Why You Should Buy a Whiteboard

A whiteboard, also known as dry erase board, can be an invaluable tool for your home or office. It makes sense to spend a little time aquainting yourself with the many types of boards that are currently available. When you're ready to buy a whiteboard, if you have a working knowledge of the many varieties, you'll make a more informed purchase.

The most common type of whiteboard is melamine. Melamine is a white resin based paper that is fused over pressed board to form the writing surface. This is the most inexpensive form of whiteboard and is offered in most any office supply store.

You can also buy a whiteboard in glass and magnetic glass. This type is a bit harder to find, but many users say it offers many advantages. The surface is finished with quartz, and will not permanently absorb ink, thus eliminating the problem of "ghosting". White glass ones are also very projector friendly.

Many whiteboards are made of laminate, a type of white surface that is very stain resistant because it is non porous. Laminate was only developed for use in whiteboards in the last decade, so it's a fairly new innovation.

When you buy a laminate board it usually comes with a lifetime guarantee against surface staining, essential to keep it white and clean.

Probably the most durable form of whiteboard is found in porcelain, which is essentially enamel on steel, (otherwise known as vitreous steel. This process is done in a kiln, where the glass is actually fired on to the steel to form a surface that is virtually impossible to scratch. It would take an object harder than glass to penetrate this extremely hard finish. This type of board also comes with a lifetime warranty against scratches or surface staining. Another bonus when you buy a whiteboard made of porcelain is that this type of surface lends itself well to the use of magnets, something that will be very useful in your home or office.

In the high tech world we live in, it's no surprise that even the faithful whiteboard can now be purchased in an electronic, interactive form. Sometimes called copyboards, or printboards, these tools allow you to copy, save, and even print your work directly from the board. They can be portable or stationary, so offer a great ease of use. Interactive whiteboards will work with your computer files and various software applications. To get the maximum benefit of this type of board, you'll need to connect it to your computer and purchase a projected specifically designed to work with the board itself.

There will always be a use for the simple, inexpensive dry erase board, but the future of the industry is certainly poised to take go in the digital direction. When you get ready to buy whiteboard, it might be wise to go ahead and upgrade to a computerised version guaranteeing a clean and white surface for your work.