Dell's following Microsoft down the path of mega-displays with a new 70-inch touchscreen called the Dell 70 Interactive Conference Room Monitor (ICRM).
The monitor isn’t nearly the size of Microsoft’s 4K 84-inch monster, the Surface Hub. It’s also a somewhat unfair comparison since the Surface Hub is basically a giant tablet, whereas Dell’s ICRM is just a monitor.
Nevertheless, the parallels between the devices are clear as both are meant to replace standard and interactive whiteboards in the conference or classroom.
Dell’s ICRM features the aforementioned 70-inch 10-point touch display with a more modest 1080p resolution at 60Hz. For connections, the ICRM features one DisplayPort, two HDMI 1.4 ports, one HDMI port with MHL for smartphone and tablet mirroring, and every enterprise’s favorite port: VGA.
There’s also one USB 2.0 port, four USB 3.0 ports (including 1 for fast charging), and audio in/out connections. Dell is also packaging two styluses with the 70-inch monitor, and the display features an anti-glare and anti-smudge coating.
Prices for Dell’s ICRM start at $5,000, but the monitor also requires a PC to hook up to the back. Still the overall price comes in significantly lower than the $22,000 Surface Hub.
Why this matters: Dell’s massive touchscreen monitor is rolling out just in time for the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which is likely not an accident. The Anniversary Update features beefed up inking capabilities that will help improve the monitor’s usability as a collaboration tool. Dell’s ICRM promises the interactive future many are hoping to see in classrooms and boardrooms plus it’s at an affordable cost to boot.
