When we recently expanded our office space to enable improved collaboration among our teams, we were excited to set up our latest BenQ laser projectors and interactive flat panels for our meeting rooms.
During the process, we made a surprising discovery of the hidden cost of HDMI cables compared to a wireless presentation system.
For our largest room, we set up a ceiling-mounted laser projector over a 14-foot long conference table. To connect the projector, we had to run a long HDMI cable through the ceiling, wall, and floor to enable presenters at the table to connect to their projector. How much did that cost? A lot.
First, our HDMI cable was expensive since it was fire-rated and over 50 feet long. Secondly, we had to drill into the concrete floor to enable the cable to be properly hidden. Add in labor for cutting into the table, installing the cable cubby, running the cables, and making everything neat – we spent well over $1,000. And that is just for a simple connection. If we were to add additional sources and an HDMI switcher, the costs go even higher to more than $2000.