A buyers guide to Rugged Devices

How do I buy the right rugged device?

The chances are that you’ve ended up here as you are looking to equip your workforce with mobile technology to run an App or monitor processes.  Like many people, you may be finding it difficult to navigate through the maze of products, specifications and capabilities. Why do similar-looking devices range in price from £500 to over £1,000?  What is included and what is not?  What is the warranty? How do I make the right decision?

 In fact, making the wrong decision can not only be costly, but can leave you well short of what you need or unable to upgrade.  So, here’s a little bit of guidance on how to find the right devices for the job at hand.

 What is your mission?

 Firstly, consider what you will be using the device for.  If it is for complex form-based screens, or complex graphics or complex machine readings or you want to run it as a mini workstation combined with process monitoring then you really want a tablet which gives you the necessary screen space.

 If your mission is purely stock movement, stock checking, dispatch, delivery, scanning packages or stock items etc to interrogate them, then a handheld (PDA) is much better for this.

 There is a cross over size between PDAs and tablets at roughly 6”/7” screen size (measured diagonally across the screen like a TV), which are just about big enough to be used as a tablet but can also be used as a handheld scanner.  Above that size it is considered a tablet.

 You might need a mixture of both, some tablets and some PDAs.  If so, there is an advantage in buying these from the same company with the same support – one source with single support and upgrade centre for both types of device.

 Why is the specification so important?

 Here, think cost and complexity. If you buy an over-specified device, you will be buying functionality you do not need and adding cost, complexity and weight to the device.  Why pay for things you do not need?  Conversely, buying a device that seems cheap but turns-out to not have the power of features you need will be problematic in use.  Your mission will dictate how much power, in-built functionality, and level of ruggedness you require, so the following is a list of the main things you should consider.

• Do you need a scanner? 

 The first question you need to ask yourself is, do you need a laser scanner?  This comes down to how frequently you will be using it and what level of accuracy you need.  Cameras are limited in terms of speed and range and then it takes a little while for the device to decode what the camera has seen.  A laser scanner has a much bigger range, is far more accurate and much faster.  However, if you can get away with not having a scanner (if you don’t scan anything or scan infrequently) this can save you a lot of money.  There is no need to buy a scanner which you don’t need.

• Do you take pictures of things?

 Do you need to take pictures with this device?  This might be to confirm a delivery, (POD) or for QA purposes for example.

 The quality of the camera should be considered.  You will see this measured in MP (megapixels).  Some devices come with cameras as low as 3MP.  This is likely to produce a poor picture and failed scans if it is being used to decode bar-codes. In fact, for a main camera for scanning or quality control we recommend 13MP at least and a good quality lens. 

• What do I need in terms of RAM (Random-Access Memory) and ROM (Read-only Memory)?

 What applications are you going to run on the device?  If you are running an application through a browser or a remote desktop connection for example you may get away with 3Gb RAM and 32Gb ROM. Ideally you should be aiming for 4Gb and 64Gb on a PDA, especially if you are going to be using interfaces, collecting local data or connecting to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. 

 For tablets, 4GB and 64 GB should be the absolute minimum.  However, if you are running resident apps like Windows or going to use more complicated apps like ERP or complex processing you may want to think about upping the storage.  Often cheaper devices look like a money saving option but it’s worth checking the memory specification.

• What processor should I go for?

 For PDAs and tablets, the recommendation is for an 8 core 1.6GHz or ideally 2 GHz processor as a minimum. 

•  What battery should I be looking for?

 Often overlooked, the battery is a key component of all devices. These should be latest technology Lithium-Ion batteries with protection control. For a tablet these should have a capacity of around 10,000 mAH or more.  The same is true for PDAs, however 5,000 mAH or more should be enough.  Ideally batteries should be easily removable, especially with PDAs as this allows users to have a spare battery always on charge and quickly install it as required.

• What about screen type and size?

 Screens have come a long way in recent years; however, some devices are still using quite old technology. Be careful to ensure that the screen is a multi-touch PCAP type monitor with toughened or ideally Corning Gorilla glass.  Another consideration is the brightness which is measured in ‘nits’, 400/500 nits should be considered the minimum, however if the device is to be use out-of-doors the monitor should be ‘daylight readable’ meaning circa 1000nits

• Do I want Android or Windows as my operating system?

