What was Tandberg thinking.....?

[emello]

... when they designed and released the MXP codecs?

Hi there,

I am a long time Tandberg user with many of what I suppose are now called Classic codecs. Yesterday I demo'd the 3000 at a vendor because I was interested in seeing the newer units, since I recommend codecs in system builds on the campus I work.

I found the menus to be rather counter-intuitive, and kept on looking for things on the remote which are now buried within software menus instead of at the top level of the remote in the classic version.

I was also looking for something that could do the dual screen emulation of the newer Polycom units. I thought the Tandbergs could do this, based on the literature on the website, but it seems like you can only get multiple images on the screen in a mcu call.

At this point, unless someone can tell me that I had missed some features in the demo, I'm wondering whether I want to continue to recommend these units in VC builds. Does anyone have any thoughts on what I might have missed, or do other people feel like the Classic was a better product from an end user perspective?

[GTC]

Hi Emello,

It seems to me that you need to find a Tandberg dealer who can give you a proper demonstration of the MXP products.
The MXP have a variety of screen layouts that can be displayed and these variations you can toggle with the single button called 'layout'.
To get the most of the the display options you shuld use a plasma or widescreen display, set the system monitor output to WIDE within the MXP configuration.
The MXP features and functions DO superseede the 'classic' range substantially and I would not have many issues recommending the MXP for new installs.
I have found the MXP does have a few issues within the software code, relases keep on coming out from Tandberg every few weeks at this stage but these issues are more specific to interop problems with other vendours for some of the added functionality like AES, H264, H239 and MCU modes.

GTC

[Sean Lessman]

... when they designed and released the MXP codecs?

Hi there,

I am a long time Tandberg user with many of what I suppose are now called Classic codecs. Yesterday I demo'd the 3000 at a vendor because I was interested in seeing the newer units, since I recommend codecs in system builds on the campus I work.

I found the menus to be rather counter-intuitive, and kept on looking for things on the remote which are now buried within software menus instead of at the top level of the remote in the classic version.

I was also looking for something that could do the dual screen emulation of the newer Polycom units. I thought the Tandbergs could do this, based on the literature on the website, but it seems like you can only get multiple images on the screen in a mcu call.

At this point, unless someone can tell me that I had missed some features in the demo, I'm wondering whether I want to continue to recommend these units in VC builds. Does anyone have any thoughts on what I might have missed, or do other people feel like the Classic was a better product from an end user perspective?
There are two modes: Picture Inside Picture (PIP) and Picture Outside Picture (POP). If you are in PIP mode, you will not get the side by side, but rather the traditional PIP. Go into

Control Panel
Administrator Settings
General
Screen Settings
Change Picture Layout to 'Picture outside Picture'.

Now the layout button will go between full screen and SideBySide.

If you select the wide monitor format, you will get the 3-way POP. This will only look good on true 16x9 screens. If you turn this on for 4:3 screens it will look out of proportion understandably.

Sean

[robertk]

I can only agree that the "easyness" of Tandberg is gone, the Classic was indeed the easiest product to use AND teach other to use, the MXP is not!

It's quite easy to dial and show a PC presentation, but as soon as you try different camera sources or presets, there are just a mess of different buttons to press or hold down or menues to go in and out. Not even mentioning the horrible phonebook.


HOWEVER! The MXP line is by far the most powerfull and competent line of VC-codecs around. There are so many nice features in there and I guess the potential to get it better is huge (I imagine we have to stick with the MXP for another 3 years or so :)

//Robert

PS.
TANDBERG should make a SKIN to the MXP that looks like the Classics, and make the classic remote control work on MXP, with all the HW/SW functions of the MXP :)

[emello]

Thanks for the info - the demo I had was with rear screen projectors, so it was not in wide mode, which is probably the problem.

