Why a car computer is an essential business tool

Vehicle-based electronic devices are nothing new, but no existing in-car or mobile IT device can match a car computer's functionality and versatility. Here are a few reasons why our car computers should be your first choice for a combined vehicle infotainment and mobile IT solution.

Our PCs are more suited to the vehicle environment than other mobile IT devices.

The table below compares our vehicle computers to other mobile IT devices such as PDAs, laptops and tablets...

	PDAs, Laptops & Tablets	Dedicated Vehicle PC
Robustness	These devices, which are often very fragile, are constantly handled by the user and are therefore much more likely to be damaged, either during use or transportation.	The PC itself is never handled by the user, reducing the risk of accidental damage to almost zero. The only parts of the system that are handled by the user are the display and wireless keyboard, and in the unlikely event that these do fail they can be swapped for replacements very rapidly. All programs, data & settings remain on the PC itself.
Security	The device moves around constantly and can easily be lost or stolen, resulting in the loss of both a valuable piece of equipment and potentially irreplaceable data.	The PC, where all your data and most of the system’s value reside, remains permanently in the vehicle. Because it is normally completely out of sight, and can be bolted to the vehicle chassis using anti-theft bolts if necessary, it is much less likely to be lost or stolen. Screens are either made to look part of the vehicle or are very easy to remove when leaving the vehicle.
Screen Size & Brightness	The screen is part of the device and either cannot be changed at all or is limited to a small range of sizes and screen types, which can only be customised before the unit is purchased.	We offer a very wide range of display sizes from 6.5” to 15” and beyond, including sunlight readable versions. Screens are extremely easy to upgrade in the future (e.g. for a larger or brighter model as screen technology advances).
Screen Mounting	Laptops are impractical for in-vehicle use due to their extremely large physical footprint. Balancing a hot laptop on your knees, or twisting round to view one that is resting on a passenger seat, is no recipe for efficient or ergonomic mobile working. Tablets normally need to be mounted on the dashboard using a docking cradle. Because they are heavy and bulky the range of mounting options is severely limited. Our dedicated on-dash displays are light and compact, allowing for a much wider range of mounting options. PDAs normally need to be mounted on the dashboard. Their small screen size means they need to be mounted as close to the driver as possible, which is often impractical.	Touch sensitive screens can be mounted anywhere in the vehicle, including: In-dash Neatly integrated into the vehicle dashboard Does not require removal when the vehicle is parked On-dash removable Light and compact because they are only screens, and contain no other electronics Very easy to rapidly remove from the vehicle Sun-visor integrated Positioned directly in front of the user for the most ergonomic setup Completely covert - does not need to removed when the vehicle is parked Headrest integrated Trimmed into the headrest for a very professional look Roof mounted One screen can serve more than one person Covert when not in use Use of vehicle's existing display Dashboard remains totally unchanged Totally covert
Performance	PDAs and tablets often have very limited processing power and storage capabilities. See below for further information about how limited PDAs really are.	As standard our vehicle PCs can feature processors up to an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz, with hard drives up to 500 GB. If you need greater performance we can always build a system to your specs.
Installation	If these devices are to be used in a vehicle they still require professional installation in order to install a docking station, a cost which is often neglected in the planning stages of a mobile IT project. In addition, because the service is likely to be carried out by a third party company rather than the supplier or manufacturer, there is potential for confusion if the installers are unfamiliar with the equipment.	We can professionally install our vehicle PCs as part of the package. Having the whole process, from manufacture to installation, carried out by the same company makes for a much smoother experience.
Customisation	These devices are usually mass produced, with little or no customisation available.	We build all our computers to our customers’ exact specifications. Have an unusual request? We’ll do our best to make it happen.
Data Input	PDAs use a very small on-screen keyboard, and if a physical keyboard is available it is extremely cramped. With tablets and laptops the physical keyboard, if present, is fixed to the chassis and cannot be detached, which makes it difficult to use in a vehicle environment.	Wide range of data input methods, including: Full-size compact wireless QWERTY keyboards Touch sensitive displays Voice recognition for rapid dictation of documents or emails
Use in the field outside of the vehicle	Can be used outside of the vehicle, unless: It happens to be raining The batteries have run out Heavy vehicle-bound accessories such as printers tie the mobile device to the vehicle anyway If your application really does require mobile devices to be used outside of the vehicle then a dedicated vehicle PC can work with these devices, maximising mobile working efficiency by giving users the best solution while both in and out of the vehicle.	OK, we do accept that laptops etc may score a point here. But portability is a disadvantage if it isn’t absolutely necessary, and there are many applications that do not require the system to be used outside of the vehicle. Our PCs are fully integrated into the vehicle, allowing them to: Turn on and off automatically with the vehicle ignition Play sound over the vehicle sound system Perform driver-related functions such as navigation and hands-free phone control A docking station is also in development that will allow the vehicle PC to be rapidly removed from the vehicle if required, so that it can be used in an office or home as a standard desktop PC.

