Tablet PC NEWS | Pen News | Rugged PC News

Motion launches enhanced Tablet PC support programs
With first-class support increasingly becoming a differentiator when making rugged computing product choices, Motion Computing announced a number of new support programs geared towards improved uptime and reducing lost productivity. The Motion Express Tablet Exchange Service provides next business day delivery of a replacement tablet for volume (50+) customers; Accidental Damage Protection offers an added layer of protection against unintentional physical damage; and Enterprise (1000+ units) Support Services offers access to a dedicated team of product experts to address critical technical support issues. [See Motion Product Services page and press release] -- Posted Wednesday, September 1, 2010 by chb

Learning about Android on tablets for US$169
Experts expect tens of millions of tablets will sell over the next couple of years, and their OS of choice may well be Android. Yet, despite all the tablet announcements, we really haven't seen much. Enter the Augen GenTouch78, a US$169 tablet running Android 2.1. It's available at, of all places, KMart. No, it's not an iPad competitor, it's really stylus and not touch, and it's not very polished. But it provides an inexpensive look at the potential of Android on tablets (and it's better than any Pocket PC ever was). RuggedPCReview.com took a detailed look at the Augen GenTouch, including inside. [See full review of the Augen GenTouch78 Android tablet] -- Posted Sunday, August 29, 2010 by chb

iSuppli: Apple will dominate tablet market through 2012
According to a report by iSuppli Market Research, Apple is expected to dominate the tablet market at least through 2012. In 2010, the iPad accounts for 74% of all tablet shipments, with the remainder older-style Tablet PCs and competing ablets. In 2011, even with the advent of competition, the iPad is expected to maintain 70% of the market. In 2012, the iPad's share is still expected to be over 60%. iSuppli also says that it took iPhone competitors about three years to come up with truly competitive products. [See iSuppli release] -- Posted Thursday, August 26, 2010 by chb

Full review: Handheld Algiz 7
The advent of Intel's Atom processors a couple of years ago made possible a new generation of smaller, lighter and less expensive "netbook" computers that provide adequate performance and functionality for a wide range of applications. Likewise, we're now seeing a new generation of smaller, lighter tablet computers that use similarly targeted technology for vertical market applications. The Algiz 7 by the Handheld Group is such a product--lighter, handier and smaller than full-size tablets. RuggedPCReview.com presents a detailed assessment of the Algiz 7, its features and performance, and its suitability for tough outdoors jobs. [See full review of the Handheld Group Algiz 7] -- Posted Wednesday, August 25, 2010 by chb

Surveying software on DAP Kinysis tablets
The American Surveyer reports on a "New Tool for Highway Surveyors and Engineers Available on Rugged Tablet Computer". What they're talking about is Highway Surveyors’ ReGen software available on DAP Technologies’ rugged Kinysis tablet computer. ReGen is a data collection, survey management, and data optimization tool with a Google Maps interface; the Kinysis is a handy, rugged tablet computer, available in versions with or without integrated keyboard, running Windows Embedded Standard -- Posted Tuesday, August 24, 2010 by chb

Australian aged care home chooses Motion C5v tablets
Aiming to be entirely paperless within two years, Australian healthcare organization Jacaranda Village is taking delivery of the Motion Computing C5v Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA) as it commits itself to mobility solutions. Using i-Care software, electronic medication charts, and the device's wireless functionality, means, according to Jacaranda Village’s chief executive Sue Bowditch, "our staff can spend more time with the residents and still get their work done.” [See Motion press release] -- Posted Tuesday, August 24, 2010 by chb

HP hedging tablet bets
During their quarterly earnings call, HP's chief of their Personal Systems Group, Todd Bradley, supposedly said, ""You'll see us with a Microsoft product out in the near future, and a webOS-based product in early 2011." -- Posted Friday, August 20, 2010 by chb

New Intel Atoms, and how Oracle is helping Microsoft
So Intel adds a couple of new Atom chips to its growing and rather confusing roster of low-end chips. What do the new D425 and D525 mean for you? And Oracle's suing Google over Android! What's up with that? [read more...] -- Posted Thursday, August 19, 2010 by chb

Assessment of potential iPad competitors
With the Apple iPad having such a huge lead in the tablet market, how will the compeition react? That's what CNET's Erica Ogg discusses in her insightful article "The clock is ticking for iPad competitors". -- Posted Tuesday, August 17, 2010 by chb

LXE announces Atom/Windows 7 Marathon field computer
LXE announced an interesting new machine. The LXE Marathon field computer picks up the "open book" design that combines a display and a keyboard in a very compact tablet. The Marathon weighs just over two pounds, has a 7-inch outdoor-viewable touchscreen, runs Windows 7 on an Intel Atom processor, and includes a high-res camera, a fingerprint reader that doubles as a mouse, and also offers a wealth of bolt-on accessories such as a mag stripe reader, 2D imager and extended battery for up to 8 and 12-hour operation. The device, which measures about 8 x 7.6 inches, includes Gobi WWAN, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth, and is sealed to IP 65 specs. [See LXE press release] -- Posted Friday, August 13, 2010 by chb

Xplore financials
Xplore Technologies reported revenues of US$5.1 million for the quarter ending June 30, 2010, a slight increase over the same quarter last year. The company also reported a small operating profit for the quarter, but still a net loss of $0.67 million, down from a net loss of $1.3 million for the same quarter last year. The company said it prepared to launch "a significantly improved and highly anticipated new generation of its iX104 Tablet PC family later this year. Here's what'd be on our wish list: both a Core i5/i7 version and an Atom version; capacitive touch and electromagnetic digitizer; Android and Win 7 OS options. -- Posted Wednesday, August 11, 2010 by chb

Motion and Bluebeam host seminar for construction professionals
Design and construction professionals looking for new ways to cut costs during closeout will have a unique learning opportunity next week. Bluebeam Software, the developer of PDF solutions for the architecture, engineering and construction industry, and Motion Computing are teaming up to present a case study webinar titled, "Take PDF Punchlists Mobile with Tablet PCs." For more information or to register visit: www.motioncomputing.com/promotions/webinars.asp -- Posted Monday, August 9, 2010 by chb

Webinar: The New Motion J3500 Overview
On August 10, 2010, Motion Computing offers a free webinar explaining the features and benefits of the new Motion J3500 tablet computer. RuggedPCReview.com recently reviewed the Motion J3500 (see here) and came away more than impressed with the new machine's speed and amazingly useful dual-touch technology that combines iPad-style capacitive touch with the precision of a Wacom electromagnetic digitizer. Those in the market for a J3500 note: attend the webinar and get US$500 off a new Motion J3500! [Register] -- Posted Thursday, July 29, 2010 by chb

HP files "PalmPad" trademark application
Hewlett Packard has supposedly filed a trademark application for the term "PalmPad." There have, of course, been PalmPads before. The GRiD PalmPADs of the late 1980s and early 1990s were early tablet computers, and though GRiD was taken over by AST Research, which was then bought by Samsung, there is some lineage: Geoff Hawkins, who later launched Palm, was the driving force behind GRID's tablets. -- Posted Tuesday, July 20, 2010 by chb