I have another demo set up next week so hopefully I can see these units in a better light, but the menu changes were very troublesome. For instance, not having pan/tilt on the remote control seems strange, that I have to go into a menu and move to a camera control to move the camera. The same goes for the preset camera movements - way too many key strokes to do what I could do right off the remote.

Is it just me that has a problem with these changes because I'm used to the classic mode, or does this seem to be harder to use?

Thanks for your responses, by the way, it is good to see people are reading the boards!

Elaine@MIT

[teetdogs]

I would just use polycom but thats just my .02

[trapehzoid]

For instance, not having pan/tilt on the remote control seems strange, that I have to go into a menu and move to a camera control to move the camera. The same goes for the preset camera movements - way too many key strokes to do what I could do right off the remote.

To move the camera you just use the arrow pad.. no need to go into the menu to move the camera. This is the same as the older codecs

Presets I think you press the # key or something like that and then the number. This too is the same as the classic I believe.

I think they tried to keep it simplier.. not necessarily more straight forward for techies.

[Sean Lessman]

Thanks for the info - the demo I had was with rear screen projectors, so it was not in wide mode, which is probably the problem.

I have another demo set up next week so hopefully I can see these units in a better light, but the menu changes were very troublesome. For instance, not having pan/tilt on the remote control seems strange, that I have to go into a menu and move to a camera control to move the camera. The same goes for the preset camera movements - way too many key strokes to do what I could do right off the remote.

Is it just me that has a problem with these changes because I'm used to the classic mode, or does this seem to be harder to use?

Thanks for your responses, by the way, it is good to see people are reading the boards!

Elaine@MIT
Hi Elaine,

Learning any new interface is always a challenge, but we have tried to keep as much of the meeting critical funcations as similar as possible. Moving the camera around is done using the arrow keys etc. If you are in the menu system, they will not control the camera for obvious reasons as they are used to navigate the menus.

The menus are in a slightly different order, but the terminology in the menus is very similar to the classics. It shouldn't be too difficult to pick up.

The remote is now much simpler than it used to be and as we have received feedback on the original 6000 remote, we have also received feedback on the new remote and interface as well. Good news is we base all development of our products on customer feedback, so the inteface may be tweaked in the future based upon that feedback.

If anyone has feedback on the user interface or the remote control feel free to drop me an email sean.lessman@tandbergusa.com and I will personally make sure it gets into the right hands within development.

Sean

[Morgan81]

I agree that the MXP line isn't as easy as the classic line, however, having the "User Guide" available is a huge help, as is the "Balloon Help". Plus, the less buttons on the remotes, the better it is for the end users I've found.

[vtjoe]

The MXP is a love/hate product for people hooked on the Tandberg "classic" products. Personally I hate the new remote, but love the power of the new codec. My wishlist:

- add 4 more buttons for each video source when using products like the 6000 MXP.

- Ability to block streaming menu from the basic end user (better yet, make it disappear altogether – not an easy to use feature).



I can’t completely knock the new design. I did a little experiment and had three AV technicians only slightly familiar with the Tandberg "classic" remote play around with the Tandberg MXP. They loved it.

[Morgan81]

- Ability to block streaming menu from the basic end user (better yet, make it disappear altogether – not an easy to use feature).



I can’t completely knock the new design. I did a little experiment and had three AV technicians only slightly familiar with the Tandberg "classic" remote play around with the Tandberg MXP. They loved it.

Blocking access to menus would deffinatly be a major advancement as well. All our endusers need to do is make a call over ISDN, nothing else. It would be great if the new software could just allow that, much as the classic line had a "menu password" to block eu's from accessing anything.

I also have to agree with the reviews I've heard so far. Anyone who has used the MXP's have loved it as well. It seems like the less knowledge you have of the old line the better.

[emello]

Okay, I am willing to admit I had a bad demo, then. Because when I picked up the remote, I could not move the camera around, nor select a preset, without going to menu, camera controls, etc.

I have another demo with Tandberg reps themselves on Thursday, so hopefully this will be more informative. I've always been partial to the brand and am definitely not a fan of Polycom, so I'd rather be able to recommend the Tandberg line if I can.

