This week Extron announced that their new DTP Crosspoint 84 switcher has an integrated control system. This is news because when it was first announced there was not a system built into the box and yet the fine folks from Anaheim were positioning this product to compete with AMX’s Enova DVX and the Crestron DMPS. This writer pointed out this disparity and criticized Extron for the lack of a simple control system.
Well, let it never be said that I do not give credit where credit is due. Good for Extron for adding the control system to this switcher system. It does indeed put them in the running for all-in-one boxes and allows those of us who design systems to consider them when these types of devices are warranted. This is not to say that I think Extron listened to what I had to say. By no means. Rolling out a product is not something you do by waking one morning and wishing it. It takes time to develop, test, and hone a product before sharing it with the world.
Extron is filled with smart engineers, product development personnel, and marketing professionals. They haven’t been around as long as they have by being dumb, or deaf to the industry’s needs. That leads me to believe they had this in the works all along. So, why not just roll this out in the first place? That is a question for a smarter man than me.
We can have a discussion about connections on the box itself, now. My assertion is you need some form of analog connection on this type of box. However, in conversations with other design engineers, I have been disagreed with on this point. Some have made the point that in this digital age the only place you need analog connections are at podiums and other remote locations. This is where Extron’s box would be on par with both AMX’s and Crestron’s. It is a point where I personally disagree, but I see the point.
Regardless of where you lay in this debate, Extron has come to play in the all-in-one battlefield. With the addition of the control system to their DTP switcher they give integrators who rely on Extron for control and digital switching a good tool. Where this will take them, only time and sales numbers will tell.
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Have a great week.