Polycom Vsx 7000 - TechRepublic

Polycom VSX 7000 offers excellent set-top video conferencing solution
devices on the LAN. Optional licenses allowed the unit to support multipoint calls and Polycom's People+Content IP
software application. Any PC running the People+Content IP software that has access to the VSX 7000's IP address can
share their screen with the unit. You can also share content with Polycom's Visual Concert VSX table-top device. We
tested both sharing mechanisms with an IBM ThinkPad T40 set at 1280 x 1024 screen resolution. The sharing processes
worked without incident, but the image quality was disappointing. The shared image was comprehensible but blurry when
viewed on the 27" RCA television. If you plan to routinely share content, I suggest using a true, large-screen monitor or
flat-panel display.
Like Polycom's VSX 3000, configuring and managing the VSX 7000 isn't difficult, but navigating the system's numerous
on-screen menus via the remote control can be frustrating. The system's built-in Web interface offers a much faster
approach and also lets you remotely manage and troubleshoot the unit. The VSX 7000's administration settings (network
configuration, security settings, and the like) are all protected behind a single password--required to access the on-screen
menus and Web interface. The unit also supports remote management through SNMP and Telnet.
As I noted in my VSX 3000 review, anyone with the unit's administration password can access the unit's camera via the
Web interface's Web Director feature or have the unit place a call. If the monitors are turned off, those persons in front of
the camera may or may not notice the administrator's actions. This is a handy feature when the IT department is routinely
asked to setup VC calls, but a slightly unsettling feature for someone concerned about security and privacy. Luckily you
can disable any or all of the remote access features through the device's on-screen menus.
The VSX 7000 delivers the excellent video and sound quality you expect from a conference room VC system and offers
several nice features, including remote administration and management, multipoint call handling, and the ability to
integrate with Polycom's SoundStation VTX 1000 telephone. The IP-only unit we tested retails $6,999. An optional ISDN
module will set you back $1,499.
Yet the unit isn't without a minor fault and our tests weren't without hiccups. The VSX 7000 lacks integrated collaborative
tools. You can't connect a laptop and begin sharing content, without purchasing optional software or equipment. During
our tests the system also tried to grab the IP address of another computer on the LAN. Someone had disconnected the
VSX 7000's network cable several days before and left the unit powered on. When I reconnected the cable, the unit tried
to use the IP address it already had, which by that time had been assigned to a new PC. When powered off and on again,
the VSX 7000 quickly grabbed a new IP address and returned to normal operation.
Bill Detwiler is a Section Editor for CNET Networks where he works on the TechRepublic.com team.
Previously he worked as a Technical Support Associate and Information Technology Manager in the social
research and energy industries. Bill is a Microsoft Certified Professional with experience in Windows
administration, data management, and desktop support. He has bachelor's and master's degrees in the
Administration of Justice from the University of Louisville, where he lectures on high-tech and computer
crime.
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