Panasonic study shows handheld devices with bar code readers on average fail more than 2.5 times a year and take 2.6 days to repair or replace.
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Jan 20, 2020 • Features • Panasonic • Panasonic Toughbook • Hardware • report
Panasonic study shows handheld devices with bar code readers on average fail more than 2.5 times a year and take 2.6 days to repair or replace.
Jul 01, 2019 • Panasonic Toughbook • Zebra • Gen2Wave • Hardware • Honeywell • janam • rugged • Rugged Computing • Rugged devices • rugged hardware • Rugged laptops • rugged tablets • Varlink
Rugged devices are a hugely important tools available to field service firms to empower their engineers with mobile devices designed to survive the extremities of remote working environments. However, for the uninitiated (or even the initiated) there can be a bewildering amount of technical information to negotiate before identifying the correct device.
To help you navigate the spaghetti junction of rugged tech, we’ve cherry-picked the top devices from a range of categories.
The thinking being that service encompasses a plethora of industries each having a different rugged requirement and demand: one environment may need a handheld rather than tablet; or withstand harsh weather conditions or even be simply suitable for in-vehicle docking. Whatever your day-to-day and your rugged needs we’re pretty sure we’ll have covered it in the sections below.
So, without further delay, let’s start with the first category:
BEST BUSINESS RUGGED LAPTOP...
PANASONIC TOUGHBOOK CFMX4
Business-rugged laptops should be as comfortable in the boardroom as they are in the field and while aesthetically, they don’t have the smooth curves of consumer laptops, they are less like the Frankenstein designs of yesteryear and certainly won’t look out of place a board meeting.
However, get something that doesn’t compromise ruggedness for good looks so scout out the usual robust features such as shock and drop resistance to shocks and drops and liquid and dust and given the amount of time you’re likely to spend on the road with no charging access, look out for something with a strong battery life.
Finally, ensure it has a familiar operating system such as Windows 10 backed up by plenty of RAM and an adequate CPU to run your field service software.
Panosonic’s Toughbook range of rugged business computers, built out from extensive research and testing, and for senior service professionals, we recommend their two-in-one notebook, the CFMX4. This lightweight device has a laptop/tablet capability making it practical for both the office and on- site visits; and its lengthy battery life, supported by a hot-swappable battery feature, make it powerful enough to last a full day and beyond. It’s a versatile laptop that can adapt to most hostile environments - including that tricky board meeting!
Key Specs:
• Intel® Core™ i5-5300U vPro™ Processor;
• Windows 10 Pro, Windows 7 Professional (available through downgrade rights from Windows 10 Pro);
• 12.5” IPS Full-HD (1920 x 1080) capacitive multi-touch display;
• 2-in-1 flip-over design with laptop, tablet and presentation modes • Lightweight and slim form factor (1.14kg and 21mm thick);
• Full business ports: 2x USB 3.0, LAN, HDMI, VGA, SD-XC and optional smart card reader;
• Embedded thin nib stylus for handwritten notes;
• 4G LTE as option;
• Business rugged design with magnesium alloy;
• Passed a 76cm free-fall test and 100-kgf pressurized vibration test;
• Up to 13-hours’ battery life with end-user removable hot-swap battery.
BEST ADAPTABLE RUGGED TABLET...
ZEBRA ET55
Tablets, arguably, are replacing laptops as enterprise’s tool of choice. In service, they are particularly useful in terms of portability and powerful enough to run to the same performance levels as bulkier laptops.
That said, make sure you select a rugged tablet that can integrate and keep-up with your FSM software and choose a device that has a user-friendly operating system.
Finally - and it probably goes without saying - make sure you’ve picked something that really is, well.... rugged. Check it’s up to at least IP65 standard (protection against harmful dust and water spray) and is robust enough when it comes to being dropped from height – more details about this in later categories.
The beauty of Zebra’s ET55 is how it places itself in the tablet hierarchy. At one end, non-rugged consumer devices offer little at a too high Total Cost of Ownership while at the other, more expensive rugged tablets come with a wealth of built-in features that may not be relevant.
The ET55 sits cleverly in the middle; a blank canvas in which to add Zebra’s range of bolt-on accessories including battlife, scanning capabilities and ruggedness and offers users the choice of an appropriate operating system (Android or Windows) and display size (8.3 or 10.1 inch).
It’s the ET55’s flexibility that allows it to adapt to any enterprise that makes this device a worthy winner of our tablet category.