Rapid growth predicted for tablets
According to an article in the Wall Street Journal and several other news sources, Barclay Capital predicted tablet unit sales of 15 million this year and almost 30 million in 2011, and that those sales will impact the netbook market. Barclay also suggested that strong tablet sales will benefit Google with its Android OS, companies that offer ARM-based processors, potentially HP with its newly acquired WebOS software technology, and, of course, Apple. Microsoft, on the other hand, may suffer a weakening of its long-held dominance in OS software, and Dell also may find the tablet market difficult. [See WSJ article] -- Posted Thursday, July 8, 2010 by chb

Intel's Classmate PC design to be sold as Toshiba CM1 in Japan
Intel's rugged convertible Intel Atom-based Classmate PC reference design, which we reported on back in April, will be jointly sold in Japan as the Toshiba branded CM1 by Intel and Toshiba. The Classmate platform offers up to 8.5 hours battery life, a user interface optimized for eReading applications, water-resistant keyboard, touchpad, improved ruggedness with drop test from desk height, bump and scratch resistance, and an optional anti-microbial keyboard. Toshiba and Intel plan on promoting the CM1 to elementary and junior high schools. -- Posted Friday, July 2, 2010 by chb

Cisco introduces Android-based Cius tablet
Cisco unveiled the Android-based Cisco Cius tablet, calling it a "virtual desktop integration" device. The Cius has a 7-inch touch display, weighs 1.15 pounds, has a front-mounted 720p HD video camera, a rear-facing 5mp camera, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G, and runs 8 hours on a charge. The Cius can be used in conjunction with an alarmingly retro-looking base station with a big phone handset, and is said to become generally available Q1 of 2011. [See Cisco's Cius page] -- Posted Wednesday, June 30, 2010 by chb

Full review: Motion's new J3500 tablet with capacitive dual touch
Motion Computing has introduced the rugged Motion J3500 tablet, a sleek, slender, full-featured, full-power tablet computer featuring an approximately 40% overall performance increase compared to the predecessor model courtesy of an ultra low voltage Intel Core i7 processor that incurs no penalty in battery life. The new machine also offers Motion's new capacitive dual touch, automatically combining capacitive touch and a Wacom digitizer. Add Gobi2000, a high res camera, more memory and larger disks, and you have a very impressive tablet. [Read full review of the Motion Computing J3500] -- Posted Tuesday, June 22, 2010 by chb

Black Diamond delivers rugged handheld dual-iris capture biometrics device
Black Diamond Advanced Technology has designed and delivered to Northrop Grumman a ruggedized, identity-management system for secure and efficient multi-modal biometrics collection in the field. Called the BioTRAC, the advanced multi-biometric, mobile handheld computer features IriTech's new embedded-processor dual-iris camera system, which is capable of outdoor, independent dual-iris image capture in less than 5 seconds on a rugged platform. -- Posted Monday, June 14, 2010 by chb

Wall Street Journal interviews Steve Jobs on the iPad
The Wall Street Journal ran an interesting article in the form of a Q&A session between the Journal's Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher, and Steve Jobs. In it, Jobs talks about his approach to tablets, how it relates to Microsoft's, and how the tablet actually began before the iPhone. [Read article at the WSJ] -- Posted Monday, June 7, 2010 by chb

2010 Computex Taiwan: Tablet deja-vue all over again
In late 2001 I walked around Computex in Taipei and there were dozens of tablets. Later, I had meetings with all the major Taiwanese OEMs, and they all showed me tablets. That, of course, was all fueled by Microsoft's 2001/2002 Tablet PC initiative that turned out less successful than it could have been. Now, at Computex 2010, it's deja-vue all over again. Tablets galore, from everyone. Then as now, most are hedge-your-bets concepts and nowhere near ready for prime time. That's because no one has a crystal ball. The Apple iPad is a big hit. Else, no one knows if the challenge will come from Microsoft, from the Android camp, or not at all. -- Posted Monday, June 7, 2010 by chb

Major upgrade to Getac's compact rugged E100 tablet
In 2008, Getac was ahead of the time when it introduced the small and compact E100 rugged tablet that weighed just three pounds. In our full review we lauded the E100's functionality, expansion potential, long battery life, and superb outdoor-viewable display. However, time moves on, and Getac has now given the E100 a major technology upgrade with a switch to a 1.6GHz Atom processor, the addition of an RS232 port, an option for dual smart card readers for special applications and requirements, embedded microphone, 812.11a/g/n wireless LAN, Gigabit LAN and Bluetooth 2.0 as standard features, with optional 3G Network connectivity. Ruggedness as been boosted to IP65 sealing, the battery is hot-swappable, and there is a comprehensive 5-year warranty. -- Posted Tuesday, June 1, 2010 by chb

IDC forecasts 7.6 million tablets shipped worldwide in 2010
According to IDC, the market for media tablets, fostered by Apple's iPad, will be driven by the device's attributes as a content consumption platform and the compelling applications and services that will be created to take advantage of them. IDC forecasts that worldwide tablet shipments will grow from 7.6 million units in 2010 to more than 46 million units in 2014. In comparison, IDC expects almost 400 million portable PCs will be shipped in 2014. [See IDC release] -- Posted Tuesday, May 25, 2010 by chb

RAM Mount for the Apple iPad
The Apple iPad transcends conventional computing boundaries and classifications. While it is not a rugged or vertical market device, many will use an iPad in addition to their current mobile computing gear, and in quite a few cases, iPads will replace older technology. That's probably why RAM-Mounts has introduced RAM Mounts for the Apple iPad, a series of mounting products designed to mount and take the iPad anywhere. We took a look at RAM's new iPad cradle and mounting solutions for you. [See RAM Mount for iPad] -- Posted Monday, May 24, 2010 by chb

Panasonic upgrades Toughbook 19 to Core i5 and Gobi 2000
Though Panasonic's Toughbook 19 didn't become the Toughbook 20 (as the recently upgraded Toughbook 30 became the 31), the enhancements to Pana's venerable notebook convertible might well have justified a new number designation as well. A switch from an Intel Core 2 Duo SU9300 to a Core i5-540UM brings major performance improvements at no penalty to battery life, there's now optional Gobi 1000 and WiMAX, a camera, the backlight is LED now, and you can get dual touch input. Ruggedness is substantially improved as well, with IP65 sealing (IP54 before) and an incredible 6-foot drop-spec (up from 3-foot). And the starting price is down, too, to US$3,399. -- Posted Monday, May 24, 2010 by chb

