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In Februay 2018, DT Research launched an interesting small and rugged All-In-One, the DT872CR. It's a compact fixed-mount panel with a 7-inch touchscreen that can run either Windows 10 or Android. The DT872CR is designed as a system integration module, and for mounting on buses, trains, elevators, and walls, providing a wide range of solutions for manufacturing, transportation, logistics, and military applications.
So, in essence, what we have here is a little panel computer that can serve as a "human-machine interface" for any number of walk-up or self-serve applications. That includes all sorts of areas that benefit from a degree of application intelligence, where pushing some buttons on a static panel just won't do. Examples would be machine control, getting information, buying tickets, anything that includes decision trees and drill-downs that require programming and not just a list of selections.
What are the requirements for such a device? It's a PC, but one that's used in public and perhaps outdoors.
For a bit of history, 2-in-1s aren't new. They go back pretty much to the beginnings of pen computing and tablets over 20 years ago. But the designs never worked well enough to break through. Initially the problem was that packing all the electronics into a lightweight tablet just wasn't possible. So the attempted 2-in-1s were unwieldy and top-heavy. Convertible notebooks with rotating displays have had their niche for many years, but not more than that. Most recently, cardboard-thin keyboards that attach magnetically to modern tablets have made inroads, but generally don't make for a truly practical solution.
So what did DT Research bake into the DT872CR to make it suitable for its envisioned deployments? A few things:
- It's sealed and fanless, so no need to worry about the box leaking or the fan breaking down or make too much noise.
- It's tough and rugged and can handle rough treatment.
- It can do Android "Marshmallow" or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, whichever is better suited for the job.
- It has all the connectivity needed for peripherals and accessories.
- It can be equipped with GPS, long range Bluetooth, or 4G LTE/AWS mobile broadband.
The little panel is powered by an Intel Atom x5-Z8350 processor. This is a quad-core "system-on-chip" processor of Intel's 14nm "Cherry Trail" lineup that succeeds the popular 22nm "Bay Trail" roster. Integrated graphics are of the Intel Gen 8 variety, the same generation as Intel's high-end "Broadwell" chips. This is an amazingly competent processor that, however, costs only a small fraction of the price of an Intel Core processors, thus contributing to the affordable price of the DT872CR.
Measuring 5.9 x 7.9 x 1.46 inches inches and weighing just over three pounds, the DT872CR uses DC power, comes with speedy dual-band 802.11ac WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0, optionally of the Class 1 long-range variety.
The little panel's 7-inch display offers 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, making for a very sharp 216 pixels per inch, as sharp as the Apple retina iMac this article was written on. And like virtually all Android devices and most recent Windows tablets, the DT872CR has capacitive multi-touch.
On the ruggedness side, the DT872CR's aluminum alloy construction mean that the panel is tough and sturdy enough for use in public places. And there are the prerequisite VESA drill hole patterns for various standard mounting systems. The specs state IP65 sealing, which means it's fully protected against dust, and also protected against low pressure water jets from all directions.
The standard operating temperature range is 32 to 122 degrees, so it's not for freezers, but can handle most other indoor places. DT Research also claims MIL-STD-810G testing for drop, shock and vibration.
With the light and compact DT872CR, DT Research offers a state-of-the-art, Intel Skylake-powered thin-and-light tablet that's tough enough to be deployed in vast array of applications that require more than run-of-the-mill consumer tablets can provide. And the addition of a 2-in-1 version of the DT872CR makes the platform that much more attractive.
DT Research is clearly onto something here. The small and compact DT872CR brings computing power and connectivity to all sorts of public, business, enterprise, hospitality and industrial places, and a thousand more. It's an ideal building block for emerging IoT applications. It offers the power of full Windows, or the familiar simplicity of Android. This should be a big hit.
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