Fanless Solution
Fanless PCs that do not have vents or other openings are a great choice if they are being installed in an area subject to dust and debris. A fanless and ventless solution will keep any airborne particulate out of the internal casing which can lead to performance degradation and often lead to expensive maintenance downtime. Even if the Panel PC is going to be installed in a location where environmental conditions are less of a factor, a fanless Panel PC still maintains the benefit of removing the most common point of failure for most computers - the fan. The end result is a solution with a longer lifecycle which can save you money over the long run. Check out this article to learn more about fanless computing.
Capacitive or Resistive Touchscreen
Industrial Panel PCs come in two distinct touchscreen varieties, capacitive and resistive. The primary difference between the two involves how input is detected. Capacitive touchscreens use the human body's electrical field to process input, similar to many of today's smartphones.
Capacitive touchscreens are frequently used for installations that require highly accurate touch sensing or multi-touch capabilities such as pinch to zoom so they are frequently used for kiosks and interactive digital signage.
Resistive screens rely on physical pressure to transmit touch data. Since resistive touchscreens can be used while wearing gloves, they are a great choice for factory automation and healthcare applications. They are also used when a more tactile interface is preferred.
For more help in deciding which type of touchscreen is right for your application, check out our detailed capacitive vs resistive comparison.
IP Rating
The IP rating of your chosen Panel PC can be a very important consideration depending on the environment in which you plan to use it. IP, which stands for Ingress Protection, is a standard designation which indicates how effective an enclosure is at sealing out ingress from both solids and liquids.
The first digit in an IP rating represents an enclosure's ability to keep out solids. The rating is based on size ranging from the operator's fingers to particles like dust and debris. The highest solids ingress rating is 6, indicating protection even against dust particles.
The second digit in an IP rating relates to the effectiveness of the enclosure in sealing out liquids. The highest rating on this scale is an 8. A rating this high means the entire case is waterproof and submergible in depths greater than 1 meter.
There is also an important distinction between a front bezel IP rating and an overall IP rating. A screen with a front bezel IP rating of IP65 for instance has a front screen and surround tested to resist dust (6) and splashed or sprayed liquids (5). An overall IP65 rating on the other hand would indicate that the entire system, including the sides and back of the unit will also resist ingress. If the Panel PC will be embedded within another enclosure or panel mounted, a front IP rating may be all that is necessary. However, if you intend to install the system as a standalone device, and the entire system is likely to be exposed to the elements, a higher overall IP rating may be a necessity.
Size Touchscreen
Panel PCs come in a variety of sizes to meet virtually any situational need. Obviously, depending on your application, you may be limited by a number of factors when you choose touchscreen size. It is important to consider whether it will be mounted, on a stand, on an articulating arm, or otherwise. If so, the weight of the system may also be a factor. You'll also want to think about the resolution of the display. Furthermore, you need to consider how clear and large you'll need the images on it to appear. On that same note, consider whether your application will require a standard (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) aspect ratio screen.
Solution in Direct Sunlight
When the sun shines directly on a device screen it can be nearly impossible to see. The fact is that the vast majority of consumer, and even industrial monitors and touchscreens can't emit enough light. It is hard to compete with the glare of the sun. Standard screens are also subject to high glare, which can cause additional viewing restrictions. This is where high brightness (sometimes called sunlight readable) screens come in. Sunlight readable displays provide higher light output. Sometimes the output is double the nits (a common measure of brightness) of standard displays. In additions, screens often feature special filters to reduce glare. If you are looking into purchasing an industrial Panel PC for outdoor use, or for installation in an area subject to direct sunlight, a high brightness, or sunlight readable screen becomes a vital consideration.
SSD
When it comes to a rugged PC system that can handle harsh conditions or mobile installations, simply going fanless isn't enough to ensure reliability. Solid state systems go one step further by replacing the spinning hard drive with solid state storage. An SSD, or Solid State Drive, has no moving parts. Moving parts are more apt to wear out or potentially fail due to vibration, shock or frequent power cycling. Solid state storage has come a long way in just the last few years. Storage capacity ranges into multiple terabytes with prices much lower than when the technology first hit the market. SSD storage is a vital component to creating a truly solid state device for the ultimate in reliability. This is particularly true for vibration or impact prone installations.
