A critical piece to the conference center broadcast & streaming media architecture (and studio build out) will be the ability to switch between feeds (SD and HD) in addition to HD broadcasts that feature custom “keyed in” backdrops from the green screen studio. Do you think I am asking for too much when I ask for a 90 day demo? Tell me what you think!
[polldaddy poll=1011760]
I requested demos of several products, and here is what went down:
Panasonic has a live HD switcher, however I passed through their exhibit 17 times and not once did anyone ask me if I needed help, nor was there any literature readily available at their booth – since this was the most ‘cost friendly’ solution, I can’t blame the sales folk for pushing the more expensive units on the floor.
Ross Video was exhibiting an HD switcher they premiered at IBC 2008 with real time color key function that would have allowed us to insert our custom backdrops with spill tolerance that is alleged to offer unsurpassed quality; however, not available to ship until November, they also were opposed to the prospect of allowing me to demo the product and assured me, that if they were ready to ship me one, I would be happy with it, but that they did not need me to demo their product because it has already been perfected by them.
SONY offers the ANYCAST with a one week demo; however it is still built on a laptop that may be a liability when working with real-time key function in HD – I will take the week demo and will post results on this blog.
The third and most promising of the HD switcher contenders was the Northeast Regional manager at Broadcast pix that sat down with me for a demo and agreed to a short term, in studio demo. I will post results on the site when i get the swithcer in, in the meantime…
My favorite option came from AMV (All Mobile Video) – they offer equipment rentals here in NYC and have many of the products (or equivalents) that we can rent and “try” before we buy. This is admittedly the best option since we can swap out several switchers at a time and get through several trials quickly, efficiently and offer all their available switches for rental without incurring any direct expense.
Do you think if we are going to make a $100,000 investment we should be able to try the product before we buy it? Participate in our poll:
Great feedback – from LinkedIn:
Harold Shapiro wrote:
Technology companies definitely have an obligation to allow test drives, especially if the solution represents a large investment of money and time by the acquiring entity. If a vendor were not willing to prove their technology before a purchase, then I would be skeptical of that technology’s abilities to perform satisfactorily. As a technology architect for many years in the entertainment industry, I was responsible for several new technology acquisitions. The methodology utilized achieved 100% success, primarily because we insisted on doing proof of concepts (POC’s) with the vendors before we would commit to make any purchases. A new technology may very well be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but if it will not work once it is integrated into an existing and mature IT environment, then it is worthless.
Hi Nico – I would be interested in hearing how things finally worked out. Some observations and ideas:
1. Panasonic – This is poor booth management. A well run booth will greet every prospect, answer questions and provide follow up. The only difference in the way visitors are handled are that show personnel will wind up the conversation after 2 minutes for a tire kicker and continue longer for serious prospects.
2. Harold’s comment – Possible for buyers with leverage such as major media companies, MSOs, telcos, large enterprise, etc., but unlikely otherwise. Hardware companies build to order as much as possible, so providing free trials means they are ordering parts they will have to pay for regardless of whether an order comes through. Software companies are much more likely to provide a free trial because their manufacturing and inventory costs are essentially zero.
3. With the collapse in sales across the board this fall you may find (or already have found) that attitudes have softened to letting you do a free trial. I think 90 days is longer than you need to determine if something works. Can you swing 30? A 90 day trial may look more like vendor financing from the vendor’s perspective. If all else fails you may propose a provisional PO, where the vendor let’s you try the gear for 30 days and if you keep it beyond that point you’ve committed to buy.