March 2018

Few remember that tablets are not new. In the early 1990s tablets were the hottest thing. Unfortunately, the technology wasn't there yet, and the designers of those early tablets built them around handwriting recognition. Which also wasn't there yet, and may never be. Fast-forward to today. Tablet technology has arrived, but mostly without pens. It's usually just finger-tapping. And handwriting recognition is a non-issue. Heck, cursive writing has even dropped from the Common Core Curriculum Standards! The folks at Xplore Technologies think that's most unfortunate. Because a rugged tablet can be one of the best platforms for real-time handwritten documentation when you’re far away from your desk. [See Mobile Workers Take Note of Tablets’ Handwriting Skills]

Behind the ergonomics of the Juniper Mesa 2 Rugged Tablet
In its latest blog entry, Juniper Systems looks at one of the real issues in today's workplace, how hand and arm fatigue is a real impediment to remaining efficient during the workday. Juniper's Sarah Merrell explains how with help from their experienced product design team, all Juniper enclosures are designed to minimize pressure points and fit in the user’s hand like a glove. And how the very materials used to create an ergonomic product also play a major role in creating both a comfortable and functional handheld. [Read Behind the ergonomics of the Juniper Mesa 2 Rugged Tablet] -- Posted Thursday, March 29, 2018 by chb

JLT Mobile Computers' rugged tablet Verizon Wireless certified
JLT Mobile Computers, a leading developer and manufacturer of reliable computers for demanding environments, announces that the recently launched MT2010 rugged tablet has granted Verizon Wireless carrier certification. With 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and options for 3G or 4G LTE, and GPS, the MT2010 offers reliable connectivity and wireless communication in the most demanding environments. [See JLT Mobile press release] -- Posted Monday, March 26, 2018 by chb

Samsung's ruggedized Galaxy Tab Active2 — a tablet built for today's digital business needs
Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today announced the U.S. availability of the Galaxy Tab Active2, a rugged tablet designed for mobile workers who conduct business outdoors or beyond office walls, including in the field, industrial locations, and harsh weather. The device provides easy access to essential functions in extreme conditions—such as high/low temperatures and wet environments—and advances seamless workflow by combining high durability and LTE connectivity with a range of innovative capabilities for business users. [See Samsung press release] -- Posted Tuesday, March 20, 2018 by chb

DURABOOK U11 rugged tablet-- First look
There is increasing demand for fully-rugged Windows tablets. To address that demand, on March 15, 2018, Durabook Americas, introduced the fully-rugged Intel Kaby Lake Y-Series powered DURABOOK U11 Windows tablet. Designed for use in military, public safety and other demanding environments, the DURABOOK U11 is beefed-up, tougher sister product to the company's successful semi-rugged DURABOOK R11. [See description, analysis and specs of the DURABOOK U11] -- Posted Thursday, March 15, 2018 by chb

Durabook Americas expands product line with introduction of fully-rugged U11 tablet
Durabook Americas, Inc., the North American branch of Twinhead International Corporation, today introduced the newest member of the DURABOOK family, the fully rugged 11.6" DURABOOK U11 tablet. The new device features an Intel® 7th Generation CPU, Windows® 10 Pro, MIL-STD-810G and 461F ratings, DOD-level security and a full HD sunlight readable LCD. The U11 is ideal for flight line maintenance, field diagnostics, and data collection applications, found in a variety of demanding markets, including defense, law enforcement and field service, where users often operating in extreme conditions. [See Durabook Americas press release] -- Posted Thursday, March 15, 2018 by chb

Havis introduces three docking series for Panasonic Toughbooks
Havis Inc., a leading manufacturer of mobile office solutions, has introduced three new series of docking stations and cradles for Panasonic Toughbook computers. Each of the new series are Panasonic Toughbook Certified, which means they have passed a rigorous testing process, met demanding performance standards, and shown the electronics are fully compatible. The Havis docking station series (DS-PAN-1000) is available for Panasonic's Toughbook 20, 2-in-1 Laptop, and is designed to be compatible in full laptop mode or tablet only configurations. Havis docking solutions for Panasonic's Toughbook 33 includes the DS-PAN-1100 for the full 2-in-1 Detachable Laptop, while the DS-PAN-1200 is for the tablet only. [See Havis press release] -- Posted Tuesday, March 13, 2018 by chb

Mass storage issues — Will the emergence of PCIe-based SSDs redefine mobile computing performance?
First there were rotating hard disks, then came various types of solid state disks, bringing a number of improvements. But cost per gigabyte was high, which meant that storage capacity was limited due to cost. Then costs came down and industry leaders began looking at remaining bottlenecks. And found them in PCIe-based solid state disks. RuggedPCReview takes a look at the mass storage issue and amazing performance improvements. [See Mass storage issues] -- Posted Tuesday, March 6, 2018 by chb

Rugged vs Non-Rugged: Considering Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) when selecting a handheld computer
For obvious reasons, truly rugged mobile computing gear costs more than consumer tech. But does it really? In its latest blog, Juniper Systems says, "When the upfront cost of a rugged handheld computer is being compared to the upfront cost of a non-rugged handheld computer, it’s easy to quickly jump into weighing the obvious replacement costs of a damaged consumer device to the upfront cost of a rugged handheld computer, and deciding to chance the odds." And Juniper goes on to explain why that is not a good idea, and looks at Total Cost of Ownership in detail. [See Rugged vs Non-Rugged: Considering Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) When Selecting a Handheld Computer] -- Posted Monday, March 5, 2018 by chb

Rugged Computing Case Studies: Handheld ALGIZ 10X improves order fulfillment at 150,000-square-meter warehouse
Today's shoppers can place orders in seconds with the tap of a button — and they expect order fulfillment and shipment processes to be equally streamlined. Because fast, accurate order fulfillment is so critical, Swedish chain store Jula is using Algiz 10X ultra-rugged tablets to assist order pickers and shipping employees in its massive warehouse facility. [See ALGIZ 10X improves order fulfillment at 150,000-square-meter warehouse] -- Posted Friday, March 2, 2018 by chb