14 DAY TRIAL // We've written about a great many monitors and TVs over the years, but they're not the only sort of LCD that display makers like to make and release. Case in point, ViewSonic has formally launched a pair of digital signage panels.
Not that they're exclusively compatible with such applications. Ultimately, an LCD is an LCD, no matter its intended purpose, so if you can think of something else you can use the things, no one's stopping you.
Still, the size of 55 inches and 65 inches exhibited by the CDE5500-L and CDE6500-L commercial displays are intended for in-store displays and advertising for a reason.
They're big, they are bright, they have energy-efficient image and backlighting technology, and they can play files directly from a USB device.
Which is to say, you don't need to hook them up to a computer in order to use them. Just plug a flash drive or other external storage unit and voila! Automated playback of films, music, photo slide shows, etc.
Needless to say, the displays have storage space of their own, on which a media player is installed. The independent playback function wouldn't be possible otherwise.
You can still play things normally on them of course, as ViewSonic did not neglect to outfit the CDE5500-L and CDE6500-L commercial displays with HDMI. In fact, the company tossed in CEC pass-through, to provide easy management and control of multiple-display installations.
Furthermore, customers may be glad to hear that the displays possess RS232 ports with IR pass-through too.
Everything is encased inside frames that look pretty normal, all told, although the CDE5500-L and CDE6500-L do have pretty slim, symmetrical bezels, as well as support for VESA wall mounts.
If they're going to be used for wall advertising and the like, it would be awkward if there wasn't an easy way to, well, actually mount them on said walls or windows.
The ViewSonic CDE5500-L should be up for sale at $1,999 / €1,999 and the CDE6500-L priced at $3,199 / €3,199. In addition to window shopping, they'll do well in menu boards, classrooms, and even as medical displays.
"By eliminating the need for an external PC or media player, our new CDE5500-L and CDE6500-L not only deliver an easy-to-use, all-in-one digital signage solution, but does so at a price point not seen before for this level of quality and operational durability," said Gene Ornstead, director of product marketing at ViewSonic Corp.
"With commercial customers looking for easy to setup, cost-effective large format displays, these new CDE commercial displays deliver amazing performance with greater reliability than consumer TVs."