Jamie,

You could do one of two things:

1) Get remote access from an Android based tablet to a Windows PC or laptop via 
Bluetooth. Many apps can do this for you. You could then just leave one 
Bluetooth enabled laptop (ruggedized or not) behind in the vehicle you came in 
or bring it with you in a backpack to protect it (depending on the distance you 
need to travel from your vehicle). 

2) Buy a Windows based Tablet PC such as this: 

http://www.amazon.com/Skytab-S--Windows-Tablet-ExoPC/dp/B005EGRO4A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1357739253&sr=8-2&keywords=windows+Tablet+PC

Then you could just buy the equipment to ruggedize the tablet. 

Either way, when you use the term "rugged" and combine it with "tablet", costs 
are bound to escalate. If you want to buy a rugged Windows Tablet, you are 
looking at well over $1,000 for a decent one.

Hope this helps,

Robert Ford
614-571-7845
[email protected]
B.S. in Forest Ecosystem Science and Management
A.A.S. in Environment Resources Management
The Ohio State University


________________________________________
From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news 
[[email protected]] on behalf of Jamie Sheahan [[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2013 5:41 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Recommendations for affordable Field PC Tablets?

I am looking for recommendations from other field scientists for Tablet devices 
that we can use in our water monitoring programs.  There has been an explosion 
of tablets on the market and We are in need of an AFFORDABLE device that is 
rugged enough to be dropped occasionally, lightweight, glare resistant, and 
useable while it in the rain or snow.  We will use it to record field 
measurements and also to download data off of monitoring equipment and data 
loggers. For this reason, it needs to be able to run Windows based software 
programs (from Campbell Scientific PC200 and Hydras 3LT).  We will not have 
internet access while out at field sites. and we aren't in need of the device 
to have GPS ability either. If you have experience with using any tablets out 
in the field, please send your suggestions and recommendations to 
[email protected].


Jamie Sheahan
Hydrologist
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
ph. 541.553.2028
[email protected]

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