How to Arrange Your Boardroom Television Setup

Choosing how to arrange your boardroom television setup can be a daunting task. We’ve just finished kitting out our own studio, and would like to share our research and suggestions here. Below are five different ways you can arrange your boardroom television setup.

appletv-airparrot1) Apple TV + AirParrot

Apple’s AirPlay allows you to wirelessly connect your Mac, iPhone, or iPad to a TV. But don’t fret Windows users; we were stoked to come across AirParrot — a neat app that lets you connect your Windows PC to a TV as if it were an Apple device. Simply connect the Apple TV to your TV using an HDMI cable. With this set up, you can screen mirror direct to the TV using AirPlay (Apple devices) or AirParrot (Windows).

What you will need: An Apple TV, WiFi, an HDMI cable, AirParrot (if you’re going to mirror from Windows PC or old iOS devices), and a high-definition TV.

Estimated price: Minimum of AU$620 for the Apple TV, AirParrot, and a suitably sized TV.

What we think: Apple TV is great because it lets you display content from devices of your choosing. It’s also a nifty wireless option, allowing you to arrange your boardroom television setup without being overcrowded by wires. Here’s a sneaky tip: stick the Apple TV to the back of your television with masking tape so it’s out of sight — no expensive dock needed!

smarttv2) Smart TV

Smart TVs let you access audio, photo, and video files through cloud storage or an external storage device. It also lets you access web browsers. By using the Smart TV’s trusty remote, you should be able to bring up these files without any connection to a computer or tablet.

What you will need: A Smart TV, and WiFi and/or a USB or hard drive. Consider connecting a keyboard and mouse to the Smart TV — much easier than using the remote.

Estimated price: Minimum of AU$500 for a suitably sized Smart TV (eg the 42” Kogan here).

What we think: Smart TVs are one of the cheaper options allowing to arrange your boardroom television setup, but they’re also one of the most limiting. In fact, most Smart TVs can only support basic audio, photo, and video file types — no fancy file types or specialist programs. This means that you’ll, for example, be unable to present a PowerPoint presentation without first converting it into a photo file (eg JPG, PNG) or video file (eg MPG, MP4, DAG). Users unfamiliar with Smart TVs may also find difficulty using the interface in a one-off meeting between you and your clients, or visitors to the boardroom.

3) TV + Computer… all wired in

Go old-school in your choice of boardroom television setup, and connect your computer to a high-definition TV via a cable. Watch as your computer screen mirrors straight to the TV.

cablemessWhat you will need:  A TV, a computer, cable/s to connect it all up.

Estimated price: Minimum of AU$540 for a suitably sized TV and  cables, plus whatever you need to spend on a computer that does the job – lets say $500-$1500.

What we think: We’re not fans of cables — they tend to make a mess of things — but jokes aside, this option is pretty solid, as long as your space will accommodate the computer tower and you’re happy to deal with the wires.  Having a standard computer connected also means that you can use whatever programs you like for presentations, so this option is one of the best for users that need maximum flexibility of software.

4) Using a projector + computer

boardroom-projectorAn alternative to the standard television option is to connect a computer to a projector via a VGA/DVI cable or WiFi.

What you will need: A projector that will suit your needs, a permanently connected computer, and an adequate amount of space for both the projector and the computer. A VGA/DVI cable is also needed if your projector doesn’t have WiFi capabilities.

Estimated price: Minimum of AU$1000 for a business projector (eg the BenQ here), and the AU$500-$1500 cost of the computer. Beware of additional installation costs, which can range above and beyond AU$200.

What we think: Projectors look and feel professional, and are ideal for large venues such as lecture theatres or large formal boardrooms. In addition, having a connected computer allows for an increased flexibility in the amount of programs you can use for your boardroom meetings. However, as the most expensive option for arranging your boardroom television setup, a projector might not be suitable for businesses on a budget. Most projectors also work best in controlled light conditions, so if your boardroom has natural lighting (ie a window) a projector may not be your best bet.

chromecast5) Google Chromecast

Google Chromecast is Google’s version of the Apple TV. After connecting the Chromecast to the TV and your WiFi, you should be able to “cast” from Google Chrome (ie by displaying a webpage) or from any Chromecast compatible app, including Google Docs and Google Slides.

What you will need: Google Chromecast, a TV, WiFi, the Chrome browser, and Google Chromecast.

Estimated price: Minimum of AU$550 for a Google Chromecast and TV.

What we think: We’re on the fence when it comes to Google Chromecast. On one hand, it’s cheap, easy-to-use, looks pretty trendy, and allows you to use your own devices, just as you would with the Apple TV. On the other hand, Chromecast doesn’t allow full screen mirroring — unlike the Apple TV — so you’re limited to Google’s range of compatible applications.

How will YOU arrange your boardroom television setup?

Hopefully our run down will help you decide how to arrange your boardroom television setup. We chose the Apple TV + AirParrot option, because we think it looks the most trendy, and ensures that both staff and visitors to the boardroom can easily play content to the TV using their own devices.

green-office

Leave us a comment and let us know what option worked for you!

4 thoughts on “How to Arrange Your Boardroom Television Setup

  1. Pete says:

    I use Google Chromecast. I think FULL mirroring will be added in the near future. Some phones can mirror right now (S4 and S5). You can also mirror the Chrome browser.

    1. Maeve says:

      I really hope so Pete! That would make Chromecast a really attractive solution for me. At the moment I just use my Chromecast at home for watching movies on the TV… I find anything else comes with too many limitations. But full screen mirroring would put it leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.

  2. Mary says:

    Hmmm, I’ve used all methods. We are thinking about wireless HDMI as we have mixture of apple, PC, tablets and all sorts coming into our boardroom. However, not all laptops have HDMI, And thus the problem begins.

    I think I may just go back to a blackboard and chalk….

    1. Maeve says:

      I’d really recommend option 1 – using an Apple TV. Mac and iOS devices can mirror to it natively, and a tiny piece of software (Air Parrot) adds the same capability to any Windows or Android device.

      Air Parrot has a free trial for 7 days so any visitors to the boardroom can grab a free copy to use at a one off meeting/workshop.

Leave a Reply to Maeve Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *