Smart Board- Smart Idea?

For most who enter the classroom in field experience, there is a smart board present within that classroom. Is this a good idea?
Smart Boards or Promethean boards, are the new chalk board in the classroom of today. The Promethean can be linked to a computer, show websites and slide shows as well as work like a chalk board with writing. It is a tool that is for the most part easy to work with, it is student user friendly and fun to play with.
Advantages to this tool are listed above, however, limitations are few but still present. Even technology is not reliable 100% of the time. The Prometheans are expensive technology that are still capable of breaking. Power outages cause them to be unworkable and sometimes technology is just plan temperamental.
The audience for this tool is of course the students. They are the ones that learn from the facts displayed on the board. Parents at the beginning of the year as well as parent's night are also a key audience to see presentations of what their children are learning within the classroom.
To learn more about Promethean boards here are a couple of links to help out:

http://www.prometheanworld.com/

http://www.prometheanplanet.com/

My Opinion of the Promethean board:

I am still learning the ins and outs of the Promethean board, however, I would like to learn more about it. It is a helpful tool when working with powerpoint presentations as well as technology based games. The students seem to enjoy the hands on learning experience as well. In conclusion I think it is good to have in the classrooms but not always needed.