We hope you agree that our PCs are infinitely more suited to being used while in a vehicle, which in most cases is where users spend the majority of their time.

Our car computers are more functional, robust, user friendly and expandable than PDAs

Why have an imitation of a computer when you can have the real thing? Consider the following facts:

Users are more likely to be familiar with Windows XP or Windows 7 than with Windows Mobile or other proprietary PDA operating systems
PDAs have small screens - the larger screens of our car computers provide enhanced user comfort.
PDAs aren't suitable for significant data input - the wireless QWERTY keyboards and voice recognition features of our car computers are much more suitable for composing emails or documents than tapping on a tiny on-screen keyboard.
PDAs are not upgradeable and become obsolete relatively quickly. By contrast we can upgrade our car computers in any way after the initial purchase so that they can take advantage of the latest features.
PDAs support a very limited range of hardware devices. If you need to use a specialist hardware device in the field, your hardware is far more likely to be supported by a vehicle-based computer running Windows XP or Windows 7 than a PDA. Click here for more information about using specialist hardware devices with our car computers.
PDAs support a very limited range of software. Only specially designed 'mobile' software can run on PDAs. Our car computers can run any program that runs on Windows XP or Windows 7, giving you access to a vast range of applications.
PDAs have poor storage capabilities. Our computers can have high capacity internal hard drives (currently up to 500 GB), which no PDA even comes close to. Getting data on and off our car computers is also very easy, with dashboard mounted USB2.0 ports, DVD-RW drives, 52-in-1 card readers, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G internet.
PDAs are fragile and easy to break. Drop a PDA and there's a good chance the device will break and your data and programs could be lost. The most vulnerable part of our car computers is what the user interacts with - namely the display and wireless keyboard. In the unlikely event that these do malfunction they can both easily be replaced. The PC itself, which is the most valuable component and is where your data, programs and settings are stored, is installed safely out of reach elsewhere in the vehicle, creating a much more robust system.

Our car computers thus provide a far more cost effective solution than PDA devices. For businesses we offer leasing options over one, two or three years, removing the need to pay a large upfront sum, and giving you flexible hardware that will save significant costs in the long term.

Our car computers can do a lot more than standard in-car devices

A wide range of devices are now available, both as factory-fitted options or aftermarket add-ons, that can bring modern features to your car, including sat-nav systems, hands-free kits, mp3 players, DVD players and TV tuners.

Our computers can perform all these 'ordinary' functions, while at the same time giving you access to facilities that only an internet-enabled PC can provide, including:

Web browsing
Email access, including verbal read-out of new emails and voice recognition for composing
Real-time access to the data and programs stored on your office PC, using Remote Desktop
Printing and scanning facilities without returning to the office
Use of any program that runs on Windows XP or Windows 7

Our car computers are more professional than using removable devices

A vehicle cabin containing a scattered collection of aftermarket in-car devices, with power cables running over or around the dashboard, is extremely untidy and unprofessional. But it can also be dangerous, especially if cables are allowed to interfere with vehicle controls, or if devices obstruct the driver's view of the road or are not adequately secured.

We professionally install our vehicle computers so that the computer display, through which all the computer's functions are controlled, is securely mounted in a user-friendly position. In many cars this display can be located in place of the existing radio, resulting in a very integrated look compared to using aftermarket removable devices.

Learn more about our car computers by visiting our capabilities page, or by watching a video