Key Specs:
• Dimensions: 8.3in tablet : 9inW x 5.9in H x 0.5in . 10.1in tablet 109.6inW x 7.1inH x 0.5inD;
• Weight: 8.3in: 1.2lbs/555g. 10.1in 1.55lbs/750g;
• Connectivity: Docking Connector: USB 3.0, HDMI, charging; rugged connector for use with rugged dock interfaces: Full-size USB 2.0 connector audio jack 3.5mm;
• Intel quad core 1.59Ghz (T. Frq = 2.39GHz);
• Windows 10;
• IP65;
• Operational randaom vibration 10-1000 Hz;
• Optional hot swappable 3.6V @ 6800mAh (24. Whr) second battery available;
• Rear camera: 8MP auto focus camera with user controlable LED flash.
BEST RUGGED HANDHELD OR MOBILE...
ZEBRA TC75
Easy to use, intuitive and practical operating systems including versions of Android and Windows are now commonplace in rugged interfaces bringing a wealth of advantages to users in the service arena.
Engineers are comfortable using a handset that runs a platform mirroring their own smartphone device so look out for handheld products that run Android or Windows platforms but, like all devices, pay attention to a system’s flexibility making sure you select a device that can integrate your own FSM software. Finally, they need to be strong and robust. Given their smaller size, handhelds can easily slip from a grasp so try and find a solution that can take a few knocks.
We really liked the high-brightness 4.7-inch gorilla-glass screen of Zebra’s TC75 Mobile Touch Computer. It’s the ideal size for pro-active and protected usability and with Android running powerfully in the background you’ve a system that users will feel at home with while running your own FSM tools.
Key Specs:
• Dimensions: 6.3in L x 3.3in W x 1.1 in D;
• Weight: 13.3 oz;
• Display: 4.7 in High Definition (1280 x 720); exceptionally bright, outdoor viewable; optically bonded to the touch panel;
• Corning Gorilla Glass;
• Three microphone support with noise cancellation; vibrate alert speaker; Bluetoothwireless headset support, high quality speaker phone, PTT headset support;
• 1.7 Ghz dual core processor;
• 1GB RAM/8GB Flash pSLC;
• Droptested to 8ft to concrete at room temperature per MILSTD810G at room temperature;
• IP67 sealing;
• SE4750 imager (1D and 2D);
• Rear camera - 8MP autofocus f/2.4 aperature;
• Front Camera - 1.3MP fixed focus;
• Tumble Specification: 2,000 3.2ft tumbles; meets and exceeds IEC tumble specifications.
HIGH-PERFORMANCE RUGGED DEVICE...
ZEBRA XSLATE R12
The role of many field service engineers, including those working in highly technical industries, or in particularly senior roles may well need a device that carries some serious oomph under the chassis.
Step forward the X Slate R12 from Zebra.
Originally a device created by Motion, who were subsequently acquired by Xplore, who were then subsequently acquired by Zebra the R12 is a seriously impressive piece of kit that has the processing power to handle pretty much any task likely to be thrown at it.
In fact, the device is just as comfortable in an office environment as it is putting put to use in the great outdoors as it comes with a very well engineered kick stand that doubles up as a charger for an excellent bluetooth keyboard - giving the user a laptop style experience when some heavy text input is required or a tablet experience when something more portable is needed.
Like most of its siblings in the Zebra range, there are a huge array of accessories for the R12 but given the 2-1’s impressive CPU perhaps one of the most effective is the docking station that allows the R12 to also function as desktop as well. Sleek lines and a lightweight feel are deceptive as well as the R12 is also a robust unit with solid rugged specs.
Key Specs:
• Dimensions - 12.93” x 8.17”x.75”;
• Weight 2.95lbs;
• Drop Test: MIL-STD-810G - 4ft drop test onto plywood over concrete;
• Sealing - IP54;
• Magnesium-alloy internal frame;
• External rubberised enclosure;
• Operating System - Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit • Processor - Intel Core i7 vPro - 7600 - 2.8Ghz;
with turbo frequency to 3.9Ghz. 4MB SmartCache 2 cores (4 threads);
• Memory - 8GB;
• Storage - upto 1TB SSD;
• Display - 12.5” Wide Viewing Angle Display. Full HD Resolution (1920x1080). 100 Nit Display Brightness. Anti-Smudge & Anti Reflective View Anywhere Display. Corning Gorilla Glass 3;
• Input - Capacative 10 point touch. Wacom Digital Pen Input;
• Graphics - INtel HD Graphics 620;
• Rear camera 8MP;
• Front camera 2MP;
• Docking connector;
• USB 3.0 port:
• HDMI port
• 3.5mm audio output
• Standard operation battery life 9 hours
• Integrated finger print reader.
