NEC At #CETW

We got to see some interesting new solutions before they were launched at the NEC Display Solutions ^[1] booth at Customer Engagement Technology World ^[2] at the end of April.

One was the addition of an ultra-narrow model to the company’s X Series, the 55-inch X551UN. This professional-grade large-screen display is designed for the rigors of 24/7 operation in a variety of video wall applications.

The X551UN is a direct LED-backlit LCD display, which allows for improved uniformity, reduced power consumption and mercury-free components. Enhanced from its award-winning 46-inch sibling, the X551UN has a 5.5mm distance between active screen areas of two neighboring displays. This model is the 3rd product in NEC’s X Series to support Intel’s Open Plugable Specification, which is the first industry-wide standardization in option slots to simplify digital signage. The OPS option slot allows for easier installation, use and maintenance of digital signage

Network control and communication allow the highest level of remote display management and built-in closed captioning enables the decoding and display of text information from a video source.

The X551UN will be available in June 2011 at an estimated street price of $7,799. The display ships with a 3-year parts and labor warranty, including the backlight.

Also new from Itasca, Illinois-based NEC is the V651, new 65” model added to the company’s commercial-grade V Series. This model offers digital signage users world-class features at a cost-conscious good price point (under $6,000, we understand).

Designed for extended use in retail, restaurants, indoor venues, training facilities and corporate boardrooms, the V651 introduces several new features to the V Series product line. Its full 1080p high-definition resolution provides stunning detail and crisp imagery with a commercial-grade LCD panel that protects against permanent image retention.

Along with a built-in expansion slot that allows for seamless integration of NEC accessories, third party components and OPS-based products, the V651 offers built-in low-profile 10W speakers to enhance the users’ experience with superior sound. Another new feature is the expanded connectivity with digital loop-through option.

Rachel Karnani, product manager for large-screen displays at NEC Display Solutions, says that the addition of the expansion slot future-proofs the display and offers a solution for current technologies like a single-board computer.

The real-time clock has the ability to set schedules for display on/off times and warm-up 30 minutes before use for optimum color representation. And the carbon footprint meter tracks and calculates the conservation of green gas emissions.