Full review: DLI 8400 rugged ultra-mobile tablet
The DLI 8400 is a rugged ultra-mobile tablet with an integrated keyboard suitable for a wide variety of field service, mobile payment, first responder, fleet management and similar applications. Measuring about 10 x 8 x 2 inches and weighing a bit over three pounds, the Atom Z530-powered DLI 8400 with its 7-inch WSVGA touchscreen and integrated magcard reader is significantly smaller and lighter than full-size rugged tablets but it is still large enough to serve as a full-function computer. In a detailed analysis, RuggedPCReview.com found the DLI 8400 a very competent and highly configurable ultra-mobile tablet that can run Windows 7 or several other operating systems. [See detailed review of the DLI 8400] -- Posted Thursday, May 20, 2010 by chb

Motion brings Intel Core i5/i7power to enhanced Motion F5v tablet
Motion Computing released a major update to its rugged Motion F5 tablet. The new Motion F5v gets a substantial performance boost by switching to Intel Core i5/i7 processors. In RuggedPCReview's benchmark testing, the new Motion F5v has roughly 2.2x performance compared to the 2009 Core 2 Duo machine while improving on battery life. The new F5v also benefits from additional enhancements such as onboard USB, dual cameras, larger hard disk, Gobi 2000, and standard Corning "Gorilla glass" for a nearly unbreakable display. [Read detailed review and benchmarks of the new Motion F5v tablet] -- Posted Wednesday, May 19, 2010 by chb

Added: QSI TREQ-DX and TREQ-L rugged vehicle terminals
We added two more small vehicle-mount systems from QSI Corporation to RuggedPCReview.com. The TREQ-DX has an 800 x 480 pixel 7-inch wide-format touchscreen, function buttons and directional controls, runs Windows CE 5.0, and can be equipped with digital I/O, WiFi and WWLAN. The TREQ-L is a more economical version for when there's no need for wireless or extra connectivity. [Read description and specs of the QSI TREQ-DX and QSI TREQ-L] -- Posted Tuesday, May 4, 2010 by chb

Bill Gates still believes in pen computing but iPad, not so much
In a wide-ranging interview just broadcast on FBN, Bill Gates commented on the state of Microsoft's tablet projects after the demise of the Courier project:

“Microsoft has a lot of different tablet projects that we're pursuing. We think that work with the pen that Microsoft pioneered will become a mainstream for students. It can give you a device that you can not only read, but also create documents at the same time.”

Though he praised Apple's success overall in the interview, he delivered a not-so-subtle jab at the iPad's lack of a stylus back in February, basically calling it a "nice reader" but that's about it:

"You know, I'm a big believer in touch and digital reading, but I still think that some mixture of voice, the pen and a real keyboard -- in other words a netbook -- will be the mainstream on that."
LINK TO: Interview at GuruFocus.com

-- Posted Tuesday, May 4, 2010 by dtm

WinPad redux
Microsoft sort of cancelled another product that never really was. According to several reports, Microsoft PR guru Frank Shaw made the following (non-)statement, "At any given time, across any of our business groups, there are new ideas being investigated, tested and incubated. The 'Courier' project is an example of this type of effort and its technologies will be evaluated for use in future Microsoft offerings."
-- Posted Saturday, May 1, 2010 by chb

HP buys Palm
Three weeks after Pen Computing conjectured, "Here's an idea, though: what about using Palm's WebOS as the basis for HP's upcoming iPad competitor? It'll never fly with Windows 7 on it, but with Palm's WebOS....?", HP announced it will acquire Palm for US$1.2 billion. Now this sounds like good news for Palm, but then again, HP is also the company that squandered away the iPAQ brand when it bought Compaq. It seems unlikely that even HP will be able to make much of a dent in the smartphone market with Palm phones, but, again, possibly using webOS for small iPad competitor tablets, that's a different story altogether. -- Posted Friday, April 30, 2010 by dtm

Will Cisco buy Palm to build an enterprise tablet?
Steve Cheney of Silicon Alley Insider has posted an intriguing article suggesting that Cisco should buy struggling Palm in order to use Palm's WebOS as the basis for an enterprise tablet offering IP telephony, video, WebEx & mobile collaboration. The company has previously indicated interest in building such a device but, according to Cheney, "They don't have a web-centric, mobile optimized platform OS." He makes a convincing case for such an acquisition.
READ: Cisco Should Buy Palm To Make An iPad For The Enterprise

-- Posted Wednesday, April 28, 2010 by dtm

AT&T posts info on iPad 3G data plans
AT&T has posted a PDF fact sheet on their data plans for the iPad WiFi + 3G models hitting the stores on Friday April 30. Pricing has not changed but we were surprised by the auto-renew "feature" that forces you to remember to cancel or pay for another month. While full-time 3G data users will like this, travelers who only intend to activate their plan on an ad hoc basis may not. We were under the impression that the plan would be month-to-month with auto-cancel if not explicitly renewed by the user.
DOWNLOAD: AT&T iPad 3g Fact Sheet (PDF)

-- Posted Wednesday, April 28, 2010 by dtm

Lake Oswego Fire Dept. chooses Motion F5 rugged Tablet PCs
Motion Computing announced that the Lake Oswego, Oregon Fire Department has selected, via Allegiance Tablet PC Experts, a Motion reseller and expert in Tablet PC deployments, the Motion F5 Rugged Tablet PC to improve fire code inspection processes and aid in incident documentation with FIREHOUSE Software Mobile Inspection Software. -- Posted Tuesday, April 27, 2010 by chb

Original Newton Notes author Dave MacNeill reviews the iPad
Dave MacNeill, author of the original Newton Notes, is back among the writing after a three-year stint pursuing his interests in music. Dave got himself a 64GB iPad and wrote what may well be the ultimate initial iPad review. "There is one good thing about being a little late to the party: you will always be more sober than everyone else," says Dave as he contemplates Apple's latest contribution to changing the world as we know it. [Read Dave McNeill's full review of the Apple iPad WiFi 64GB] -- Posted Monday, April 26, 2010 by chb

Intel unveils new rugged convertible Classmate PC
Building on their prior clamshell and convertible classmate PC designs, Intel unveiled their latest convertible Classmate PC reference design. Featuring the Intel Atom and a 10.1-inch LCD touch monitor with palm rejection, the latest version has more memory and storage, up to 8.5 hours battery life, a user interface optimized for eReading applications, water-resistant keyboard, touchpad, improved ruggedness with drop test from desk height, bump and scratch resistance, and an optional anti-microbial keyboard. For wireless, there are 3G, GPS and WiMAX options. According to Intel, more than 300 vendors are developing applications, peripherals and services optimized for Intel-powered classmate PCs as a part of the Intel Learning Series. See Classmate PC products from Equus Computer Systems, MDG, and CTL.
-- Posted Monday, April 26, 2010 by chb

Microsoft releases free Touch Pack for Windows 7
Microsoft has made available for free download the Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7, a collection of six simple applications optimized for Windows 7 Touch. There are three games (Blackboard, Garden Pond, Rebound), as well as Surface Globe (maps), Surface Collage (playing with pictures) and Surface Lagoon (cool screen saver). See download page for Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7. -- Posted Thursday, April 22, 2010 by chb