BEST VALUE RUGGED DEVICE...
JANAM XT100
Surprisingly, some firms still opt for consumer devices to take into the field rather than specialist rugged hardware.
With firms always looking to shave money off the bottom line, and general consumer phones now cheaper than their rugged counterparts, expensive features like gorilla-glass screens and military standard protection can seem like an unnecessary outlay.
However, given the environments they enter are often extreme, it’s no surprise that consumer handsets – more suited to a commute, office or living room floor - find themselves struggling when exposed to rain or being bashed around by a van and quickly develop expensive faults.
That’s why you’ll hear TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) being mentioned when it comes to rugged verses consumer debates, however the TCO formula – which tots up all extra cost incurred over that product’s lifetime, such as repairs and damages etc. - shows the return on investment to be far greater with a specialist rugged device that is built to withstand knocks and drops.
The rugged market therefore is now producing affordable handsets and tablets so firms can keep an eye on the bottom line and invest confidently in devices that will stay strong out in the field.
Not surprisingly, this area of rugged hardware is populated one with many manufacturers cancelling each other out with similar specs at so try and pick a device that is tailored to your requirements.
Janam’s rugged IP65 certified Android-based handheld computer the XT100, delivered excellent performance at an even better price. Running Android 6, the robust yet smart looking product has an impressive 4.3-inch display, with rear and front-facing cameras and an extended battery life.
Users should quickly pick up its interface intricacies and the handheld’s 4G, bluetooth and wi-fi connectivity as well as RFID and high-performance barcode scanning makes it a tough, decent and cost-friendly device.
Key Specs:
• Dimensions - 2.76” x 5.35”x0.69”
• Weight - 7.5oz • Drop Test: Multiple 4ft drops
• Sealing - IP65
• Honeywell N6603 2D imager
• Operating Temperature -20°C to 60°C
• Operating system - Android 6.01
• Processor 1.2Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 quad-core
• 13MP rear facing camera
BEST DEVICE FOR OUTDOOR USE...
GEN2WAV RP70
For those engineers who work outdoors a device able to withstand the elements is an essential piece of kit. However, it’s not just rain that causes issues, strong glare from the sun can make a screen unreadable.
There are a few things to look out for then when selecting a device suitable for outdoors which mostly sit around Military Standard (MIL-STD) tests, the Ingress Protection Scale (IP) and the measurement of screen brightness.
Most device’s spec sheets will cite the product’s place on the Ingress Protection Scale (IP) which measures protection against solids - such as dust - and liquids.
IP65 certification, common across all devices, including consumer, means the device is dust proof – shown by the 6 - and can handle jets of water. In this instance, the maximum solid protection levels out at 6 but levels of liquid protection can reach 9, meaning a device can withstand close high-pressure, high-temperature spray downs.
Finally, a nit - the measurement of luminance that conveys the intensity of visible light - is used to work out the brightness of computer screens such as LCD and CRT monitors.
Given a device’s exposure to sunlight, and the affect that glare can have on a screen, having a device with a high-nit display can be a sensible investment.
GEN2WAVE’s RP70 is ideal for those who spend most of the time working outside. It’s sealed to the IP65 standard and can withstand a series of drops from 1.2m. It also has a high 700 nits sunlight readable display.
It runs Windows 10 IoT enterprise and has an Intel Cherry Trail Quad Core Processor making it a powerful and robust device suitable that won’t let engineers down even in the harshest of environments.
Key Specs:
• Dimensions - 203.2mm x 131.6mm x 18.2mm
• Weight - 600g
• Display - 7inch / WXGA (800x1280)
• 700 Nits
• Capacative Touch
• Battery - Li-polymer 5600mAh/3.7
• MicroSDXC card
• USB3.0A
• 3.5mm Headphone Jack
• Processor - Intel Cherry Trail Z8350 up to 1.9Ghz Quad core processor
• Operating System - Windows 10 IoT Enterprise
• 4GB RAM • 64GB eMMC ROM
• Drop tested at 1.2m
• Sealing - IP65
• Rear camera 8MP
• Front Camera 2MP
• 2D Honeywell Imager
• OPerating Temp -20°C to 60°C.
BEST DEVICE FOR IN-VEHICLE DOCKING...
HONEYWELL THOR VM3
Many engineers travel to and from jobs via the road, so having a device that docks smoothly with little fuss is a simple need but an important one. Here the emphasis is on practicality so pick a product that can be mounted and removed quickly.
Anti-glare features are worth looking into given your drive, at some point, will encounter sunny conditions and don’t forget the issue of safety.
