Ease of Installation
Installation of the EX90 may see a bit daunting if you look at the size of the extensive Manufacture’s Installation Guide, but aside from varying levels of configuration, the actual physical installation is straightforward and fairly idiot proof.  All devices in this range are pretty much out of the box, just add some cables and configure, so installation is simple.

With no screws and no base to add on, the EX90 is very simple to put together, all connections are color coded and its impossible to plug the wrong cable into the wrong port. Once removed from the packaging just connect the VGA cable, inTouch remote, network, and then just add power and you are ready to configure

The inTouch control makes configuration from the remote very easy with access to a full QWERTY keyboard, numeric and special characters; everything from naming the device to H323 and SIP configuration is completed quickly

The form factor is very good. When you unpack the device you can put it on your desk easily. The weight is “significant”, but it does ensure stability.

In our experience this product is as easy to install as any desktop solution in the market place as long as the IT protocols are established in advance. However the administration menu navigation could be a lot more intuitive, and setting new admin passwords is a bit of a task to complete.
Ease of Installation - Score: 9/10


Compatibility
The only compatibility issue we ran into were not specific to this device, but rather to all endpoints using this DSP and software.  When connecting to a Polycom RMX bridge, some users reported issues with lip sync. This was validated with Polycom and (as at mid-December 2011) they are working to issue an RMX patch to resolve.

Care should be taken when using this as a PC monitor as not all computers have the same connections options (DVI, VGA, DisplayPort, etc).

In the time I have used this it has been connected to either VCS Control or Expressway.  It has been used to connect to internal solutions from OCS R2, Movi up to Immersive Telepresence systems and connected to external systems including Cisco/Polycom/Lifsize devices without issue.

We tried the release 4.1 and 4.2 in H323 mode. We have connected the device in an hierarchy gatekeeper (Radvision ECS) and made a video call to different devices, different gateway, both ISDN and IP, and MCU. No compatibility issues in H323; no need to do anything special in order to have a good video call.

We have called in IP and in ISDN (via ISDN GW) Lifesize, Sony and Polycom endpoint with excellent results. We have tested also with Cisco CUCM rel 7.5 and 8.6 configuring the Cisco Call Manager to call the EX90 in H323 mode. No compatibility issues; the video is fluid and the definition is acceptable (don't forget that the CUCM is in CIF format).
Compatibility - Score 8.5/10


Future-proof
While the software and DSP’s allow future feature upgrades (TIP support should be any day now), the form factor itself is fairly limited to the configuration out of the box. Any feature upgrades to the hardware itself would likely require external devices such as audio mixers, video switchers and the like. Given this device is not designed to support complex A/V environments, this should not be an issue for most users.

With the new release 5.0, Cisco announced that the EX90 terminal could be attached to the Cisco Call Manager and the Call Manager could see the EX90 like a phone.
This will be very interesting because this means real integration with any Cisco device in order to provide truly personal telepresence.

In H323 mode this is a standard device. The H323 End Points work from 1999 and these devices are not the future. Different thoughts for SIP but actually the video is H323; the SIP protocol is standard but any vendor implements SIP in their own mode, making for incompatible terminals.

This product should have a decent lifespan in the current modern business environment. The move to data collaboration in visual collaboration will allow the EX product range to grow in stature as the years progress.

The EX90 is the most future-proof of all the devices in its class. With a greater screen resolution at 1920 x 1200 the EX90 has a native 1080p video resolution (shared with the HDX4500) and also IPv6 compatibility.  The EX90 also has an exclusive document camera feature, where the camera can pivot down to view the desk just in front of the screen.  Using the camera as a doc cam by automatically flipping the image by 180 degrees is a very nice feature that makes it very easy to present documents or objects that are not in electronic format.

Another exclusive is the inTouch remote control; while the Polycom has the touch control, this is not an out-of-the-box option.  

The EX90, although older than its competitors is still the most feature rich of the devices; with great Norwegian design the device looks great and as such it will still be a great device over the next few years.
Future-proof - Score 8.25/10


Resilience in use
This device is not inherently resilient. There is only one power source, one network connection and one processor. A failure of any of these results in an inoperable device. For resiliency, users should consider installing a UPS, making backups of the configuration (TMS is good at this) and keeping the unit from being moved around frequently.

I have been using the EX90 now for two years.  From using it in the office and then moving it to my home office, the EX90 has always performed.  I power the system off when not at home as it is linked into my FindMe account.  With the ability of adding a delay to the auto answer time I have synchronised my devices so that depending on where I am the right one answers any call.

The fact that this unit can be used as a screen for the user’s laptop or PC is a great advantage and saves a lot of desk space. I like the simple privacy facility installed directly on the camera. Having the camera blocked by a physical cover gives the users a comfortable feeling.

