10-Year-Old Rugged Tablet Still Going Strong

When Daryl LaMonaco purchased a MobileDemand xTablet T8600 in 2007, he had no idea that 10 years later it’d still be a very useful device. The tablet was originally purchased to be a point-of-sale terminal in his New Jersey storefront and has since taken on roles as a home PC and a truck-mounted tablet. The reliable Windows 7 (was Windows XP for a while) rugged tablet is now tripod-mounted, helping Daryl control his two state-of-the-art telescopes.

With the tablet mounted to the tripod and connected to the telescope, Daryl can control the scope’s movement, switching between and tracking various objects in the sky. On a clear night, the high-tech setup can see deep sky objects including galaxies and nebulas, even through neighboring New York City’s light pollution. While the telescopes are located outside, they can actually be controlled remotely, allowing Daryl to operate the scopes from the comfort of his home.

Also connected to the telescope and Windows tablet is an external camera capturing high-resolution photos, many of which have been widely shared on social media and in the astronomy industry. His latest live social media stream went viral as he watched the Super Bowl while also watching Venus, (which is located roughly 25 million miles from Earth).

The rugged build of the tablet is to thank for 10 years (and counting) of productivity. Varying weather conditions generally take a toll on a device, but not for this durable xTablet T8600 from MobileDemand.

“This rugged tablet has served me so well for so many years. It’s astounding. Absolutely incredible,” touted Daryl.