Armor X7 Rugged Tablet Review

By Matthew Elliott , TabletPCReview Staff | | 18217 Reads

Reviewer Rating:

Pros

Rugged, durable case
No moving parts for silent operation and added reliability
Twin batteries for long running time

Cons

Small screen makes navigating Windows a challenge
Protected layers on screen lessen the accuracy of the touchscreen
Expansion options limited to a lone USB 2.0 port and docking connector

Quick Take:

A brick of a tablet, the Armor X7 is a tiny 7-inch tablet that can go almost anywhere. However, the cost and small display limit the Armor X7's appeal to rugged professionals.

After unboxing the Armor X7, I couldn't help but think the “Handle with care” label on the side of the shipping box was meant to be ironic. This is one tough tablet meant to go places the iPad and its tablet ilk could only dream of. With its small, 7-inch screen and big price at $2,377, the Armor X7 isn't for the general consumer. It's MIL-STD-810G and IP65 certified, meaning it's built for those professionals who work under harsh conditions. The screen is too small to comfortably navigate Windows, but a certain class of worker – military contractors in the Iraqi desert or insurance adjusters in Alaska, for instance – with custom software built for such a device, the Armor X7 allows you to do your job in practically any environment.

DRS Technologies Armor X7 specifications:

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate (32-bit)
Intel Atom N450 1.66GHz single-core processor
7.0-inch WSVGA 1024 x 600 Transmissive sunlight-readable LCD
2GB DDR2 800MHz SDRAM
40GB solid-state drive
2.0 MP Webcam
802.11 n MIMO 1x2 Wireless LAN connectivity (WLAN), Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR (Class 2) Bluetooth
Twin hot-swappable lithium ion battery packs (2 cells, 2950 mAHr each)
8.9 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches
3.4 lbs (with two high-capacity batteries, as weighed by TPCR), 2.85 lbs (with two standard batteries, according to product literature)
MSRP: $2,377

Rugged specifications:

Shock/drop: MIL-STD-810G certified (6-foot drop)
Ingress protection: IP65 IEC 60529 egress
Compatibility Cat II Chemical Solvents, Cat III Cleaners and Cat IV Industrial Chemicals
Temperature: -20 to 60 C Operating / -40 to 70 C Storage
(-4 F to 140 F) Operating / (-40 F to 158 F) Storage
20 C/min temperature shock operating
(68 F/ min temperature shock operating)
Humidity: +5 C to 60° C, 95% RH (41 F to 140 F)
Altitude: 20,000 ft / 6.1 km
Vibration: 514.5, Procedure I, Category 3
Hazardous Location: ISAFE: UL 1604 Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B, C and D; CSA C22.2
No. 213-M1987; EN60079-0, EN60079-15:2005 (ATEX), ESD 22 kV air

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