Video Conferencing Appliance Roundup ... Let's Compare! Yealink MeetingBar A30 and Neat Bar

Video Conferencing Appliances are becoming more and more popular.  The benefits of purchasing an appliance rather than traditional components for your conference room or meeting space come in the form of general cost savings associated with installation and on-going support.  

If you're not aware of video conferencing appliances, here is a quick overview:

1. Appliances are a fully integrated solution, with Camera, Microphones, and Speakers combined within a single "bar" style platform.  Usually mounted below or above the room's displays, these appliances create a single point for all connections.

2. The Computer is built-in.  There is no need for a separate computer for the room's video conferencing platform. The computer is fully integrated into the single device and is based upon the Android operating system.  System updates (OS and application) can be updated automatically or manually - making staying up-to-date easier.

3. The Room Controller is usually a "matched" device.  For almost all the video conferencing appliance makers, they also have a touch-screen room controller that is designed to work seamlessly.  These controllers (for the most part) are bundled with the appliance, or are available as an option.  This can also be a negative, become in some cases, only the matched room controller works with the appliance.

Comparing Appliances is really a matter of matching your needs with the available features and functions.  All will provide the benefit of lowering installation and support costs, now it's a matter of understanding how the features match with your expectations.