Sharp introduces Japanese market Netwalker PC-T1 tablet
Those who follow the Japanese domestic electronics market know that it is full of fascinating products and gadgets that we never get to see stateside. With its Freescale processor and customized Ubuntu Linux platform, the 5.9 x 3.54 x 0.8 inch Sharp Netwalker PC-T1 again represents an alternate approach to technology. The little Netwalker has a 5-inch touch display, only the older 802.11b/g WiFi standard, and neither a camera nor WWAN capabilities. [See description and specs of the Sharp Netwalker PC-T1] -- Posted Tuesday, April 20, 2010 by chb

Full review: Samwell RUGGEDBOOK SR820
If a full-size tablet computer is too big and heavy, the Samwell RUGGEDBOOK SR820 rugged Tablet PC presents an alternative and very interesting choice that essentially provides Netbook functionality in a tablet form factor. Little clamshell netbooks are selling by the millions, so why not offer the same size and technology in a ruggedized touch screen device without the extra bulk and weight of a physical keyboard? [full review of the Samwell RUGGEDBOOK SR820] -- Posted Monday, April 5, 2010 by chb

Gunze USA features multi-touch at 2010 SID
Everyone wants multi-touch, but not everyone is enamored with expensive projected capacitive touch screens that you can't operate with a stylus or with gloves. That's why Gunze USA partnered with Stantum to offer unlimited multi-touch on its resistive touch panels. The panels are immune to EMI, allow stylus input (needed for handwriting recognition), and work flawlessly with gloves. Solutions will be shown at 2010 SID Display Wee, May 25-27, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. -- Posted Thursday, April 1, 2010 by chb

Will industrial tablets benefit from the iPad?
On April 3rd, the Apple iPad tablet will be available in Apple stores. According to various reports, almost 300,000 iPads have been ordered before the device even became available. The hype is enormous, with experts falling all over themselves proclaiming why the iPad will succeed or fail. [... read more] -- Posted Wednesday, March 31, 2010 by chb

Xplore's Holleran says iPad launch shows growth of tablet market
Xplore Technologies president Mark Holleran believes that the launch of the Apple iPad indicates "that the tablet PC industry is poised for wider acceptance and accelerated growth" as more and more people are becoming comfortable with the tablet form factor. This, Holleran argues, bodes well for Xplore which recently introduced additional military and clean room versions of its rugged iX104C4 tablet computer. -- Posted Wednesday, March 31, 2010 by chb

Group Mobile adds rugged NEXCOM tablets
Group Mobile, a Phoenix, Ariz. based online reseller of rugged computers has added NEXCOM's MRC 2100 and MRC 2300 rugged tablet PCs to its product offerings. NEXCOM is a Taiwanese technology firm that first introduced the tablets in 2008, and has been adding to the lineup ever since. The latest model, the rugged MRC 2300 tablet PC, is based on Intel's new Atom processor, the 1.6GHz N450. [See description and specs of the NEXCOM MRC 2300] -- Posted Wednesday, March 24, 2010 by chb

Full review: Logic Instrument FieldBook
In a phenomenon that caught the computer industry by surprise, consumers have been buying tens of millions of "netbooks." They did that because netbooks are smaller, lighter, handier and less expensive than full-size notebooks. We're starting to see a similar trend in the mobile rugged computing industry with the introduction of smaller, lighter and handier tablet computers that weigh three pounds or less, yet provide performance that's more than adequate for many jobs. RuggedPCReview.com has just completed a full review of the Logic Instrument FieldBook. [See full review of the Logic Instrument FieldBook] -- Posted Wednesday, March 17, 2010 by chb

Xplore introduces Clean Room version of its rugged iX104C4 tablet
Xplore Technologies, struggling to survive and become profitable in a tough economy, has been staying in the news with a succession of special-purpose version of its flagship iX104C4 rugged tablet computer. The latest one is a special "Clean Room" model for use in environments designed to avoid any sort of contamination in the manufacturing process (such as chip making or the pharmaceutical industry). 500 of the tightly sealed iX104C4CR computers are currently being used in clean room settings. [See Xplore iX104C4 Clean Room brochure] -- Posted Wednesday, March 10, 2010 by chb

New: Panasonic Toughbook C1
Panasonic introduced the Toughbook C1, an ultra-light "business-rugged" notebook convertible with Intel's latest 2010 Core processor technology. The dual input (digitizer/capacitive multi-touch) C1 is the first Panasonic ultralight that uses a convertible tablet PC design, therefore bringing this versatile form factor to those who do not need the ruggedness and weight of the company's Toughbook CF-19 that uses the same approach. It is also the first keyboard-based Panasonic Toughbook that incorporates innovations pioneered in Panasonic's Toughbook H1 tablet, such as dual hot-swappable batteries and an integrated strap for easy holding and carrying. [Read full description and specs of the Panasonic Toughbook C1] -- Posted Wednesday, March 3, 2010 by chb

Motion announces first annual Excellence in Mobile Point of Care Award
Motion Computing also announced the first annual Motion Excellence in Mobile Point of Care Award, designed to recognize a commitment and dedication to deploying Mobile Point of Care Solutions that focus on enhancing clinician satisfaction and delivering the highest possible quality of patient care. The first winner is Springfield, IL-based St. John's Hospital. With more than 600 C5s in use, the hospital has seen an increase in bedside patient scans from just 20 percent to 97 percent – resulting in improved accuracy of data collected and an increase in data efficiency. [See Motion's healthcare solutions page] -- Posted Tuesday, March 2, 2010 by chb

Motion announces new peripherals for its rugged tablets
At the 2010 HIMSS conference, Motion Computing announced new peripherals and solutions for its tablet PCs. The new ReadyDock with Ethernet and Mobile Dock with built-in lock for the Motion C5 mobile clinical assistant (MCA) and F5 Rugged Tablet PC offer more storage, charging and management options while the Motion Medical Dictionary streamlines documentation processes for healthcare professionals. [See Motion press release] -- Posted Tuesday, March 2, 2010 by chb

Thinix demos medical software on Advantech MCA
Thinix, a developer of touchscreen user interface technology announced it will demonstrate its Thinix Touch software on the Advantech MICA-101 mobile clinical assistant and the Advantech PIT-1702 patient infotainment terminal at HIMSS, which is taking place March 1-4 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, USA. Also, see detailed paper on Thinix Touch for MCA Devices. -- Posted Monday, March 1, 2010 by chb

HP Elitebook 2740p: a tech update of the 2730p
HP has also updated its elegant and durable Tablet PC convertible to the new generation of Intel Core processors. The HP Elitebook 2740p is a technology update to the earlier HP 2730p with Core i3/i5 processors, more and faster memory, larger disks, multi-touch and optional Gobi/GPS. [See description and specs of the HP Elitebook 2740p] -- Posted Monday, March 1, 2010 by chb

