Toughbook shudder in your boots! Here comes the Playbook!

A RIM Blackberry Playbook does the lights and sirens as well as the MWS functions. Prototype but seems promising although I don't know how long that keyboard will last. Except it's probably 1/10th the cost of a PDRC or Motorola keyboard.

‪Concept 2011 Dodge Police Interceptor w/ BlackBerry PlayBook Integration‬‏ - YouTube

For the cops, vollies (and whackers ) here, the gear is made by a local vehicle outfitter:
Siren: D&R ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
Lightbar: D&R ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
Trunk tray: D&R ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
PDU: D&R ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.

 

That is something, I think toughbook will have to step it up a bit.

 

When police starts to use such amateur devices, world becomes safer )\
Also they have to change their guns for words )
Remember "Demolition man"?

 

Sounds all fine and dandy but how secure are all these bluetooth connections? And playbook needs to be teathered to BB cell for enterprise level security at present time. Is the Keyboard water proof? If not they wouldn't last a week. One thing it does give you is more room.

 

I wish them luck! That's all! HAHA

P.S, I'm still in Jamaica, stealing internet from the fools at the airport that think that not having a DHCP server can keep me out... I GUESSED the IP address and I'm online now! HAHA

 

I briefly watched that video and I must say this: Notice how the poor guy had to do everything TWICE??? It's soooo sluggish, slow and impractical!

They will scrap the idea in the long run! GUARANTEE IT!

 

I know a dozen cops who would use that tiny keyboard for about 5 minutes before trading the car for their old one back(I think a couple would try to throw it out the window)... I suspect the same goes for that tiny screen.

mnem
From the (Are you high on) Crackberry Files...

 

I don't know if that keyboard is any bigger than the CF-19's....

 

In town the RCMP use the CF-30 in there cars. Not sure if thats canada wide or not. The CF-19 seams to be small like the booberry and I know I would not like to use that keyboard all day .

 

Every PD that uses the CF-19 (that I know of anyway) all have them mounted tablet-style and use an external keyboard.

 

This is true for the cops I've seen with that, but not true with the EMS.

Most EMS companies use the CF-19 as a normal laptop in the truck and as a tablet when used to sign medical waivers, etc etc etc.

Thanks

 

Sorry, looks way too wimpy, buggy and underpowered for serious LEO use. Most of what they were highlighting in the video was equipment that had nothing to do with the Blackberry.

It reminds me of an attempt I made "several" years ago, when I was a rookie state cop. I tried to use a modified iCOM ham VHF/UHF dual band radio on duty to talk to both city and transportation police (UHF) and other State units (VHF) on the same handheld radio.

I got it working "pretty" good" and was kind of happy with it till one night I was out with 3 car thieves alone and called for a quick backup to hear, "Tonight's weather for the Metro Atlanta area, cloudy and mild, 78 degrees..." I could not get it back on the Dispatch channel quickly enough and was lucky they ran.

I never carried untested and unproven consumer gear on duty again, no matter how new tech... and this is why I carry a Toughbook today.

 

Yup.... A bit wimpy IMO... Maybe with a rugged case around it... And the guy did have to try everything twice or more to get it to work.

 

Ask RIM if they certify it for law enforcement applications, if you can stake your life on it performing its function in that function? Their answer should be a clue to whether this is suitable in this role. My bet is their answer is "No..."