Driving while operating a device is illegal so it pays to pick something that has inbuilt safety features, for example, disabling the device while the vehicle is in transit.
Honeywell’s Thor VM3 fits smoothly into the in-vehicle mounted dock with little or no hassle. The smart dock feature makes it swift and easy to connect. Its ignition control feature means the device won’t drain the vehicle’s battery if the ignition is left on even if the engine is off and the engineer is away from the vehicle.
As an enterprise device, the Thor VM3 is more than adequate, running a Windows OS and a dual-core 1.5 Ghz processor and finally, and perhaps, most importantly, the device has an optional screen blanking feature which restricts driver access to the screen when the vehicle is in motion, ensuring safety requirements are met.
Key Specs:
• Dimensions - computer - 12.5 x 10.3 x 2.4in. Dock 7.1 x 6.1 x 2.1 in. Assembled Depth: 4.1 in
• Weight - Computer 6.65lbs. Dock 3.2lbs.
• Operating Temperature: -30°C up to 50°C
• Sealing - IP65
• Vibration - MIL-STD-810f, composite wheeled vehicles
• Drop test - SAE-J1455 (MIL-STD 810G)
• Processor- 1.5GHz Dual Core Intel Atom E3826
• Operating System - Microsoft Windows 10 IoT Enterprise Edition
• Memory - 4GB DDR3
• Mass Storage: up to 64GB
• 400 to 900 Nit
• Input - Industrial touch panel with resistive touch and support for finger touch and standard stylus.
RUGGED DEVICE MOST LIKELY TO SURVIVE A DROP...
JANAM XT2
Rugged is built rugged because it needs to be tough. In service, engineers carry our tasks in environments that are a long way from warm offices, where the biggest risks are spilt coffee and the relatively smooth edges of desks.
In the field, tasks that require an engineer to work at height are common. Devices that ascend with them are at risk therefore of returning to earth with a thud and if your device isn’t rugged, that thud can be rather expensive.
Thankfully, rugged devices are built purposely tough from the inside out and, when it comes to shock and drop testing, are, reassuringly, tested to US military standards (MIL-STD).
For devices to receive MIL-STD-810G, the most common standard when it comes to shock and drop testing, eight different procedures are carried out to convey variations in shock or impact.
The transit drop test requires items to survive a total of 26 drops from a height of 122 cm, on each face, edge and corner, onto a hard surface such as concrete, so look out for a product’s drop results on its spec sheet.
Janam’s XT2 Rugged Touch Computer is a handheld device able to withstand multiple 1.5m drops, surpassing the MIL-STD-810G requirements. Its robustness is further enhanced by a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 screen and it pushes the liquid ingress scale to 7, meaning it still functions in an immersion up to 3m.
It also packs a fair punch behind the scenes with either an Android 5 or Windows 10 IoT mobile enterprise option, meaning the XT2 is just as tough internally as it is externally.
Key Specs:
• Dimensions - computer - 6.1 x 3.2 x 0.9”
• Weight - 9.80z
• Processor Quad-core Qualcomm MSM8916 CPU @1.2GHz
• Sealing - IP67
• Drop Multiple 5ft / 1.5m drops to concrete MIL-STD 810G
• 1GB/8GB (WLAN) or 2GB/16GB (WWAN)
• Processor- 1.5GHz Dual Core Intel Atom E3826
• Operating System - Android 5 or Windows 10 IoT Mobile Enterprise Edition
Our thanks to Varlink for helping us put together this guide.
Feb 06, 2019 • Features • Panasonic • Panasonic Toughbook • Hardware
Currently buyers say their top considerations when purchasing mobile devices for their workforce are cost (72%) and life expectancy of the product (54%). Yet the majority of buyers still expect to replace their mobile workforces’ devices every 2-3 years.
Buyers said an “As a Service” approach for mobile hardware, as opposed to paying out in advance with a large, one-off capital expenditure, would help them to purchase up to date technology more quickly (54%), manage costs better (49%) and free up budget to purchase more accessories (34%).
The new approach of payments for hardware spread over three years at 0% interest, with helpdesk support and secure, end of life disposal was also attractive to buyers for reasons beyond cash flow. 53% said it would help them to maintain and dispose of devices more effectively and 33% agreed it would be a more secure way of disposing of mobile technology.
The service elements buyers most wanted included in the subscription model were a three-year warranty (65%), a payment plan with 0% interest (46%), and delivery of devices straight to the workplace (46%). Optional extras they were keen to see offered included Insurance (45%), extended standard warranty (43%), accidental damage warranty (43%), accessories (39%), specialist software applications (34%) and a trade-in programme (34%).
