tablet for research

[doggger]

Hello,

I'm working on a research study that will be conducting interviews and collecting information from questionnaires in emergency rooms. The interviews and questionnaires are available in e-pdf (online/electronic) form so we would like to go "paperless". We need a cheap, easy to use tablet pc that can get on the web via a wireless connection and be used to fill out the forms. There will be some short typing involved but it will mostly be clicking on answer options so I think a slate type pc would be cool but not required. Here are the features/options that are the most important to us in order of importance:

1. Ease of use-we will be handing this pc to a wide range of people, some of which will not have much computer experience or be elderly. A nice large screen that is easy operate is a must.

2. Cost-the cheaper the better. We don't need alot of power here, just enough to get online and load adobe acrobat. We probably will want to buy something new (not used) though.

3. Reliability-We can't have the pc's crashing in the middle of interviews or questionnaires or we will look unprofessional and the participants will bail.

4. Weight-our research assistants will have to carry these around and use them on the fly.

4. Durability-The pc will live in the ER and be handed to a number of users. Switching to back ups will cost time and lose participants.

5. One special feature that we do need is the ability to read bar codes. (It doesn't have to be built in)

Any suggestions would be great. Does anyone out there have experience using tablet pcs for field surveys in a research setting? Any advice?

Thanks,

Nate

[cravehelper]

Hi,

I read your requirements and found most of the tablet PCs fits into your requirements except barcode scanner.

I would like you a mobile tablet pc from dtresearch.com.


There was another piece with barcode facility but designed for medical practitioners.

Hope this helps

Cheers

[Steve S]

Nate: Although you specified "low cost," the tablet that springs to my mind is the Motion C5 clinical tablet. It's designed for medical use and it has a built-in bar code scanner. It's probably more expensive than you would prefer, but it seems like an excellent fit with your needs...

See:

www.motioncomputing.com

and

www.alltp.com

[doggger]

Thanks for the replies. We looked at the Motion C5 and were impressed but it is a bit pricey. I'm waiting on a price quote from dt research but if the price is right it looks like a possibility.

[doggger]

I just got a quote from DTresearch and the price was over $2500 dollars. Are there any cheaper options out there that would work?

[Steve S]

Nate: The only other suggestion that I can think of is to shop for something on eBay. Perhaps a Lenovo X41T or perhaps an X61T...