If you haven’t read the “Rough Side of Tablets (Part 1)”, it would be advisable to begin there, because, well… it’s awesome. (My psychiatrist advises me to engage in positive self-talk.) So! With my self-doubt temporarily assuaged, and fragile self-esteem precariously clinging to life I can begin to tackle Part 2.
So… you’re in the market for a tablet PC, but are concerned about its ability to endure the rigors of your particular work environment… blah-dee, blah, blah…
Behold! 2 More Heavy-Duty Tablets to Tackle the Roughest of Jobs (Yup. I’m phoning it in)
Trimble Yuma® Rugged and Durable Tablet Computer
Introducing the Trimble Yuma® rugged tablet computer. Like the previous tablets reviewed, this unit is designed to meet the needs of professionals requiring rugged outdoor computing solutions. The Yuma® is structured upon a substantial magnesium alloy housing. Furthermore, it has no moving parts, so you needn’t worry when confronting extremes in vibration or temperature. It meets MIL-STD 810F requirements, and receives a higher IP rating than does the RoadWater 8.4″ Rugged Tablet PC X3 (Reviewed in Part 1). The Yuma® receives an impressive IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
If all of the above doesn’t make a lick of sense to you, fear not, you’re not alone. However, if you’d like to learn more about evaluating the ruggedness of electronic hardware, you can click below to connect to the Trimble site. There you’ll find in-depth information about industry testing criteria and ratings.
Visit Trimble’s Hardware Test Standards section to learn more.
Of all the heavy-duty tablets covered in these articles, the Yuma’s touchscreen display is easily the smallest, measuring in at 7 inches. Nevertheless it is sunlight readable. So, you can use it in your vehicle to navigate to your next job, revise documents in the field, or review your work orders. Your options are limitless. As stated on the Trimble site:
It has never been easier to conduct inspections, collect information, capture geo-tagged photos, communicate with headquarters, and transfer data in real time.
The Yuma is lightweight and easy to carry. It weighs a mere 2.6 pounds with standard batteries and 3.2 pounds with the optional 8-hour lithium ion hot-swappable rechargeable battery. It is vehicle mountable or you can get your freak on by mounting it to a tripod or pole for that matter. Hey, what happens between you and your Yuma is your business. I don’t judge.
Thanks to the Windows 7 Professional operating system, the Yuma is the ultimate one-computer solution.
Its innards are comprised of an Intel Atom 1.6 GHz processor and 32 GB solid-state hard drive so you can always count on peak performance. The Yuma® is further enhanced by integrated wireless capabilities, such as Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 2.0. Thus, it can be easily connected to other devices, networks and the Internet. It is also compatible with GPS location-based applications, so you can get your “stalking” on with nightmarish precision.
The Yuma® rugged tablet is expandable, but not in size, because well, it isn’t. However, you can beef up this walleye (I don’t know; I’m drunk) with a 34-slot ExpressCard for cellular WAN. You can also expand storage thanks to the secure digital (SD/SDHC) memory slot and/or add two USB 2.0 host ports.
Here’s a list of other Yuma® goodies:
- 2 geotag-enabled cameras (video, photo)
- Productivity enhancement: use a video log vs form or written notes
- Geospatial inspection ready
- Microphone (line-in mini-jack)
- Headphone (mini-jack stereo)
- Speaker
- 12-month limited manufacturer warranty
Visit the official Trimble website to learn more.
Click the button below to order the Yuma® tablet from Amazon!
Order on AmazonQuadPad V8 PRO IP54 Rugged Tablet PC
Lastly, we present the QuadPad V8 PRO IP54 Rugged Tablet PC. The UK brand “QUADURO Systems” describes it as a fully rugged IP54 Machine. The “fully rugged” moniker is well earned. It meets MIL-STD-810F standards and can survive a transit drop of 6 feet (182cm). It also makes grade when contending with considerable shock and vibration (specs listed below). As the name suggests, it is rated IP54 for dust and water resistance. This is due, in part, to the unit being completely sealed and fanless. In keeping with the “rugged” title, the QuadPad V8 PRO remains operational in temperatures ranging from -20 to 50°C (-4 to 122°F)
The QuadPad V8 PRO features an 8″ (1024 x 768 pixel) touch panel. The TFT, active matrix, extended graphics array accurately produces up to 16.2 million colors. Moreover, it can produce high luminance (up to 800nits). Therefore, it is sunlight-readable for outdoor applications. The QuadPad V8 PRO also features the Intel 500 Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA). This integrated graphics processor is beneficial in two ways. Firstly, it reduces power consumption. Secondly, it reduces noise.
The power consumption of the QuadPad V8 PRO is ultra low. It is powered by two (hot swappable) 2500mAH 3-cell batteries, which provide up to 8 hours of operation time. At the helm is an Intel® AtomTM Z530P 1.6GHz CPU (with FSB 533MHz). Moreover, it comes loaded with an impressive 2 gigabytes (DDR2-667) of SDRAM. It further boasts a 1.8” 32 gigabyte solid-state drive (SSD).
In terms of software, the QuadPad V8 PRO is jam-packed. It’s bundled with an impressive array of software, including:
- Windows 7 Home Premium
- Windows 7 Professional
- Windows 7 Ultimate Edition
Looking to connect to the QuadPad V8 PRO? You can, thanks to an RS-232 port, plus the addition of two USB 2.0 ports.
Looking for “mobile” connectivity? The QuadPad PRO still has you covered. You can wirelessly assess systems via the Realtek Gigabit Ethernet controller, to share files, access the Internet, and/or send documents to your printer. It also comes with a Gobi 3000 HSDPA module (3.75G) for GSM and/or GPRS. The QuadPad Pro can also connect via the integrated WLAN (specs below), and features integrated Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. Lastly, the entire system can be expanded by the addition of GPS, which is integrated into the vehicle cradle module (sold separately). Incidentally, the vehicle cradle includes a 35-pin pogo connector.
As stated on the QUADURO Systems website:
This system has it all. It offers every possible option needed any almost any industry.
Important features, not so far discussed, are the multi-identification devices. This includes an integrated RFID Reader (distance: 3~5cm; speed: 5 cards/sec), but the system can be expanded to include a 1D/2D Barcode Scanner. Also included is the FitMobile Professional Operating System (POS) for Warehousing/Vehicle Computer Applications.
Overall, it’s heavy duty. I like heavy duty. As promised here are the specs:
- Dimensions: 188 x 240 x 47 mm (7.4” x 9.45” x 1.85”)
- Weight: 1.8 kg (3.9 lb)
- Vibration: 3 Grms/ 5 ~ 500Hz/ random operation
- Shock: 75G peak acceleration (11 ms duration)
- Integrated WLAN 802.11 b/g/n
Visit the official QUADURO website to learn more.