doesn’t meet your demands. Here we were able to make sure it fit within our network and put it through its paces.  There was no pressure from Viglen either, they were just on hand to help iron out any problems we may have experienced.”

The decision to buy was based on high recommendations from Ruddell to the Headmaster, but the fact that he was able to back this up with clear evidence of performance from the evaluation unit made the decision much easier.

Great expectations met

One month on and Westcliff High School for Boys refurbished IT Rooms are buzzing with the latest hardware.  The new computers, including the Hard Glass displays were installed and running hassle free, thanks to the experience of the team at Viglen and their knowledge of the products and what fitted with the existing systems at the school.  Viglen even provided support for firmware issues and helped ensure that all other systems were supported.

Ruddell is extremely happy with the performance of the displays, saying “They have definitely been ‘tested’.  I can see finger marks where the more curious students have poked at the screen, but I’m confident that it is never going to be an issue!  They are better than our old screens even with the protective glass; so clear that visibility has improved and the slight shine adds colour depth.”

iiyama Hard Glass displays are available in 17” and 19” screen sizes and also a Height Adjust model.  The powerful features include fast 5ms response time, 1000:1 contrast ratio, Analogue and DVI inputs and are Energy Star® rated for low power consumption for long-term cost and energy saving benefits.

The Future

Westcliff High School for Boys prides itself on offering the best facilities as possible for its students although all schools have budgets.  By working closely with experienced suppliers such as Viglen, who know the industry requirements and choose to sell products that tick all the boxes that the education market has, Westcliff can continue to provide this level of service.

There are more systems to replace and with the longevity of the iiyama displays it means that long term cost savings are also evident – the robustness and durability of the displays means they needn’t be replaced in a few years when the computers will have to be.

For more information on the range of Award Winning iiyama monitors visit www.iiyama.co.uk or www.viglen.co.uk.