Over the past couple of years, IT departments have been trending toward utilizing Industrial PCs instead of the traditional off-the-shelf “white boxes.” Since this trend has increased recently, we began to ask, “What’s causing this trend?”. In this blog, Part I, we will cover the first three reasons an Advantech Industrial PC can be the best option for IT users. The information provided will give some insight as to why Industrial PCs might be a consideration to keep in mind.
The First Three Reasons IT Users have switched to Industrial PCs
- Platform Standardization for Imaging: Industrial PCs are designed with 5-7 years of availability, enabling you to standardize a custom configured platform of your choosing across all lines. This is beneficial because it cuts down on the time spent loading additional application software and drivers. With standard off-the-shelf PCs, most motherboards only have a six month availability time frame. Due to this time constraint, configurations change frequently, making it tough to create a “gold image.” The goal is to cut down on the amount of time spent configuring these systems, which is what an Industrial PC will accomplish.
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Industrial PCs for IT Users
Delivered as Fully Assembled, Tested & Operational Units: Many IT departments assemble their own PCs, which is timely and costly. This can be a large burden at times, since sourcing the components and peripherals is tough due to the lack of long-lasting product availability. When it comes to Industrial PCs, we ship fully assembled, tested and operational units that carry a two year warranty. Choosing this option not only takes a very important task off of the IT department, but also provides the opportunity to focus on the pressing needs of an organization presented on a daily basis.
You can build your own custom-configured IPC here
- Industrial Footprint for Longevity: A great quality of Industrial PCs is just that; they’re Industrial! All chassis, assive backplanes, single board computers, motherboards, power supplies and I/O cards are designed and manufactured to meet the robust demands of the Industrial Automation arena. Most Industrial PCs will not only be available for 5-7 years but will also last at least 10-12 years. The Return on Investment (ROI) and peace of mind provided by knowing that the product you have in place is of the highest quality is a very important aspect to consider.
Please stay tuned for Part II, where we address Lead Time for Industrial PCs along with the Multiple Form Factors & Configurations available. In the meantime, if you have any questions or would like to discuss your application and how we can be of value, feel free to contact us at 800-830-9523.
Jeremy Miller is L-Tron’s Industrial Automation and Advantech Product Specialist. Jeremy is highly trained and brings over 10 years of experience in the industrial control, data acquisition and test & measurement markets. Jeremy holds Advantech certifications in: Industrial Platform, Industrial Operator Panel, Automation Controller & I/O, Industrial Communication, & Automation Software. Jeremy can be reached at 800-830-9523 ext 126; jeremy.miller@L-Tron.com