 The majority of devices these days run on Android. Version 7 or 8 is the minimum you should accept.  Version 9, 10 or 11 is what you should consider and most importantly you should check that that version is compatible with your application.

 Windows is another option, however not all manufacturers offer windows but some such as TUFF, for example, do.  You should budget for the fact that Windows will need more memory and storage and it is a more expensive operating system to buy and maintain. 

 

What does rugged mean?  You've got your spec right, but you want a rugged device.  But how rugged is rugged? 

 

Essentially It comes down to both the quality of case and the quality of the components inside.  Sadly, a lot of devices that are advertised as rugged are not really that rugged at all. 

• Case

A case is made-up of the outer case (which is the bit you can see) and the component mountings inside.   It is quite easy to see if a case looks rugged or flimsy so a visual inspection will reveal quite a lot.  The case should also have very strong fixings holding the back to the front, and slots for connections (e.g., USB etc) should be well covered, ideally with a rubber plug or cover for water/dust protection.  Removeable covers for parts (batteries for example) should be well sealed and lockable.

• Screen

Screens should be well mounted and, as mentioned, should be made from toughened glass, ideally gorilla glass. This is much more resistant to impact and if it does break it doesn't shatter into sharp shards. The corners of the device should be well protected against impact.

• Internal Components

What's more important, however, is what you can’t see - what's inside.  You can find two devices that look similar from the outside, but one is cheaper than the other, and that comes down to what's inside it.  It’s a couple of things that make the difference. Firstly, it’s the way the components are mounted.  In a rugged device they are mounted on a subframe or some form of shock absorbing device, for example.  Then, in no small way, it’s down to the components themselves.  These should be quality, industrial components as these are much better at absorbing shock and will have been tested to run 365 days, 24x7 for three years.  The right components really do make a big difference.

 The overall design, therefore, will incorporate the right materials to provide ruggedness, a good case, proper internal mounting and heat dispersion, good quality industrial components and be tested to run continuously.

 

How can I tell what's good and what's bad? 

 

There are standards to help guide you for this:  IP rating is one, but you do need to make sure all these ratings are properly certified.  For the very rugged devices they should be certified to the MIL standard (military standard).  MIL-STD-H10 (x) which means they are tested to a standard accepted by the US military. This is based on a combination of IP rating, drop testing and tumble testing.  The rating you need comes back, once again, to your mission.                  

 

What does it feel like to hold (aka ergonomics)?

 

Perhaps one thing that is sometimes overlooked is how does it feel to use and is it practical?  It might be useful having a great big tablet with a huge screen, but that might not be practical for carrying around for a whole shift.  Equally, a PDA with a small screen might be easier to carry around but not if the person using it can’t see what’s on the screen.  It’s important to find a balance. 

 

Do I need any accessories?

 

With a tablet you should consider having a hand strap; this makes a massive difference to how it is used or held.  You might also like to consider whether you need charging stations or desk mounts.  You might want a vehicle mount for a tablet in a fork-lift or a PDA in a Van.  Desk charging stations (or Docks) should have the ability charge a spare battery simultaneously and, if possible, have a data as well as power connection.

 

It is also worth noting whether accessories like batteries or charging packs are including in the initial price or whether they are an extra. In fact, it is a good practice to make sure that you do not assume things are included that are not.

 

What warranty do I need?

 

It is worth checking this at the outset.  A lot of devices have one year’s warranty, and some have two.  If you want more, then you may have to pay for it.  You might find a device is advertised at a certain price and then you find you need to pay for additional warranty cover.  Find out what the warranty covers and if its suitable for your business requirements?

 

Are there other ways to pay?

Devices can be a big drain on cash, does the vendor offer finance?  In which case, is the interest prohibitive?  Is there a subscription model including support that spreads the cost over time without incurring interest charges?

What do I do next?

Review your mission using the above information.  This should give you a good place to start when making your enquiries.  If you are still stuck, then give us a shout!

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