I'll check back after my demo. It could be the first dealer doesn't know the product line they're selling....

;0

Thanks for the replies!

Elaine

[Sean Lessman]

Okay, I am willing to admit I had a bad demo, then. Because when I picked up the remote, I could not move the camera around, nor select a preset, without going to menu, camera controls, etc.

I have another demo with Tandberg reps themselves on Thursday, so hopefully this will be more informative. I've always been partial to the brand and am definitely not a fan of Polycom, so I'd rather be able to recommend the Tandberg line if I can.

I'll check back after my demo. It could be the first dealer doesn't know the product line they're selling....

;0

Thanks for the replies!

Elaine
Hi Elaine,

I would like to know which partner you were working with so I can make the necessary people aware that more training may be required. If you wouldn't mind, please email me offline at sean.lessman@tandbergusa.com

Thanks,

Sean

[Sean Lessman]

Blocking access to menus would deffinatly be a major advancement as well. All our endusers need to do is make a call over ISDN, nothing else. It would be great if the new software could just allow that, much as the classic line had a "menu password" to block eu's from accessing anything.

I also have to agree with the reviews I've heard so far. Anyone who has used the MXP's have loved it as well. It seems like the less knowledge you have of the old line the better.
Hi Morgan,

There is a menu password on the MXP line that blocks access to the 'administrator settings' pages.

Sean

[Syed-Ali]

Any model of POLYCOM have the wireles ethernet connectivity??

or any way it can be achieved.???

[Sean Lessman]

Any model of POLYCOM have the wireles ethernet connectivity??

or any way it can be achieved.???Easiest method would be to use a wireless ethernet bridge. It does add another box to the unit, but you will hardly notice it with all the other boxes :)

The VSX8000 has a PC Card slot. Not sure if its active or if it supports any wireless cards, and if so, which ones.

Sean

[emello]

As promised, I've returned after my second demo, this time with a much better impression of the MXP line. It was a good thing I asked multiple vendors for demos, since the first left a bad impression.

Last Thursday I had a demo with a Tandberg sales engineer and the second vendor. It was a much more comprehensive overview of the system, and demonstrated the things I was looking for in the new line. I also like the idea of being able to lock off areas of the menus from a client, as I've had problems with people changing settings by accident and then assuming the system had problems. That in itself will make my life easier in a service situation.

Thanks to everyone who responded, and to Sean for being on the boards and acting proactively --- it was immensely helpful!

[MacGyver]

Well, I'm new to the form here, but discussions like this one warm the heart. It's good to see constructive criticism and people participating who know what they are talking about. Some of the complaints I’ve heard in this form echo what I’ve heard from some of my colleagues who have worked with my company longer than I have. But hearing the flip side of the coin as presented by Sean and a few others is always nice to hear. I must admit, without a form/thread like this a misunderstanding can lead to a bad reputation without much effort. I was looking into some of the codecs that Tandberg makes, but was shunned away by some of my colleagues. After seeing this post, I think I’ll have another look. Thanks for the input gang.

[teetdogs]

Easiest method would be to use a wireless ethernet bridge. It does add another box to the unit, but you will hardly notice it with all the other boxes :)

The VSX8000 has a PC Card slot. Not sure if its active or if it supports any wireless cards, and if so, which ones.

Sean

The VSX8000 PC Card slot is not active it is there for future use once they want to make it active they will release a software version that will support the pc card slot but for now it is just there to look pretty.

[vtjoe]

Easiest method would be to use a wireless ethernet bridge. It does add another box to the unit, but you will hardly notice it with all the other boxes :)

LOL...Funny. http://www.vtctalk.com/images/smilies/laugh.gifhttp://www.vtctalk.com/images/smilies/laugh.gifhttp://www.vtctalk.com/images/smilies/laugh.gifhttp://www.vtctalk.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif