Timely information for outdoor mobile workers this summer as heat waves sweep country
Austin, TX – Xplore Technologies Corp. (www.xploretech.com) announced that RuggedPCReview.com has posted an article on the ability of its iX104C5 computers to handle thermal stresses – whether blistering heat as high as 140 degrees or freezing temperatures as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit. The full text of the article can be found at: http://www.ruggedpcreview.com/3_features_performance_under_stress.html.
Although there is a growing focus on recent heat waves, workers in industries where tablet computers are mounted in vehicles are faced with this issue on a regular basis, as these computers are frequently left in locked vehicles where temperatures can soar quickly to extremes – easily 140F or 60C in less than thirty minutes on a sunny summer day. The ability for a computer to function in these situations can be extremely important to these workers, who can include utility workers, field service workers, oil and gas workers, and first responders – all dealing frequently with the need for the computer to work without waiting for the vehicle’s air conditioner to cool the computer for mission critical data and communication. Many tablet computers are not designed for these summer conditions and will literally shut down or creep along and the home office may not be aware of the field issue.
This RuggedPCReview.com article, written by Conrad Blickenstorfer, editor-in-chief, is particularly timely in light of the country’s recent heat waves – unprecedented temperature extremes that are befalling areas of the US this summer.
As the article points out, “for regular desktop and notebook computers, ambient operating temperature is hardly ever an issue.” The issue becomes particularly critical for mobile workers who have mission critical jobs in very hazardous and difficult conditions – e.g. outdoors in a sweltering 100 degree plus day for example.
“The types of rugged systems we test and review here at RuggedPCReview.com often have operating temperatures far wider than consumer products,” states Blickenstorfer in his piece. “These systems are designed to run in freezing temperatures as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, and in blistering heat as high as 140 degrees. And unlike consumer desktops and notebooks, there isn’t room for large fans and sometimes no fan at all.”
The story notes that “The Xplore iX104C5 is one of the toughest and most rugged tablet computers out there.” After running very extensive and demanding tests in the RugggedPCReview.com labs, the piece concludes: “Amazingly, the benchmark results over a full 160 degree temperature range were for all practical purposes identical. The biggest bottom line deviation we found was less than 8/10th of a percent, well within the margin of error of the benchmarks. This means that the Xplore iX104C5 does indeed provide full 100% performance over its entire operating temperature range, and even a good deal beyond. If reliable, consistent performance matters, that is quite important.”
About Xplore Technologies®
Xplore is engaged in the business of developing, integrating and marketing mobile wireless Tablet PC computing systems. The Company’s products enable the extension of traditional computing systems to a range of field and on-site personnel, regardless of location or environment. Using a range of wireless communication mediums, together with the Company’s rugged computing products, the Company’s end-users are able to receive, collect, analyze, manipulate and transmit information in a variety of environments not suited to traditional non-rugged computing devices. The Company’s end-users are in markets that include utility, warehousing/logistics, public safety, field service, transportation, oil and gas, manufacturing, route delivery, military and homeland security.