A Dry Erase Boards Purchasing Guide

Author: admin  /  Category: General

You may think dry erase boards are a fairly straightforward subject, but there is a tremendous array of options available. The application really dictates which is most appropriate.

A dry erase board is traditionally a tool used in busniess and education, but people are finding models and options more appropriate for the household, using them for quick notes or temporary artwork.

The dry erase board has generally replaced the chalkboard as the standard medium for writing and displaying information to a large group. Millions of people have {begun to understand the value of whiteboards}. With the low level of mess, the broad color options in the pens, and creative options that these features open up, users are finding the benefits worth the cost.

Prices have actual decreased considerable in recent years as demand has risen and manufacturers have increased production to meet that demand.

Many believe dry erase boards are made of the same stuff, but that is simply not true. Sure, it looks the same, but the materials used impact the performance considerably. Prices increase with boards that are more durable and made of better material. On the other hand, a high-quality board can be used for the life of a building without needing to be replaced, even with heavy use. These heavy-duty boards are typically made of stainless steel and have a porcelain surface covered over with a thick laminate. They’re every bit as heavy as old-style chalkboards and require firm, permanent mounting for safe use.

The other extreme is the cheaper dry erase boards which are made of a variety of inexpensive and less durable materials. Base materials include wood, cardboard, Masonite, particleboard, and stainless steel. These sometimes come in color options, going beyond plain white to virtually any color in the rainbow. Some boards are done with simplicity in mind, simply providing a thin steel surface with a light coat of laminate. Boards that are smaller often take on these variations because the market usually calls for more variety and personalization. Because household users probably won’t be presenting information to a large crowd of people, the optics and contrast aren’t as essential of concerns.

Whiteboards with a steel base or frame have the added advantage of being magnetic, allowing for easy placement of additional visual aids to augment whatever’s being presented on the board.

The real height of technology with dry erase boards for presentations is the electronic dry erase board. A few different companies manufacture these boards, including Panasonic. There are many different types of boards that can dramatically improve usability compared to the standard dry erase boards. Electronic boards usually allow for instant digital imaging of what’s being written on the board, as well as whatever papers or other materials are stuck to it. This can eliminate or augment note-taking, allowing for the audience members to receive their own printout of what was presented on the board. This can be extremely useful for complex presentations, allowing students and audience members to fully engage in the presentation as it takes place. Some users find that PowerPoint, or similar programs which are the go-to option for digital recording of presentations, is far too sterile for some subjects. Electronic whiteboards are ideal for presentations that need to be digitally recorded, but which benefit from the kinetic energy of ideas being outlined in a visual way.

Whiteboards can even be cutomized to fit a wide variety of uses. An example of an available option is lines printed horizontally across the board. These can be made into lines that are useful in musical instruction, or ruled lines for writing practice. Dry erase presentation boards can even be printed with a grid pattern for architectural, engineering, or mathematical purposes, or geographic maps for educational applications. For athletic applications, we offer pre-printed options for your convenience. These pre-printed lines save time and effort for users in these applications, providing reliably clean lines that do not erase and present the subject clearly.

Choose carefully, weighing your needs with the available options and prices. The products themselves should be test personally. This provides an good purchase on serious functionality and visibility for groups in any setting.