As one of the first products made for the digital whiteboard space, Microsoft’s Surface Hub made its debut in 2015. With the 2019 release of the Surface Hub 2S, this interactive whiteboard continues to establish its presence in the business world.
Finding the right product comes down to balancing features and capabilities with budget, and if you want to spend less than 5 figures on full set up you should look for a Surface Hub alternative. Priced at $2,999 (vs the $8,999 price tag of the Surface Hub) Vibe offers a cost effective solution for small- to mid- sized marketing and design agencies, startups, and tech firms.
The Surface Hub is a good choice if you only need to use Microsoft applications and are interested in a device that has a battery pack option.
The Surface Hub S2 price is just under $9,000 for the 50” model. The wall mount costs $249, the mobile stand costs $1,450, and the battery expansion will run you an additional $1,400.
Like most digital whiteboards, the Surface Hub 2S features built-in technology for video conferences and whiteboarding sessions. The responsive touchscreen is designed to feel as natural as drawing on a traditional whiteboard.
The Surface Hub 2S’s 4K digital display enables real-time creation so you can work alongside your colleagues on projects. Screen sharing allows your team to access the canvas and share Office 365 files.
While the original Surface Hub was optimized for meetings, the new edition goes a step further in upping its video conferencing game by including a modular 4K camera. Users can select from a few different plug-in locations to find their ideal camera angle.
Another notable feature of the S2 is the battery expansion. The battery holds a two-hour charge and takes 90 minutes to fully charge. This, combined with the board’s slimmed down design (weighing 40 percent less than the previous model), gives users the option to make meetings mobile.
Like its predecessor, the Surface Hub S2 is heavily reliant on the Universal Windows 10 application system, which creates an issue for companies who don’t run primarily on Microsoft software.
For instance, connecting to a video conference via Skype requires an Exchange Server or an Office 365 for Business account along with Skype for Business. In this situation, calling non-Skype users isn’t easy, and is just one example to consider when hiring freelancers, contract workers, or creating future remote work opportunities.
The S2 runs on the software of the previous Surface Hub, so the sleeker hardware is the most notable change with the update. Microsoft’s goal is for companies to be able to switch out the central processing unit with future updates, but without knowing how long it’ll be before that’s possible, purchasing the S2 is a big investment.
Another major (and expensive) drawback: all of the useful accessories cost extra. So on top of paying around $9,000 for the board, the wall mount costs $249, the mobile stand costs $1,450, and the battery expansion will run you an additional $1,400.
| Compare Brands | Microsoft Surface Hub II | Vibe Interactive Whiteboard |
|---|---|---|
Price | ||
| Cost of Board | $8,999 | $2,999 |
| Cost of Stand | $1,499 | $500 |
| Accessories | $249 (wall mount) $169.99 (Surface Pen) $219.99 (camera) | $15.00 (stylus × 2) |
| Software | Based on subscription for Microsoft Office 365 | Complimentary |
Hardware | ||
| Screen | 4K+ | 4K |
| Touch Sensor | 100 Touchpoints | 10 Touchpoints |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| OS Support | Windows 10 Team Operating System | VibeOS based on Android 7.1 |
| Connections |
|
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| Wireless | Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compatible) Bluetooth Wireless 4.1 technology | 2.4G/5G Wifi |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 | Rockchip 3399 Dual-core Cortex-A72 up to 1.8 Hz Quad-core Cortex-A53 up to 1.4 Hz |
| What's in the Box |
|
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| Board Weight | 61.6 lbs (28 kg) | 60.6lb (27.49kg) |
| Camera & Mic | Built-in | Optional |
Whiteboarding | ||
| Multi-user Realtime Whiteboard | ||
| Simultaneous App Usage | ||
| Smart Drawing | ||
| Multi Platform Support | ||
Sharing | ||
| Wireless Screen Share | ||
| Annotation | ||
| Remote Control | ||
| Cloud Storage | ||
App Integration | ||
| Web Browser | ||
| Dropbox, Google Drive, One Drive | ||
| Video Conferencing Software | Skype for business | Zoom, GoToMeeting, Google Meet, Cisco Webex, RingCentral, Skype, Skype for Business |
Service | ||
| Warranty | 1-year | 1-year |
$249 (wall mount)
$169.99 (Surface Pen)
$219.99 (camera)
Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compatible)
Bluetooth Wireless 4.1 technology
Rockchip 3399
Dual-core Cortex-A72 up to 1.8 Hz
Quad-core Cortex-A53 up to 1.4 Hz
There are more than 40 third-party app integrations in the Vibe board, and that includes Microsoft Teams, One Drive, and the most popular Office components. Combine the vast integration opportunities with wireless screencasting and you can bring more creativity to your presentations without limiting which apps you can use.
With Vibe, sharing ideas with collaborators — in-house, across town, or around the world — is intuitive and easy, making it a must-have device for any company that thrives thanks to a network of remote workers.
One less obvious advantage Vibe has over its competitors is its dedication to customers of all sizes. They offer free customer support and consistently make changes to the VibeOS based on user requests, making it the perfect match for everyday presenters, designers, project managers, and remote workers.
Contact us to learn more.