When I heard wind that Zebra was about to launch a new enterprise tablet, I got my usual “new technology” buzz. You know…the anticipation that is only equaled by a kid on Christmas Eve.
The ET50 and ET55 made their debut in September, and we got our hands on these enterprise tablets to give them a test drive. These two mobile devices fill a major gap in the ruggedized industry. And if you haven’t yet gotten fully on board with the whole “consumer versus rugged” debate where “rugged” wins hands-down, then you need to go back to our earlier blog post.
For all the reasons we’ve already shared about the importance of using rugged devices in a commercial environment—durability, enterprise security, data capture, device management—the ET50 and ET55 enterprise tablets deliver premium results. Both tablets are available in an 8- or 10-inch display. Both feature constant battery power, Zebra’s unrivaled durability, GPS, NFC, Gorilla Glass 3, IP65 sealing, and all the enterprise-class features that are standard in Zebra’s forward-thinking technology.
Data capture potential is also revved up in these new tablets. Two integrated cameras enable image capture, barcode scanning, and even video calling. And the touchscreen can be used with or without gloves!
You can choose your operating system: Android 5.1 or Windows 8.1. And every ET50 and ET55 comes to you already loaded with Mobility Extensions (Mx), which supercharge an Android device into an enterprise-ready power tool. Mx boosts the security, device and app management, data capture, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
What’s the difference between the ET50 and ET55? The ET50 includes both 802/11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity—ideal for inside the four walls, like retail and manufacturing. The ET55 comes standard with 4G LTE—outside the four walls, like transportation and field mobility.
As we keep road-testing these enterprise tablets, we’ll keep you posted on more cool stuff. If you want to take a closer look at the Zebra ET50 or ET55, please contact us at Vision Computer Works.