Despite the enthusiasm for the service, 69% of buyers were unaware of companies offering the service-based solution with 0% interest. The independent research, carried out by Opinion Matters on behalf of Panasonic Toughbook, questioned 250 UK technology buyers of notebooks, tablets and handheld devices for mobile workforces.
"69% of buyers were unaware of companies offering the service-based solution with 0% interest..."
“With the rapid advances in design and functionality of mobile devices and the resulting productivity gains for mobile workforces, businesses are keen to keep up to date with the latest developments,” said Kevin Jones, Managing Director for the Panasonic Mobile Solution Business in Europe. “This is resulting in an expensive capital expenditure every two-three years. But buyers are telling us that they would much rather move to a new subscription-based model, similar to the growing popularity of software as a service. Panasonic’s new Toughbook as a Service Solution helps our current and future customers overcome this challenge.”
Toughbook-as-a-Service
Panasonic launched its new Toughbook-as-a-Service (TaaS) earlier this year. It’s a unique, interest free, monthly payment model for rugged devices. Businesses can now equip their mobile workforces with any rugged Panasonic Toughbook notebook, tablet or handheld device without having to worry about large upfront costs in capital expenditure. Toughbook-as-a-Service
Toughbook-as-a-Service is an end-to-end subscription, powered by European digital services provider, Econocom. It allows companies to pay for their Toughbook devices monthly, over a three-year period. Uniquely TaaS subscribers pay the same as a cash purchase, even though payments are spread over a longer term - eliminating the need for large upfront costs and allowing organisations to benefit from an OPEX-based solution rather than CAPEX.
TaaS solutions include access to Panasonic Toughbook devices, delivery, 3-year warranty, helpdesk support, and end-of-life services such as collection, recycling and data wiping. As well as the rugged hardware, customers can choose to add into the monthly payment, on the same 0% interest terms*, options for their solution including vehicle mounts, docking stations, specialist software applications and other device accessories, as well as extended and accidental damage warranties.
Customers can also choose to personalise their TaaS subscription with a number of optional extras, including a trade-in programme, which allows businesses to upgrade their technology without losing the value of their existing estate. TaaS also provides the ability to bundle in airtime, MDM and data analytics, for example.
Click here to download an Executive Summary of the research Mobile Computing as a Service: Breaking the expensive cycle of mobile technology refreshes.
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Jul 04, 2017 • Features • Hardware • Panasonic • Panasonic Toughbook • Xplore Technologies • XSLATE B10 • XSLATE R12 • hardware • rugged • rugged tablets
We return to our ever popular hardware review series as Kris Oldland runs the rule over the newly beefed-up XSLATE R12 from Xplore Technologies...
We return to our ever popular hardware review series as Kris Oldland runs the rule over the newly beefed-up XSLATE R12 from Xplore Technologies...
What the manufacturers say...
Think you need a desktop, laptop, and rugged tablet to excel at the tasks you complete in the office, in-vehicle, and in the field? You don’t...anymore. You just need the highly mobile, extremely flexible and always resilient Xplore XSLATE® R12 tablet PC.
The transformational 2 in 1 device gives you all the high performance capabilities and complete computing functions you need in a single platform.
You’ll have the right connectivity and ergonomics for a quick transition from the field to a full desktop computing experience – and the most conveniently stored Companion Keyboard on the market. It's fast to deploy when you want a notebook, and even easier to store when you don't. This makes the XSLATE R12 rugged tablet much more evolved than traditional detachable tablets, improving upon its own award-winning R12-series predecessor.
First impressions...
OK I'll open with full and honest disclosure.
When Xplore acquired Motion and took on their product range some time ago now, the device I was most keen to see harness the benefit of two expert teams of rugged R&D specialists was the R12. It was always my favourite of the old Motion line up, looking as close at the time as a consumer unit a rugged device could get and packing a decent punch in terms of power.
Similarly, I'd always liked the aesthetics of the Xplore range, and their heritage as an ultra-rugged manufacturer meant that their devices were as tough as you could get. 'When the Xplore team start chipping in with the next gen R12 it'll be a pretty impressive machine' was one of my first thoughts when I heard about the acquisition.
So needless to say when the demo unit arrived here at Field Service News Towers expectations were high.
Would the new XSLATE R12 live up to those admittedly high expectations, or would it be a missed trick?
In terms of first impressions it is in fact exactly what I envisioned it to be.
The heritage of the original Motion R12 is still there, it's a sleek looking tablet by any standards, yet it now undeniably looks like an Xplore tablet at the same time. I can't quite put my finger on why, but it is instantly recognisable as such even from the front where there are no obvious logos or markings.
