Governor Nixon's $100,000 Teleconference system?

An unlikely package was spotted at the Capitol building earlier - a large box labeled "CTS-1300". What is that? It's Cisco's 'low end' telepresence system, priced at almost $90,000, and from the box it looks like it's coming from the good old UK.

This:

Turns into this:

Once restricted to executive boardrooms in the dot-com era, it looks like one will be making its way into the Capitol building. Exciting features include a 65" high definition 1080p (full HD) display, multiple cameras and a custom stand (which adds who knows what to the price).

Goodbye telephones, meeting people in person, or any of the other methods of communication that have sufficed for the vast majority of human history. Our question is - who approved the use of this system, when alternatives are available for .5% of the cost?

The cost-saver alternative:

32" 720p HDTV: $369.95
Logitech 1080p HD Webcam: $86.67
Skype Account with web videoconferencing: $0.00

Total price: $456.20
Cost Saved: $89,453

In the midst of hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts and trillions of dollars of Federal debt, it seems like it's worth asking why nearly $100,000 is being spent to upgrade the Capitol building when much cheaper alternatives are available.

Comments

[Anonymous]

Its obvious you know nothing about this technology, how it works, or what the actual price the govt paid for it. No one pays list price.