Using the camera as a doc cam by automatically flipping the image by 180 degrees when the camera is tilted down is a very nice feature. Makes is very easy to present documents or objects that are not in electronic format.
Resilience in use  Score 9/10


Ease of use
Very easy to make a video call. The touch-screen of the remote controller is good. But it is different during the call - return to the PC monitor is not intuitive. The self view is not started automatically and it is not configurable. Having said that, after the first few days, your EX90 will be your best friend. It is a very comfortable video device to have on your desk. Note that release 4.2 is better, more intuitive that 4.1.

The inTouch panel is very easy to use and straightforward especially if one makes use of the address book. Adjusting the camera should be done during installation as it is not a true PTZ camera.

My view here will be tainted by the fact I have used one for so long.  The touch screen has gone through a few changes since the initial release of the product, but the long term goal of the interface is to be simple and consistent with all devices up to the Immersive systems.  For the user the start screen is kept clear of unnecessary clutter.

Favourites, Phone Book and History means that choosing the number to dial is quick and easy.  Through the other option you have access to camera settings, the volume and mute are to the side of the screen and work at the lightest touch.

The EX90 is very “executive friendly” and is a great product to conduct video calls quickly and responsively.  When first introduced the touch panels were a new experience to users if they were previously familiar with the standard VC remote, but the aggressive integration of iPad and iPhone-based technology into today’s business usage means it now has become much easier.

The 4.2 software version for managing calls that place calls on hold/transfer/start multi point conference is very intuitive and easy to use.
Ease of use - Score 8.5/10

Vendor support
We install a lot of Cisco Executive desktop products and the support seems acceptable from the manufacturer via the reseller/distributor. We did have a few EX dead on arrivals but this has now diminished through time.  

This device has very good support from the vendor.  These devices tend to see a more consistent deployment than rooms systems which gives support technicians familiarity. Remote access to the device is done through a web interface which mimics the on screen configuration very well.

I have never had to test the support on this device and so cannot comment specifically.  However, as a rule Tandberg / Cisco vendor support has been ok, but there is some room for improvement.

The support is Cisco support; very good - but I suppose it depends on your service contract.
Vendor support - Score:    8.25/10


Value for money
The EX90 is the supercar of the desktop systems.  It has the best feature pack when comparing the detail, most importantly, for me it looks the best; great Norwegian all-in-one design and easy to use. It is not the cheapest unit of the bunch, but it has the highest spec with all the options ticked. If you want the best, then this device will be at the top of your list!

Value is good for the cost, but the best value will be for users who need to use video frequently or users whose PC/Smartphone/Tablet is not delivering the quality and reliability that a dedicated device offers.  For infrequent users of VC, a software based endpoint may be more attractive, if the user has adequate hardware.

The EX90 is a top device for a top manager. The video resolution is excellent, as is the look & feel. The call is very good and it is very easy to use. It’s a good investment.

In our view it is an expensive executive product but it is a stylish, good looking and a user friendly business solution.
Value for money - Score:   7.75 /10


How does it rate against the competition?
The touch panel really sets this apart from its competitors. Another factor to consider when judging against the competition is what management system will be used. If the user is already in a TMS managed environment, it makes sense to stick with the EX90 if for no other reason than to support the address book and configuration backups.

A lot of vendors have now launched products for personal telepresence: Polycom HDX 4000, Radvision Scopia VC240, Lifesize LGExecutive. Like most products comparisons there are never two devices with exactly the same feature set and so an exact comparison is not possible. The Cisco and Polycom devices are a step up from the Radvision and Lifesize and so technically you get more with the EX90 and HDX.
But the Cisco/Tandberg EX90 seems the most complete and gives the best look & feel. We all like different things and there will be something here for everyone, but the EX90 is the device you want (well, it’s the device that this reviewer wants, at least!)
 

TP&VC Insight Technical Panel Overall Score Cisco EX90 – 8.4/10



About the TP&VC Insight Technical Panel
The Telepresence and Video Conferencing Insight Technical Panel consists of a group of experienced technicians and users. For each review a sub-set of panellists give their subjective views of a product – in other words we provide you with some practical insight that should cut through the supplier’s marketing puff.

In order to encourage panellists to give their unvarnished opinions their individual comments are anonymous, and their individual scores are aggregated to ensure best possible balance. TP&VC Insight will query any notable difference in scoring between judges on any topic in order to clarify any misunderstanding.

Technical Panel for Tandberg / Cisco EX90 Personal Telepresence System
Michael Stanton-Jones
Colin N Clark
Jeff Eagan
Luca Ronchi