Xplore's claims for this tablet is that it is a 'transformational 2-1 device' and i'm not 100% sure if that is accurate (more on that later) but what they are referring to here is the fact that the tablet has a rather lovely optional attachment to the back that not only acts as a kick stand but also houses and charges a decent size (about 4/5 the size of standard) bluetooth keyboard which even has a track pad within it.
Of course a tablet on a kickstand, using a keyboard and trackpad doesn't mean this is still necessarily going to deliver a laptop experience - as anyone who has used either an Android tablet or iPad in such as way will attest, there is more to using a laptop than setup - namely the ability to run 'proper' applications - which of course all depends on the processors.
One of the key points raised in the XSLATE R12's marketing blurb is that the device comes in a number of flavours in terms of processors.
So perhaps the first question we need to ask is how does the XSLATE R12 stack up when it comes to CPU?
Processing power
In fact it does pretty darn well.
One of the key points raised in the XSLATE R12's marketing blurb is that the device comes in a number of flavours in terms of processors.
In fact there are four options:
- Intel® Core™ i7 vPro™ 7600U up to 3.9 GHz, 4 MB SmartCache
- Intel® Core™ i7-7500U up to 3.5 GHz, 4 MB SmartCache
- Intel® Core™ i5-6200U up to 2.8 GHz, 3MB SmartCache
- Intel® Celeron® 3865U 1.8 GHz, 2MB SmartCache
At the top end with the i7 vPro configuration, the XSLATE R12 even sits well alongside the top end of consumer devices including the Microsoft Surface 4.
Indeed, at the top end with the i7 vPro configuration, the XSLATE R12 even sits well alongside the top end of consumer devices including the Microsoft Surface 4. From a hands on perspective I used the XSLATE R12 for a number of my day to day tasks many of which require fairly demanding applications such as video, audio and image editing and the tablet accounted for itself well, with no issues and similar response levels as the MacBook Pro I generally use when I'm on the road.
Operating system
The XSLATE R12 is available primarily on Windows 10 64 bit which is to be expected given the fact that Microsoft put out an end of life announcement for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 in the last quarter of 2016.
The good news is that whilst they may have taken their time to get there and made a few mistakes along the way, almost all of Windows 8 for example felt rushed and ill thought out (hence the quick reworking that became Windows 8.1), Windows 10 is a genuinely intuitive and powerful OS.
Of course, being on a Window's system in the field may be helpful for the many, many organisations that are using such systems in the office as well in terms of mobile device management and cyber-security etc. Also for those who have yet to migrate to Windows 10 the XSLATE R12 does come with downgrade options to either Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 which will be available until October this year.
The Ins & Outs
Data input options: Bluetooth Keyboard
Let's start off with the area that Xplore themselves have highlighted as a key USP for the XSLATE R12, namely the way they have approached the 2-in-1 category. My initial thoughts on this, as alluded to above, is that just adding a kickstand and a bluetooth keyboard doesn't necessarily mean that we are getting a true laptop experience.
The keyboard itself connected through the bluetooth easily, quickly and with no issues at all and was of a decent enough size to be more than comfortable for typing anything of length
The keyboard itself connected through the bluetooth easily, quickly and with no issues at all and was of a decent enough size to be more than comfortable for typing anything of length and the trackpad was also equally responsive and a useful inclusion. Indeed the experience of using the XSLATE R12 with the keyboard is very much that of using a laptop, also from my experience using the device, the lack of the physical connection between the screen and the keyboard actually lends itself to more flexible, and thus more comfortable use.
Finally, it should be highlighted that the entire kickstand mechanism including the keyboard is able to be detached very easily (it is attached magnetically) at which point the XSLATE R12 becomes a powerful tablet. It is certainly a heavy duty device weighing in at fairly hefty 2.9 lbs. To put that into context that is almost twice as heavy as the 12.9 inch iPad Pro - a good comparable device in terms of screen size. However, perhaps a more even comparison would be with the Dell Latitude Rugged 12 as consumer devices are of course lighter than their rugged counterparts and in this instance the XSLATE R12 is indeed around 20% lighter of the two.
Date input options: Pen input:
As you would expect of a professional grade 2-in-1 device the XSLATE R12 comes with a pen stylus for written input. The tablet has a neat built-in holder for the pen, which would be very familiar to anyone who has ever used a Samsung Galaxy Note tablet or smart phone, and the stylus itself has a similar level of variance in stroke pressure to that of a Wacom stylus and comes with a standard, but still highly useful, button that can be set up for a number of uses (personally I find it useful as a right mouse click replacement.)
