Effective communication is one of the cornerstones of running a successful business. When working from home, its significance is elevated even more. They are many perks associated with remote working culture. However, on the flip side, working from home makes team coordination cumbersome. Thanks to technology, team coordination and supervision is made easy via video conferencing.
Video conferencing technology not only helps you communicate remotely but also helps you remove operational bottlenecks when encountered. You must be familiar with this term because video conferencing has surged in popularity as a remote work solution amid the COVID-19 crisis. But, we are not here to discuss that.
In this article, we will discuss the 3 best video conferencing hardware you need for professional meetings. The core requirement of effective communication is a message being delivered clear and uninterrupted. Therefore, the hardware is as important as software because not all interruptions during video conferences are caused by the software.
1. Personal Computer/Laptop
Since we are here to talk about hardware, let’s start from the top. We don’t want to change your preferences, but when it comes to participating in video conferences, we recommend you invest in a decent laptop rather than a desktop. There are a number of reasons supporting our recommendation, so bear with us on that.
One of the core privileges of working from home is freedom. You can literally wake up in the morning, jump on a comfy couch, and be active for work in your favorite pajamas. Not getting the productivity vibes from home? Head out to your favorite cafe, grab a cup of coffee and turn on the task execution mode.
Having a desktop for work wouldn’t allow you to make the most of the privileges and flexibility that come with remote work. Imagine being summoned by your team manager for an ad hoc meeting while you’re running an errand outside. You wouldn’t be carrying your desktop around, would you? Compared to a good old fashioned desktop, a laptop enables you to be active on-the-go.
Another benefit of laptops is that they end up being easier on the wallet, all things considered. If you prefer a desktop over a laptop for work, you might have to invest in additional hardware such as an LED screen, a high-quality webcam, a high-definition sound card, and a graphics card. On the other hand, laptops have the aforesaid hardware built-in.
So, keeping personal preferences aside, a laptop with decent system specifications is must-have hardware for professional meetings. Here are some great laptop choices:
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon – 7th Generation
- CPU: Intel Core i5/Core i7
- GPU: Intel UHD 620
- RAM: 8GB/16GB
- Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD
- Screen: 14-inch, 1080p or 4K
- Weight: 2.5 pounds
- Lightweight design
- Sleek and attractive
- Exceptional keyboard
- Long battery life (1080p)
Apple MacBook Pro – 2019 Edition
- CPU: Intel Core i7/Core i9
- GPU: Radeon Pro 5300M/5500M
- RAM: 16GB/32GB/64GB
- Storage: 512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB/8TB
- Screen: 16-inch, 2072 x 1920
- Weight: 4.3 pounds
- Slim bezels
- Ultra-portable
- 6-speaker audio output
- Radical design magic keyboard
2. Headset with a Microphone
The core idea of investing in a laptop was to not break the bank buying additional hardware. Then, why are we recommending a headset? Well, you can’t control your surroundings while you’re in the middle of a professional meeting.
No matter how high-end your system specifications are, you won’t be able to cancel the background noise. And, it’s really awkward to ask someone to repeat what he/she just said because you couldn’t hear it.
The same goes for a microphone. A built-in microphone detects all the sounds from your surrounding which causes background interference. Therefore, a good quality headset with a microphone really comes in handy as it helps you get rid of background distractions while you’re on a conference call.
This small investment can save you from the annoying experience of having multiple sounds echoing in the background while you’re in the middle of an important presentation or client briefing. Here’s our recommendation for a seamless professional video conferencing experience:
BPHS1 Headset with Dynamic Cardioid Boom Mic
- High-quality sound input and output via neodymium magnets
- Circumaural ear cups for noise cancellation
- Boom mounted microphone
- Rejects off-axis sounds
- Polar pattern and frequency response for vocal input
- Replaceable accessories such as cable and ear pads
- A rugged design which ensures longevity
3. Wireless Router
Interruptions during video conferences are not always caused by poor system specifications or background interference. At times, it’s just the weak internet link. People often neglect the significance of selecting a decent router to ensure seamless internet connectivity and wonder what’s causing the latency issues.
Furthermore, a weak internet link can also disrupt your productivity. Imagine finding a sweet spot to set up your workspace at home only to realize that your wi-fi coverage does not extend to that nook of the house. Investing in a good quality router can save you from the hassle of having a grainy internet connection.
A decent wireless router not only saves you from the embarrassment of abrupt disconnections during a video conference, but it also solves ‘Can you hear me?’ issues. Here’s the best wireless router recommended for professional meetings:
Eero Wireless Router
- Easy to setup
- Compact design
- Portable
- Offers 1,500 sq. ft. Wi-Fi coverage
- Scalable package plans
- 1 Year warranty
- Customer support
Wrap Up
So there you have it. The 3 best video conferencing hardware recommended for professional meetings. We tried to keep our list precise and recommended only the tools that help you gear up for the next conference call. Do you agree with our list of recommended tools? Did we miss any hardware that should’ve been a part of the list? Tell us in the comment section below.
Bonus Tip: Since hardware can’t perform without software, here’s a bonus tip. If you’re concerned about the recent security allegations involving your “preferred video conferencing software” or tired of abrupt disconnections after 40 minutes amid important video conferences, it’s about time you’ve considered Zoom alternatives.