Haleron iLet Mini -- A US$199 iPad killer?
Whenever a major player announces or introduces a ground-breaking product, there will then quickly be imitators that will be described as potential killers of said product. Halon Technologies' iLet Mini HAL (now there's a name!) is a prime example. It's a sleek little tablet that costs only US$199. So it costs less than the iPad and, unlike the iPad, it also has a SD Card slot. And two USB ports. The 7-inch display has 480 x 800 pixel resolution, the battery is said to last 16 hours, and you can get the iLet Mini HAL, which is said to ship as of March 1, 2010, with either Android or, for a small extra charge, Windows CE 6.0. Interesting product? Yes, but not an iPad competitor. Haleron's iLet 10 Extreme 3G with its 10-inch multi-touch display comes closer, but it is really a tablet version of an Atom N270-powered netbook and costs US$699. [See Haleron's tablets] -- Posted Monday, March 1, 2010 by chb

Lenovo introduces 17-inch ThinkPads with Wacom digitizer
Lenovo also introduced the new W701 and W701ds mobile workstations that are Lenovo's most powerful ThinkPads yet. They pair Intel Core i7 Series processors with NVIDIA Quadro FX 2800 and 3800 Series GPUs, offering the responsiveness of a workstation in a 17 inch mobile design. The W701 and W701ds are the only mobile workstations to feature an optional built-in WACOM digitizer and pen to manipulate fine details. -- Posted Tuesday, February 23, 2010 by chb

Lenovo updates its ThinkPad tablet
Lenovo announced the ThinkPad X201, a slightly updated version of its X200 Tablet PC convertible. The X201 comes in different versions, including one that weighs under 2.5 pounds, and comes with an Intel Core i7 processor. Units equipped with a 9-cell power pack can get up to 11 hours of battery life. -- Posted Tuesday, February 23, 2010 by chb

Toshiba updates its convertible Tablet PC to Intel i3/i5/i7
With the availability of Intel's new Core i3/i5/i7 processors, Toshiba has upgraded its venerable M750 Tablet PC convertible (which remains available for now) to the new Portege M780, which is available in several versions with the new Intel chips. The 4.65-lbs machine has a 12.1-inch 1280 x 800 pixel WXGA display with both digitizer and touch. Other tech specs have been upgraded as well and while the M780 is a durable rather than rugged computer, at least the European specs suggest the ability to survive a respectable 3.3-foot drop. Prices start at US$1,279. [See description and specs of the Toshiba Portege M780] -- Posted Tuesday, February 23, 2010 by chb

Fujitsu selects Cypress TrueTouch solution
Cypress Semiconductor announced that Fujitsu has selected the TrueTouch solution from Cypress to implement the water-resistant touchscreen in some of Fujitsu's Japanese market phones. Cypress’s TrueTouch family, which seems applicable for a wide range of commercial applications, includes single-touch, multitouch and "multitouch all-point" offerings and the company was first to introduce multitouch with an unlimited number of touches. Cypress recently announced its next-gen TMA300 multi-touch all-point family for the most demanding touchscreen applications. [Check out Cypress TrueTouch] -- Posted Wednesday, February 17, 2010 by chb

A look at Intel's new Core i3/i5/i7 processors and how they will affect rugged computing
Just when most manufacturers of rugged mobile computers have switched from earlier platforms either to Intel Atom or Core processors, Intel raises the ante again with new Atoms and the next generation of Core processors. By now Intel has released some three dozen Core i3/i5/i7 processors as part of the mobile "Calpella" and the not-so-mobile "Piketon" platforms that include "Lynnfield," "Clarkdale," and "Arrandale" processors, including a number designated as embedded processors. They offer some interesting new capabilities and will surely have an impact on tablet computing platforms. [more...] -- Posted Tuesday, February 16, 2010 by chb

Review: Fujitsu Lifebook T4410 with multi-touch
Fujitsu was one of the early pioneers in pen computing and has been making tablet computers and pen-enable convertible notebooks ever since. Their experience shows in the latest convertible notebook, the Lifebook T4410. This is a versatile 4.5-pound notebook that offers excellent performance without compromising battery life. The outdoor-viewable 12.1-inch display offers both pen and touch input, and under Windows 7, the multi-touch capabilities are very good. [See full review of the Fujitsu Lifebook T4410] -- Posted Monday, February 15, 2010 by chb

Panasonic introduces the rugged Toughbook H1 Field
Panasonic introduced a new version of its Toughbook H1 tablet computer, the Toughbook H1 Field. Specially configured for use by field personnel and equipped with a 64GB solid state disk, the H1 Field offers impressive ruggedness specs (6-foot drop, -4 to 140 F temperature range, IP65 sealing), an excellent 10.4-inch sunlight-viewable dual-touch display, and 6-hour battery life thanks to a power-efficient Intel Atom Z540 processor. For data capture there's, depending on the version, a 1D/2D barcode reader, RFID, and a camera as well as smart card and fingerprint readers. Also available: Gobi2000 mobile broadband. [See detailed description and specs of the Panasonic Toughbook H1 Field] -- Posted Thursday, February 11, 2010 by chb

Microsoft closes door on Tablet PC blog
Just when the rest of the world is getting really excited about tablets, Microsoft gives up. The final entry on Microsoft's Tablet PC Team Blog reads: Although we continue to innovate around all natural user interface input methods--including ink, multitouch, and handwriting recognition--the Tablet PC Team blog is no longer active. Instead, blog posts from our team members can be found on the Windows Team Blog (http://windowsteamblog.com/). -- Posted Tuesday, February 9, 2010 by chb

Handheld introduces rugged, ultra-mobile Algiz 7
Handheld announced the Algiz 7, a rugged, ultra-mobile Intel Atom-based tablet computer designed for use in homeland security, public safety, field service, GIS/mapping, logistics, railways, telecommunications, energy, law enforcement, military, warehousing, etc. The Algiz 7 has a 7-inch MaxView WSVGA sunlight-viewable touch screen, excellent connectivity, onboard camera and Mediatek GPS, and it is available with Gobi 2000 WWAN technology that provides access to any wireless WWAN frequency used around the globe. [See description and specs of the Handheld Algiz 7] -- Posted Tuesday, February 9, 2010 by chb

Dick Brass: Microsoft has become a clumsy, uncompetitive innovator
In an article published in the New York Times, former Microsoft VP Dick Brass, the driving force behind Microsoft's 2001 re-invention of the Tablet PC, describes why "Microsoft has become a clumsy, uncompetitive innovator," lamenting the lack of systems for innovation, internal competition and sabotage, and a steady exit of the company's best and brightest. [See article on Microsoft's decline] -- Posted Tuesday, February 9, 2010 by chb

Flood of iPad support announcements
A day after Apple announced the iPad, there's already a flood of announcements of all sorts of iPad peripherals, add-ons and other iPad goodies. Examples: Belkin's iPad cases, mobile learning firm inkling is heavily counting on the iPad, NearbyNow announced iPad extensions for its a mobile shopping and in-App advertising platform, educational institutions get in the game, with Abilene Christian University’s student-run media staff announcing its commitment to produce the first paper of its kind for Apple's iPad, and so on. ANd that's months before the device is actually available. -- Posted Thursday, January 28, 2010 by chb