Data input options: Cameras
The camera options for the XSLATE R12 are sufficient if not groundbreaking.
There are two cameras on the device a front facing camera which has become an absolute necessity for field service work as the concept of remote assistance via video calls becomes a very standard approach amongst field service organisations. Given the primary function of this front camera the 2.0 Megapixel spec is more than sufficient - anything more than that would just get wasted in compression codecs used for video streaming - particularly over 3G internet signals.
On the rear of the tablet there is an 8 Megapixel camera which also has a LED flash.
Whilst of course this is adequate for most of the tasks required of it - which are for documentation purposes rather than taking award winning landscapes, in dark corners (where field assets can often reside) capturing clear photographs was slightly less straightforward.
However, this is a minor gripe, and for the most part the rear camera fared well in our test scenarios.
Data input: additional options
The tablet is also capable of including additional data input options which come in the form of Xplore's proprietary add-on system called slate mate.
Additional options for the XSLATE R12 include a 13.56 MHz HF RFID with reader with write capability and a Barcode reader that works with both 1D and 2D barcodes. Both of these inclusions are optional extras.
I/Os:
In terms of it's inputs the XSLATE R12 is not particularly rich in options that come as standard. There is only 1 USB port (which is USB 3.0) although there is a HDMI port. I flagged this up as a benefit when reviewing the XSLATE R12's sister device the XSLATE B10 as it is certainly something useful for those working in telco/pay TV sector - which I understand is where the original request for inclusion of HDMI in came from.
However, the XSLATE B10 comes with an extra USB port making it less of a trade off.
For the R12, especially given that it seems to be aiming for a wider market - trying to step into not just field workers but the wider arena of enterprise mobility perhaps, then I felt that perhaps this bit of real estate on the tablet could have been better served as a second USB.
Realistically, given the fact that the keyboard is bluetooth and the screen is touch sensitive, then the requirements for a second USB port in the field may be fairly limited
Indeed, on reflection I guess they would have a point.
Realistically, given the fact that the keyboard is bluetooth and the screen is touch sensitive, then the requirements for a second USB port in the field may be fairly limited, and the docking station really does open the R12 up into desktop level experiences and for many organisations could be a hugely beneficial addition. However, if i'm being hyper critical I still think if given the choice between an additional USB port or a HDMI port many field workers would opt for the former. Perhaps a choice between the two could be integrated into future iterations of the device?
In terms of connectivity, the XSLATE has space for a SIM card to provide mobile internet coverage, and comes with three internal options for configuration of LTE networks depending on region and requirements - which is of course an essential inclusion for field workers. This is acts as a compliment to the Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 Wi-Fi which picked up good speeds on our wireless network.
For storage there is a MicroSD slot to expand the XSLATE R12's internal capacity which ranges from 64GB up to 512GB.
Finally, the XSLATE R12 has a standard 3mm audio jack plus 2 integrated speakers and 3 microphones (2 front facing and one rear facing). The XSLATE R12 also features RealTek noise reduction which worked very well when we made a test call from outdoors in what was a very windy environment.
Battery Life:
It is slowly become a bit of a moot point in the world of industry level devices at least to discuss battery life and for the XSLATE R12 that is almost certainly the case. Essentially, the device is capable of running forever via hot swappable batteries - which can be purchased as additional accessories.
Even for those who don't have a second battery the stated life time of the device is over 9 hours. However, it should be mentioned that we found this to be slightly lower (closer to 6 or 7) and looking at the fine print Xplore do state that 9+ hours is based upon the Core i5 configuration.
However, we also found that in our tests batteries were charging close to full within a little over 2 hours - which again is pretty much in line with Xplore's stated claim of 2.5 hours.
Ruggedity:
I mentioned earlier in the review that the XSLATE R12 seems to be aimed at a slightly different market to where Xplore have played in traditionally. Indeed, I recall Mark Holleran, COO of Xplore telling me that he saw the Motion range more in the semi-rugged space compared to the original Xplore tablets and when the XSLATE R12 was launched John Graff, VP of marketing at Xplore was quoted as saying “No one sits still anymore at work”.
The device is certainly robust - the fact that it is tested to MIL-STD-810G standards means it is capable of taking more than it's fair share of knocks and drops
Maybe I am reading between the lines here but the rugged specs for the XSLATE R12 would appear to back up this assumption.
Whilst the device is certainly robust - the fact that it is tested to MIL-STD-810G standards means it is capable of taking more than it's fair share of knocks and drops, it's relatively low IP rating of IP54 means that this is not a device particularly suited to the outdoor life.
