£1,500 buys an IP65 PC with 15-inch display

Captec has developed a range of IP65-protected industrial PCs incorporating 15-inch LCDs and keypads with prices starting at around £1,500. The company claims that the UK-produced Sabre PCs undercut the prices of most of the opposition without sacrificing quality or ruggedness.

In addition to the aluminium-cased, fanless IP65 PCs, which are designed to survive frequent washdowns, Captec is also offering fan-cooled IP54 models starting at less than £1,000.

The PCs have 1GHz processors and run Windows XP or Linux. As alternatives to the membrane keypad and touchpad, users can specify touchscreens, and barcode or RFID readers. The 1024 x 768 pixel backlit display has a tough polycarbonate cover. Cooling of the fanless IP65 model is achieved using heatpipes and heatsinks. Standard connections include Ethernet, USB, and parallel and serial ports. There is one free PCI expansion slot.