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DT Research DT301Y-TR: 30 second review
For those that work in a hospital, battlefield or construction site, platforms that can handle these environments are important, and that’s precisely what DT Research specialises in.
The DT301Y-TR Rugged Tablet is one of its flagship products, offering up to a Core-i7 class processor running Windows in a waterproof and impact-resistant shell.
The 10.1-inch screen has exceptional brightness and can be operated either with fingers or a pen accessory, and DT Research offers a wealth of other accessories that can attach the unit to a cart or vehicle.
Those mountings are beyond helpful. Because at 3.5 lbs or 1.6 kg, this isn’t anything you want to be carrying throughout a working day.
Where this design differs from typical 2-in-1 designs is that you can’t use the PC in laptop mode without some support, as the hinge connecting the keyboard is only magnetically attached. A support foot was included with our review machine, and this is critical if laptop use is intended. As a tablet, the DT301Y-TR has all the advantages and disadvantages of using Windows 10 IoT Enterprise as a Tablet operating system and the battery life you might expect from a mid-range laptop.
If using the machine on battery for a full working shift is an issue, the battery can be detached and replaced, and DT Research will supply extra batteries and a means to charge them independently of the PC.
Overall, this is a built-for-purpose solution without the restrictions of conventional 2-in-1 hardware, but it comes with a price point to match.DT Research DT301Y-TR: Price and availability
How much does it cost? $2000-$3500
When is it out? It is available now
Where can you get it? You can get it via a DT Research-approved reseller.
The exact price that a DT301Y-TR will cost is highly dependent on the processor options, memory, storage and accessories you might need. Prices start at around $2,000 for a basic model and go up to $3,500 for a better CPU and larger memory configurations.
When budgeting for this equipment, other considerations, such as extra batteries and charging, service contracts and replacement schemes, should also be factored.
DT Research sells through its reseller networks, and to get a quote any potential customers will be directed to contact a local one of these.
For equipment that is so specialised, affordability isn’t one of the aspects that takes much priority.
Value: 4 / 5DT Research DT301Y-TR : Design
Heavy and Water-resistant
Limited USB ports
Bright screen
If you’ve ever seen a video of a soldier using a laptop to program a weapons system, then you should have a good idea of what to expect from the DT301Y-TR.
Heavily reinforced rubberised corners protect an IP65-rated, MILSTD-810G and MIL-STD-461F compliant case made from a combination of ABS, PC plastic and magnesium-aluminium alloy with an anti-microbial coating.
Ports on both sides have sealed covers that lock into place, completing the go-anywhere aesthetic of this aggressively styled tablet.
What’s notable is the large border around the 10.1-inch display that contains some additional touch controls along with four physical buttons.
Our review machine had a kickstand mounted on the rear that was critical for using the magnetically attached keyboard accessory. Some of the obvious problems with this stand are that it is narrow and not centrally mounted. That suggests it was an afterthought to the design of the DT301Y-TR.
However, this leg wobbly it might be, and the lack of angle adjustment, without it extended, you can’t use the keyboard.
The keyboard is narrow, doesn’t have a numeric pad, and in our review hardware, it came with a US keyboard layout. Due to the lightweight nature of the keyboard, it doesn’t offer any extra battery or even USB ports. It’s merely a keyboard.
The official quoted weight for this machine is 1.4 kg or 3.1 lbs, but this is an understatement that might assume that there is no kickstand or rubberised webbing on the rear of the machine.
On some accurate scales, our review machine alone weighed 1.6 kg (3.5 lbs) and with the keyboard connected, that blossomed to 2.05 kg or more than 4.5 lbs.
Therefore, those looking to tone upper-body muscles need to carry one of these for a working shift rather than going to the gym.
A more welcome feature of this design is how the ports are protected with lockable covers, allowing the ports to be both protected and yet easily accessible.