For reference a rating of IP54 means that the device is neither protected against dust ingress nor anything more than splash proof. In a world where many top-end consumer smartphones are now rated IP67 or even as is the case with Samsung's last three flagship devices IP68 (meaning completely closed off to dust ingress and submergible in water for up to 30 minutes) it is a surprise that the XSLATE R12 scores so lowly in this regard.
Yet, whilst the XSLATE wouldn't be too happy getting dropped in a muddy puddle, on the flip side it's screen brightness rating of 800 NITS means you would be able to see the screen clearly even in bright sun if you did take it outside - so just be careful where you put it down.
Finally, the XSLATE R12 is also C1D2 certified for hazardous locations, an important inclusion for those working in such environments.
Conclusion:
There is so much good to write about the XSLATE R12. It is comfortable as both a laptop and a tablet which makes it a good option for those companies whose engineers are currently still using multiple devices.
It has plenty of power for more CPU intensive tasks such as CAD based design work and for a rugged 12inch tablet it is a sleek looking and not to cumbersome to carry around, and as mentioned it is certainly capable of surviving a fair few knocks and drops.
However, there is a certain element of Jeckyl and Hyde in the XSLATE R12 that I just can't get my head around.
It's low IP rating certainly surprised me when I looked through the specs and based on it's rating of IP54 I certainly wouldn't recommend it to an organisation whose engineers work outdoors on anything near even a semi-regular basis. In the world today our field engineer's mobility tools are critical to his role, and no matter how good those tools are, they are useless if they are broken.
I'm sure that the team at Xplore would quite rightly point out the fact that they offer other tablets which are "fully rugged" as they term it - such as the XSLATE B10 which is IP67 rated for field technicians working in such environments, but what confuses me is that the XSLATE B10 has a significantly lower (although admittedly perfectly acceptable) screen brightness compared to the XSLATE R12 - so in very bright sunlight the XSLATE R12 would be easier to view than it's more rugged cousin the XSLATE B10.
But as mentioned the XSLATE R12 isn't really suited to outdoor environments where it could get dusty or wet - so why bother giving it a NIT rating of 800 in the first place? It is this kind of lack of connection in reasoning that makes me think that even the R&D team at Xplore may not truly know exactly which vertical this device is aimed at.
The XSLATE R12 is undoubtedly a very, very good device and if your field service company is one of the many whose engineers are currently using both a tablet and a laptop then this could certainly be a device worth exploring.
Indeed, with the application of this same logic the XSLATE R12 would be a good fit any sector whose field workers were largely based either within homes or offices.
Although, again when we look at these sectors we need to ask whether consumer devices within rugged casing may be suitable alternatives and similarly whether simpler tablets can be deployed in cases where the impressive processing power of the XSLATE R12 is simply going to waste?
The XSLATE R12 is undoubtedly a very, very good device and if your field service company is one of the many whose engineers are currently using both a tablet and a laptop then this could certainly be a device worth exploring. In this regard it certainly could potentially find a much bigger home outside of field service in the hands of the general mobile worker.
However, if your field service engineers do work in more challenging environments than homes and offices then regardless of the XSLATE R12's many impressive facets, you are probably best looking at alternatives such as the XSLATE B10 or the Panasonic Toughbook20.
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Jul 29, 2015 • Hardware • News • Panasonic Toughbook • Panasonic Toughpad • Rugged devices
Got a Toughbook or Toughpad? Panasonic wants to hear from all those people who use these devices for very difficult tasks - jobs that would make the average worker's knees tremble.
Got a Toughbook or Toughpad? Panasonic wants to hear from all those people who use these devices for very difficult tasks - jobs that would make the average worker's knees tremble.
In celebration of tough job heroes and recognition that while the Toughbook and Toughpad rugged devices are tough, their users are often even tougher, Panasonic is running a Toughest Job competition. The jobs show rugged devices in action in the UK's National Health Service, by Royal Air Force helicopter crews and by crane inspectors for Zurich Insurance.
To enter, you view three videos showing the devices in action and cast their vote as to watch three videos and cast your vote as to which of the three jobs is toughest: you click on "tough as Old Boots" if you agree the job is tough or on "My Nana's Tougher" is you think there are tougher jobs out there. The winner receives a rugged Panasonic Toughpad FZ-M1.
You don't think those jobs are as tough as yours? Panasonic wants to hear from you, too. In a second competition those people view the videos and think their job is tougher can upload a photo or video of themselves or their colleagues in action and enter a prize draw to win a Panasonic rugged Lumix camera as well.
The competition runs until 31 August 2015.
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