MDT or MDC

**ryan36002** · #1 04-23-09, 08:28 AM

Its probably been hashed out before but I can't find it. Whats everybody's thought on Data911 vs. Toughbook? We are looking at both but not sure which to go with.

**Five-0** · #2 04-23-09, 09:03 AM

We use Toughbook. The computers work fine, now our IT guys need to be flogged from time to time.

**121Traffic** · #3 04-23-09, 09:11 AM

Data911 terminals are pretty cool. My biggest gripe with them, and dealbreaker as far as I'm concerned, is that they have a capacitive glass touch screen like an iPhone. They cannot be used with patrol or winter gloves on.

Everywhere I've worked used Toughbook laptops mounted in the cabin. My current PD is even kind enough to supply backlit USB keyboards (Data911 brand, coincidentally) in the cabins to plug in when we do field reporting from the street so we're not craning our back to turn toward the laptop..

If you don't like a laptop setup and prefer a central screen with a detachable keyboard (I would prefer this), I've seen Toughbooks mounted in the trunk or somewhere out of the way with seperate touchscreen and keyboard peripherals in the cabin.

**ryan36002** · #4 04-26-09, 11:28 PM

Thanks for the info

**phantasm** · #5 04-27-09, 04:39 PM

NYPD uses toughbook.

**gopherpuckfan** · #6 04-28-09, 12:04 PM

We've got the Toughbooks. If you go with them, I'd suggest getting the ones with the plastic keyboard keys instead of the rubber ones. I always mis-type on the rubber ones since the key doesn't press down uniformly.

**Xiphos** · #7 04-28-09, 12:29 PM

I'm gonna ditto 121, he's spot on.

**121Traffic** · #8 04-28-09, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gopherpuckfan

We've got the Toughbooks. If you go with them, I'd suggest getting the ones with the plastic keyboard keys instead of the rubber ones. I always mis-type on the rubber ones since the key doesn't press down uniformly.

ABSOLUTELY! We have a mix in our fleet, and I always seem to be assigned to a car with the rubber keys. I hate them. Those look good on paper, and are good for spills, etc, but terrible for typing anything other than a license plate on. For anything else, I use the Data911 USB keyboards we have in our cars. We keep them velcro'd to the back/top of the flip down screen when not in use...I just take it down and put it against my duty belt and steering wheel for lengthy typing.