Featuring the New Topcon FC-2600 Data Collector – Keyboard, Touchscreen or Maybe a Little of Both?

In the surveying world, there is a showdown much greater than iPhone vs. Blackberry. It is between the 'must have' touchscreen handheld field controllers that are set to make land data collection much easier and surveying data collectors with keyboards. Topcon Positioning makes both, but is the new FC2600 tempting enough to lure you away from the touchscreen crowd?



Now, there is no denying that the sunlight-readable touchscreens are very attractive, but alphanumeric and numeric keyboards have various benefits that make them practical and efficient as well.





The new Topcon FC-2600 field controller has a rugged and waterproof alphanumeric keyboard and joystick button. When you hear the word joystick, video game arcades might come in mind. However, the FC2600 is not used to control your favorite game character! It’s used to control powerful robotic total stations and GPS systems! Even with gloved hands, its large keys with letters and numbers snap as you type so you know you have made a correct data entry.







Speaking of accurate data entry, Topcon’s FC-236 blends a little of both worlds by featuring a full numeric keypad. These number-keys facilitate fast input of measurements, coordinates and calculations. On the touchscreen side, the Topcon FC-25/25A field controller brings along a stylus pen to tap the on-screen keyboard. In addition, the FC-250 comes with on-board data collection software that features large graphical interface, so you can simply touch the icons on the screen with your finger  instead of using a stylus. This is also very convenient especially once you get the hang of tapping the keys just like on a smartphone.




So which one should you get? Well from a specs perspective, all four field controllers feature Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and digital camera, while GPS is integrated in all of them except for the FC-2600. But this rugged alphanumeric data collector boasts an amazing 42-hour battery life! Very impressive compared to the average 10-hour operating time of most handheld field computers.



With all the innovations and technology incorporated in the latest land surveying equipment, it is understandable why they cost an arm and a leg. However, the question on everyone’s mind is – Do I get my money’s worth? Yes, you do! The toughness and reliability of Topcon’s mobile data collectors are derived from military standards. So even if you slip, fall into a pool of mud or freeze your toes off due to extreme cold on the jobsite, rest assured that your hard-earned survey data is safe!


With the right input device, you can go a long way in making land surveying even more efficient. In the end, it is a pretty close match between touchscreens and keyboards. But the choice should be based on preferences and the surveyor’s main purpose of the field controller. What is it for? How will you use it?


If you can’t wait to get your hands on the latest Topcon FC-2600 Field Controller or if you simply want to know more about data collectors, please visit our website at www.tigersupplies.com. Tiger Supplies is an authorized dealer of Topcon, Sokkia and other major brands of field surveying instruments and software, offering discounts up to 30% off regular retail prices!


What about you? Where do you stand in this battle between touchscreens and keyboards?