1.4 | Choosing an In-cab Tablet PC

Compatible hardware and display

T3RRA in-cab software runs on any 64-bit Windows 11 PC, whether a desktop computer, laptop or tablet PC. A keyboard and mouse can be used, but the software is designed primarily for a touchscreen interface.

For most installations, a Windows tablet PC offers the best balance of portability, usability and mounting flexibility in the machine cab. For the best operating experience, use landscape orientation and a screen size of 10 inches or larger, as recommended.

Consumer and rugged tablets

Windows tablets vary in performance, durability and price. Choose according to your operating environment and business requirements. The two broad categories are compared below.

T3RRA supplies ruggedised RuggON tablets designed for demanding in-cab environments. Compared with consumer-grade devices, their resistance to vibration, dust, moisture and temperature extremes significantly reduces hardware failures, downtime and warranty claims.

Consumer tablets can be used if they meet the minimum hardware requirements and remain in good working condition. Many customers have used devices such as the Microsoft Surface Pro successfully in cab, however these are not recommended for extended in cab use. 

Consumer devices are generally intended for office or home use, not continuous operation in harsh agricultural or construction environments. Vibration, dust, weather and temperature extremes can reduce their reliability and service life.

Consider the cost of unexpected downtime as well as the purchase price. Where machine availability is critical, a ruggedised tablet—or a readily available spare tablet—is strongly recommended.

Note - If a consumer tablet is chosen, such as a Windows Surface Pro, Qualcomm Snapdragon processors are NOT supported. 

Reliable operation and maintenance

Modern tablet PCs can run many applications at once. For reliable machine-control performance, avoid installing unnecessary software or running resource-intensive applications while operating T3RRA software. Excessive processor, memory or storage usage may reduce system responsiveness.

Maintain your tablet regularly. During planned maintenance periods, install Windows updates, T3RRA software updates and any recommended driver or firmware updates. Keeping the operating system and software current helps maximise reliability and performance.