Apple announces the iPad
After months of intense hype and speculation, Apple announced the iPad, a 7.5 x 9.6 inch tablet that's just half an inch thick and weighs just a pound and a half. The iPad has a 9.7-inch 768 x 1024 pixel multi-touch display, runs all iPhone apps and starts at US$499. There are also 3G versions that start at US$629. Apple announced a US$14.99/month limited and a US$29.99/month unlimited plan, without 2-year contract, and the iPad is unlocked. Apple also announced an iBook Store and special iPad versions of the iWorks apps. [Read full description of the new Apple iPad]
-- Posted Thursday, January 28, 2010 by chb

Xplore launches military tablet computer
Xplore Technologies launched a new version of its iX104C4 rugged Tablet PC, this one geared for military duty. Drawing upon a reliable low voltage Intel Core Duo processor, the company's proprietary enhanced outdoor viewing technology, single or dual mode digitizers, the i104C4M is designed to be a compact tablet computing platform able to meet rigorous military requirements. [See description and specs of the Xplore Technologies iX104C4M rugged military tablet.] -- Posted Wednesday, January 20, 2010 by chb

MobileDemand announces availability of ultra-compact xTablet 7000
Leading Tablet PC provider MobileDemand announced the availability of the "Retail Ready" xTablet T7000, a rugged mini Tablet PC that combines the functionality of a notebook, full Windows OS and the portability and data collection capabilities of a handheld in a light-weight slate form factor with a built-in numeric keypad, optional QWERTY keyboard attachment, color camera and 7-inch high resolution (1024 x 600 & 768) all-light-readable touch screen display. [See full review of the Mobile Demand xTablet T7000] -- Posted Friday, January 15, 2010 by chb

Slates and tablets: Deja Vue All Over Again
At the 2010 CES, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer played with a supposed HP slate during his keynote, disappointing those who'd bought into the massive tablet hype and had expected more in terms of real product. But wait, is the tablet shown in the picture to the right perhaps the new HP tablet? Nope. That was a Compaq tablet concept shown at the Tablet PC press event at the 2001 Comdex. Interestingly, back in 2001, there was actually a solid technological effort behind the (much more modest) hype, the Tablet PC project. See what all happened in 2001 and what was expected of tablets in a pilot version of Tablet PC Magazine (we pitched it to Microsoft; they were not interested). -- Posted Saturday, January 9, 2010 by chb

CNN reports on tablets at CES
Though there really wasn't much to see in terms of tablets at CESS, the current slate and tablet hype has even the biggies reporting and covering. CNN's contribution is a report entitled "What is a tablet anyway?" Well, it was really Microsoft that named the platform "Tablet PC" back in 2001. Before that, people usually spoke of pen computers or slates, though there were efforts to introduce other terms as well (like "pads"). CNN also reports that in the past, "Consumers couldn't touch the screens with their fingers to control the tablets," which, of course, is not true, but such is the reporting of history. -- Posted Saturday, January 9, 2010 by chb

InfromationWeek publishes "Tablet PCs: Learning From The Past"
InformationWeek reprinted, with permission, RuggedPCReview.com editor Conrad Blickenstorfer's "Tablet PCs: Learning From The Past" [See article in InformationWeek] -- Posted Friday, January 8, 2010 by chb

Slate and tablet computers: learning from the past
According to CNN, tablet-sized computers are now "a much-hyped category of electronics." But tablets were not invented by Microsoft in 2001, as many editors and industry pundits seem to think. Fact is, slate and tablet computers have been around for a good 20 years, and in 1991, there was as much hype about slates as we have today (see excerpts of "The Past and Future of Pen Computing" by RuggedPCReview.com editor Conrad H. Blickenstorfer). The image shows an Apple concept called the Knowledge Navigator from 1987, way before the World Wide Web was even invented. Read about Slate and tablet computers: learning from the past. -- Posted Thursday, January 7, 2010 by chb

Lenovo hybrid Win7/Linux convertible tablet
Lenovo introduced a rather odd device in the IdeaPad U1 hybrid tablet. Hybrid here stands not so much for using it as a tablet or a notebook (though you can), but for the U1 being both a Core 2 Duo-powered Windows 7 machine (when docked) and a Snapdragon-powered Linux slate (when using just the tablet/display). It's essentially two computers with that share some hardware (like the 11.6-inch multi-touch display, the battery, comms) but not memory or storage. The whole thing weighs 3.8 pounds, the tablet alone just 1.6, and pricing starts at US$999. -- Posted Wednesday, January 6, 2010 by chb

HP TouchSmart tm2: improved multi-touch
HP has updated their TouchSmart tx2 with the TouchSmart tm2, an elegant, aluminum-clad convertible Tablet PC with multi-touch capabilities on its 12.1-inch display. Sporting Intel Core 2 Duo processors, the tm2 gets up to nine hours of battery life, a variety of touch-optimized software (including "BumpTop," a touch-enhanced 3-D interface for photos and documents), a fingerprint reader, but no optical drive. Pricing starts at US$949. -- Posted Wednesday, January 6, 2010 by chb

Freescale proposes second-gen "Smartbook" tablets
With netbooks selling by the millions and there being renewed interest in tablets, Freescale revealed a second-generation "Smartbook" reference design with a 1024 x 600 pixel 7-inch touch screen based on Freescale's i.MX515 processor incorporating ARM Cortex-A8 technology as well as other FreeScale chips and an accelerometer. The reference tablet measures 8 x 5 x 0.6 inches, weighs 13 ounces, has WiFi and Bluetooth (and a 3G modem option), 4-64GB of internal storage, a 3mp camera, and runs Linux or Android. Smartbooks baed on the platform should have prices under US$200, feature instant-on and just generally combine the best of smarthones and netbooks. [See FreeScale Smartbook reference design] -- Posted Monday, January 4, 2010 by chb

Multi-Touch Virtual Keyboard for Windows 7
The ever-innovative folks at Comfort Software Group have added multi-touch support to Hot Virtual Keyboard, their on-screen typing solution for Windows. Replacing the original Windows On-Screen Keyboard, Hot Virtual Keyboard 5.0 offers numerous benefits over the built-in version to allow computer users type faster and with more comfort. The latest edition adds support for Windows 7 and its sensor input with up to 255 touch points. There's also word auto-complete, programmable keys, several dozens of different layouts, as well as complete customization. -- Posted Wednesday, December 16, 2009 by chb

Xplore secures working capital credit facility
Xplore Technologies Corp., makers of the Xplore iX104 line of ultra-rugged tablets, announced that it has entered into a $4.75 million working capital credit facility with Far West Capital. The new working capital facility replaces a credit facility with Silicon Valley Bank, which has been paid in full. -- Posted Wednesday, December 16, 2009 by chb

