We are often asked "What is the difference between a tablet PC and a panel
PC?"
With the increasing popularity of tablet computers, many of our customers have considered using tablet computers for their industrial applications. More commonly, we have customers who come to us to replace their existing tablet infrastructure with suitable industrial computers. The fact is that consumer-grade tablets do provide many interesting features. However, in most cases, the benefits are often not enough to meet the potential challenges. This is especially true when implementing a tablet in an industrial environment. Of course, this is not to say that a tablet is never suitable. Let's take a look at several Tablet PCs and Industrial Android Tablet PCs and the important considerations when choosing between different ways for Panel PCs.
Important considerations are as follows:
Installation
Power
Networking
Warranty
Stand by
Downtime
Life cycle
Replace
Installation
One of the main advantages of tablet solutions is mobility. However, in an industrial environment, the portability of a tablet computer may cause many problems. With this in mind, do you feel comfortable having the technician walk around with the tablet all the time? Is there a safe place in your factory workshop or worksite where they can be placed where they will not be knocked down or dropped? Are you worried that someone might leave with a unit? One of the most common reasons why customers come to us to replace tablets is that the decentralized system actually hinders productivity more than it improves productivity. Operators often waste time looking for tablets or new batteries. Panel PCs can be installed in convenient locations and provide a variety of power options.
Power
The portability of the tablet computer has brought the demand for charging.
Although industrial panel PCs use a hard-wired power supply, tablet PCs require some kind of separate charging solution. When purchasing a tablet for industrial applications, it is important to consider the need to install a charging station and make an agreement to ensure regular charging to prevent the battery from draining and resulting in wasted operator time and even data corruption. Click it.
Networking
A reliable network is a prerequisite for most modern business applications.
However, tablets rely entirely on WiFi to a large extent, because standard LAN
port connections are simply not feasible. Although WiFi may be suitable for many applications, if you are concerned about network performance, a wired LAN
connection is always the first choice. Generally speaking, the lack of I/O in tablets is usually impossible for users who need to connect to multiple devices or devices. Although some functions can be added to external hubs, their additional cost and overall reliability must also be considered.
Warranty
When buying any PC, system life is obviously important. It is very important to include the purchased warranty terms into the budget. Due to the high risk of damage, coupled with consumer-grade parts and structures, the extended warranty period of a tablet computer usually brings a high premium. On the other hand,
industrial tablet computer systems usually include a more inclusive and/or longer standard warranty.
Standby
Under ideal circumstances, the hardware solution you choose will work perfectly, and you will never need to seek support, but, as with any electronic device, you may encounter problems, or the system may require follow-up service.
At that time, what is included in the support package of your tablet? Is there an additional charge for direct support? What other resources do you have to answer your questions?
Due to the nature of its use, Custom Industrial Monitor Factory often provides advanced support, troubleshooting, and even application engineering to ensure that customers make the most of their hardware. In addition, some of today's industrial panel-type PCs actually allow you to separate the display from the computer module so that you can send one or the other for support without taking the entire system offline. If the PC fails, you only need to remove it from the monitor, send it in for repair and replace it with a spare PC
module, which greatly reduces downtime.
Downtime
Like potential support issues, downtime is an issue that no business wants to deal with. Research on the cost of downtime has found that even if production is down for one hour, the average manufacturer may lose tens of thousands of dollars. The cost of downtime is an important consideration for any business. Be sure to consider how system failures or hardware-related downtime might affect your bottom line. Do you have redundant hardware? How long does it take to replace the system? Obviously, the best way to prevent downtime is to use
reliable hardware that will not fail in the first place, so no matter which solution you choose, make sure you can rely on it to operate reliably.
Life cycle
Generally speaking, the expected life cycle of consumer hardware is limited,
usually between 1 and 3 years. With the continuous development of consumer PC
components, this has good commercial significance for consumer PC manufacturers.
But for most companies, replacing or repairing the system a few years after purchase is problematic. On the other hand, the life cycle of an industrial PC
is usually 5-7 years. This allows you to standardize well on the platform for the foreseeable future. If you want your business to grow, or suspect that you will need additional hardware, standardizing on a long-lived platform can save you the trouble of having to prototype or re-certify for use on a new system from scratch.
Replace
As mentioned earlier, consumer hardware is rarely designed to withstand the day-to-day abuse of many industrial applications. Failure is almost inevitable.
When developing a budget for your project, be sure to consider how many existing replacement systems you might need. Using industrial PC solutions allows you to reduce replacement inventory and save you money in the long run.
Of course, every hardware installation is unique. A tablet solution may be a
viable option for your project. Therefore, it is important to understand all the variables at work. If you need help deciding on the right hardware option, our solution experts can help you get started.