MP samples of Samwell RUGGEDBOOK SR820 now available
Samwell International announced in an email to current and prospective customers that samples of their Atom Z530P-based RUGGEDBOOK SR820 tablet are now available. The SR820 seems a compelling device: Netbooks are selling by the millions, so why not offer the same size and technology in a ruggedized touch screen device without the extra bulk and weight of a physical keyboard? [See Samwell announcement and SR820 product description] -- Posted Wednesday, December 16, 2009 by chb

Pfizer equips sales reps with Lenovo Tablet PCs
The Wall Street Journal reports that Pfizer is equipping its sales reps with Lenovo ThinkPad X200 convertible Tablet PCs. Planning for the Tablet PC project began a year and a half ago, and became more urgent when the systems became part of an agreement with the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Tablet PCs will help in not only provide more thorough and up-to-date information about drugs to doctors, but also displaying a list of preapproved products. -- Posted Monday, December 14, 2009 by chb

Shenzhen Guangxuntong Communication Technology Co., Ltd.
And yet another cool little machine we'll never get. Offered by Shenzhen Guangxuntong Communication Technology Co., Ltd. of China, the eKing S515 is an Atom Z515 or Z520-powered micro-UMPC with a 5-inch 800x480/1024x600 display, 16GB of SSD, WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G modules, a camera and USB ports. The little thing weighs less than 12 ounces and apparently runs Windows 7. [See website] -- Posted Friday, December 11, 2009 by chb

Healthcare Technology Online: Don't lose faith in EHRs
A recent study led by Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Medical School suggested that EHR (Electronic Health Records) so far have not resulted in the savings and increased quality hoped for. Healthcare Technology Line, however, feels it's much to early to pass judgement on EHR and that its benefits will become more than evident over time. These systems are of important to the rugged industry which has been bringing a variety of MCA (Mobile Clinical Assistant) devices to market. [Read Heathcare Technology Online position on EHR] -- Posted Thursday, December 10, 2009 by chb

MSI touch-screen PCs used for White House exhibit
MSI announced that its Wind Top All-in-One desktop PCs are being used by the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Ill., for its new exhibit, The White House: A Look Inside. The exhibit is leveraging MSI’' All-in-One PCs with 18.5-inch widescreen displays to help provide guests with never-before-seen views inside America’s most famous landmark. The MSI AE1900 models use an Atom 230 or 330, are in the US$500 range, and provide touch screen browsing and computing with netbook performance in a sleek and elegant all-in-one. -- Posted Thursday, December 10, 2009 by chb

Little Japanese Atom-powered Win 7 Tablet PC
Every time I go to Japan I see lots of interesting gear that never makes it stateside. Some of it is too small, specialized or expensive for the US market, but some products would be interesting to have on the US market. Take, for example, the Atom Z520-powered, Windows 7-based Onkyo NX707A4, a small (7.6 x 5.2 x 0.95 inches) and light (1.6 pounds) convertible Tablet PC with a 1024 x 600 7-inch touch screen, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, dual cameras, a multi-card reader, etc. Cost? US$675. [See the Onkyo NX707A4] -- Posted Thursday, December 10, 2009 by chb

DLI announces rugged, super-compact point-of-sale tablet
DLI, a LaPorte, Indiana based manufacturer of rugged mobile tablets has announced the DLI 8800 Mobile POS tablet. The rugged Atom Z530-powered DLI 8800 has a 7-inch screen, weighs just 2.3 pounds, has an integrated mag stripe reader, and can be ordered with an integrated RFID reader and 2D barcode scanner. The DLI 8800 is available either with a touch screen or an active digitizer. [See description and specs of the DLI 8800 POS tablet] -- Posted Tuesday, December 1, 2009 by chb

PhatWare releases update to PenOffice
PhatWare has released an update to its PenOffice app, adding compatibility with Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. It also offers pen-based collaboration, improved security and reliability features, support for multi-core processing, and configuration and management features to improve mobile working. PenOffice supports numerous languages and is designed for use with Windows-based PCs. Beyond the Microsoft Office markup feature, PenOffice now adds support for OpenOffice.org 3.0 or later documents. [See the PhatWare PenOffice page] -- Posted Tuesday, December 1, 2009 by chb

Tablet PC deja-vue all over again
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Back in June of 2002 we reported how Microsoft gave working versions of Acer TravelMate TM100 convertible notebooks with the Windows Tablet PC Edition to a small group of journalists who participated at a Microsoft Tablet PC Reviewer's Conference in Seattle (see here). More than seven years later, Microsoft handed out Acer Aspire 1420P convertibles with Windows 7 to full-conference attendees at the Professional Developer Conference 2009, in Los Angeles (see here). Interestingly, Acer really has never been much of a factor in Tablet PCs, and Tablet PC technology has remained almost totally stagnant in those seven years. -- Posted Monday, November 30, 2009 by chb

GammaTech now offers Durabook R13S convertible Tablet PC
GammaTech is now offering the Durabook R13S, a rugged notebook computer that can also be used as a tablet. The IP54-sealed machine uses a frugal Intel U7500 Core 2 Duo chip, offers good connectivity, and its 13.3-inch wide-format touchscreen is larger than what most of the competition in this class offers. The R13S is a bit heavy though (9 pounds) and there's no active digitizer option. [See description and specs of the GammaTech Durabook R13S] -- Posted Sunday, November 29, 2009 by chb

Fedora 12: Out-of-the-box Tablet PC support
Accoding to a Jack Wallen article at ghacks.net, the newly released Fedora 12 will work on Tablet PCs without having to configure xorg.conf. The new release supposedly supports tablet pressure sensitivity, handwriting recognition, and many more features without any special configuration at all. -- Posted Wednesday, November 18, 2009 by chb

Xplore raises $3.21 million in private placement
Rugged Tablet PC company Xplore Technologies (see review of the Xplore iX104C4 says it has raised an additional US$3.21 million through a private placement, including US$1 million from Chairman and CEO Philip Sassower who said, “There are very significant large scale sales opportunities, including those in the military, currently being aggressively pursued by Xplore and we believe the Company may be on the cusp of capturing a significant portion of this business.” -- Posted Thursday, November 12, 2009 by chb

The Austin American-Statesman on Motion Computing
In an article entitled "Tablet PC maker is back on track," statesman.com discusses Motion Computing's start back in 2001, its early successes, its challenges and its strong rally over the past year. [Read Tablet PC maker is back on track] -- Posted Monday, November 9, 2009 by chb

Samwell introduces space-saving Intel Atom-powered MCA
While most current Mobile Clinical Assistant's (MCAs) follow Intel's 2007 reference design, Samwell introduced a new and smaller form factor with a 8.9-inch wide-format display that leaves off the handle part, but includes RFID, barcode scanning, and camera for flexible data capture. The low-power Intel Atom Z530P allows for a fanless platform, and the aluminum-magnesium housing is rugged and carries IP54 sealing. Weight is just 2.4 pounds. [See description and specs of the Samwell RUGGEDBOOK MCA9 Medical Clinical Assistant] -- Posted Wednesday, November 4, 2009 by chb

Aaeon introduces rugged Intel Atom-powered tablet computer
Taiwanese Aaeon Technology is now offering its rugged RTC-1000 platform with an Intel Atom N270 processor running Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 2009. The device has a 10.2-inch WSVGA (1024 x 600) touch display with LED backlight and both sunlight-viewable and active digitizer options. There are disk and SSD based systems, good onboard connectivity and expansion, ruggedness, IP65 sealing and optional 3.5G wireless, GPS, scanning and bar code reading. If more speed is needed, a Core Duo version is available as well. [See description and specs of the Aaeon RTC-1000A] -- Posted Thursday, October 29, 2009 by chb

Dell introduced toughened-up XFR version of its XT2 convertible
Dell introduced the Latitude XT2 XFR, a ruggedized version of their Latitude XT2. What you get here is a toughened-up version of Dell's sleek convertible Tablet PC, one that is sealed against the elements, can handle desert-hot and icy-cold, and is altogether better equipped to handle life on the road where things can get bumped and dropped. [Read description and specs of the Dell Latitude XT2 XFR] -- Posted Tuesday, October 27, 2009 by chb

MobileDemand xTablet T7000: A smaller rugged Tablet PC
Your average full-function rugged Tablet PC weighs between four and five pounds. That's light enough to carry such a device around on the job, but it's still quite substantial. So how about a UMPC device that provides pretty much the same functionality as a full-size machine, but is a lot smaller? If that thought appeals to you, check out what MobileDemand of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, have in store for you. RuggedPCReview is taking a first, and detailed, look at the MobileDemand xTablet T7000. [Read review of the MobileDemand T7000 rugged Tablet PC] -- Posted Tuesday, October 27, 2009 by chb

Motion: complete line ready for Windows 7
Motion Computing announced that its complete line of rugged tablet PCs are ready to ship with Windows 7 Professional. Additionally, the Motion J3400, C5, F5 and LE1700 Tablet PCs are supported for upgrading to the new operating system. With enhanced tablet PC functionality, faster performance and improvements to power management for extended battery life, Windows 7 helps mobile users extend the productivity benefits of computing with highly mobile Motion Tablet PCs. -- Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009 by chb

New: Fujitsu Lifebook T4410 multi-touch convertible
Fujitsu announced the Lifebook T4410 Tablet PC convertible available with Windows 7 and optional dual-digitizer that includes capacitive multi-touch. The T4410 has a 12.1-inch WXGA display with a 200-nit LED backlight (300-nit wide viewing angle version available), a multi-bay with optical drive, and good connectivity (including an HDMI port). The 4-pound T4410 is powered by a selection of fairly potent Core 2 Duo processors and is also available in a home/student version (the T4310). Pricing starts at a very reasonale US$1,199. [See description and specs of the Fujitsu T4410] -- Posted Monday, October 19, 2009 by chb

White Paper: The case for the Tablet PC in health care
An interesting white paper on Tablet PCs in health care is available for free download from Healthcare Technology Online. It concentrates on HP's Tablet PCs, but offers a good overviews of how Tablet PC technology can help in various health care settings. Free registration required. [See The Case for the Tablet PC in health care] -- Posted Tuesday, October 6, 2009 by chb

Elbit Systems introduces rugged vehicle computer
Elbit Systems of America, a supplier of tactical handheld computers to the US Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy, introduced the Intel dual core-powered ETC Mark IV rugged vehicle computer. The Mark IV has a sunlight-viewable 10.4-inch touch screen, an integrated QWERTY keyboard, programmable function keys, and both commercial or military connectivity and communications. [See description and specs of the Elbit Systems ETC Mark IV] -- Posted Monday, October 5, 2009 by chb

New York Times article on Tablet PCs
The New York Times ran an interesting article titles "Just a Touch Away, the Elusive Tablet PC," taking a brief look at the past and possible future of tablet computing devices. -- Posted Monday, October 5, 2009 by chb

Full review: Samwell RUGGEDBOOK SR800
The Samwell RUGGEDBOOK SR800 is a compact rugged Tablet PC that offers a good balance between performance (Intel Core Duo U2500), features, ruggedness, portability, and battery life. Its 10.4-inch display is larger and offers higher resolution than that of most machines in its class and the tablet has both a touch screen and an active digitizer. [See review of the Samwell RUGGEDBOOK SR800] -- Posted Sunday, October 4, 2009 by chb

Review: Dell Latitude XT2 convertible with multi-touch
With the Latitude XT2, Dell offers a very competent Tablet PC convertible with a modern, economical Core 2 Duo processor, decent battery life, both digitizer and touch input, and even some multi-touch functionality. The XT2 weighs less than four pounds, has a 12.1-inch wide-format screen, and offers excellent connectivity, both wired and wireless. [Read review of the Dell Latitude XT2] -- Posted Wednesday, September 23, 2009 by chb

Motion Computing's rugged F5 now brighter and faster
Motion Computing has always been very proactive in keeping its roster of Tablet PCs up-to-date. The latest version of the F5 rugged tablet now has what we consider the best overall display in the business (Hydis AFFS+), and it's faster, too. But just how much brighter and faster is it, given that the original F5 was already quite impressive? We're taking a detailed look at the newly upgraded F5. [See detailed update on the Motion F5] -- Posted Monday, September 21, 2009 by chb

RMT's DAP Technologies expands into Windows Embedded Standard with new line of Kinysis tablets
For those who really like the quality and form factor of their CE8640 and CE8800 tablets, but need a Windows Embedded Standard OS instead of Windows CE, RMT's DAP Technologies now offers the AMD Geode-powered Kinysis 8900KS and 8900VS. The two new tablets share the CE-versions' design, size and ruggedness (4-foot drop, IP67, -4 to 122F, etc.) but can take advantage of the power and configurability of a full Windows Embedded OS. The Kinysis tablets can also accommodate custom electronic modules within their sealed expansion bay. [See description and specs of the DAP Kinysis 8900KS and Kinysis 8900VS] -- Posted Wednesday, September 16, 2009 by chb

Fujitsu LifeBook T5010 now with optional multi-touch
Fujitsu announced that the LifeBook T5010 convertible tablet PC now has a new dual digitizer option where the touch screen function on its 13.3-inch display supports multi-touch for two-finger actions including panning, rotating, flicks and zooming. With seamless switching between pen and touch, users can change tasks on the fly, from casual surfing to detailed editing or writing. The currently Windows Vista-based LifeBook T5010 is the first in a line of new LifeBook platforms and form factors designed to take advantage of the capabilities of soon-to-be-launched Windows 7. -- Posted Tuesday, September 15, 2009 by chb

The next version of Windows Embedded
Microsoft has released the Windows 7-based Windows Embedded Standard 2011 (formerly code-named "Quebec") Community Technology Preview for OEMs and developer. [See the Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 2011 site] Microsoft will also host a series of five free webinars, starting October 1, exploring the enhanced functionality, networking capabilities, improved security and reliability of Windows Embedded Standard 2011 [signup page for webinars]. -- Posted Monday, September 14, 2009 by chb

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