GBM InkShow: Motion Computing J3400 Rugged Slate Tablet PC, Part 2

Posted by | 03/15/2009 | 8 Comments

Picture 1 Motion Computing just announced their new J3400 Rugged Slate Tablet PC and we’ve got a two-part InkShow video series, as well as gobs of pictures to bring you.

In this Part 2 InkShow, I show off the new convertible mobile keyboard, the Flex Dock, give a demo of QuickNav, as well as show how the integrated camera with a flash works. Our Part 2 InkShow, with a gallery of pictures is after the break.

Be sure to watch our Part 1 InkShow where I give a tour of the J3400, as well as give my hands-on impression of this much anticipated release. For complete specs, checkout our announcement post, as well as by going to Motion Computing. The J3400 starts at $2299. The Mobile Keyboard is $149 and the Flex Dock is $299.

All GBM InkShows and Podcasts are sponsored by TechSmith

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J3400 Flex DockFlex Dock from top view, battery charger, tablet eject button
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back of J3400 Flex DockPort access to J3400 Flex Dock
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Ports in the J3400 Flex Dock, 4 USB, power, HDMI, ethernet, DVI, headphones, micJ3400 in the Flex Dock
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Right side of J3400 in Flex DockBack of Flex Dock with J3400 in it
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Mobile Keyboard, openMobile Keyboard with J3400 in it
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angled view of J3400 in Mobile KeyboardJ3400 in Mobile Keyboard
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Right side of J3400 in Mobile KeyboardRight back side of J3400 in Mobile Keyboard
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top of keys of Mobile Keyboardright side of Mobile Keyboard, empty
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back of Mobile keyboardInside cover of Mobile Keyboard, where the J3400 rests
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Side profile of Mobile KeyboardOpening up the Mobile Keyboard
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Magnets and Connectors where the J3400 rests when connected to the keyboard

All GBM InkShows and Podcasts are sponsored by TechSmith.

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Category: Featured, Hardware, InkShows

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As the Founding Editor for GottaBeMobile.com, Rob oversaw the growth and overall direction for content, advertising, and management of the site. Keep up with Rob at RobBushway.com Send email to Rob
  • Joe

    The QuickNav thing seems like it’d work better for the user-controlled buttons if you could use an icon instead of the U1 or even if you change the name. I agree it looks pretty decent though.

    I assume because of the way that the keyboard is designed that you can’t adjust the angle that the screen is at?

    Does that camera have some sort of autofocus too? It looks like it’s zooming or something, though it might just be that you’re rocking it forward slightly, I couldn’t tell. And I know this thing is mostly designed for work type uses, but a lower resolution front-facing webcam might be useful for some for video conferencing.

  • Rob Bushway

    @joe – correct on the keyboard – you can’t adjust the angle. It does have an autofocus, so that is what you see going on with the camera while it takes pictures. I agree on the dual-camera – it would be nice to have a front-facing camera, too.

  • thomas

    looks u can’t rotate the dock? though i guess u can get a vesa mount that rotates.

  • http://www.gottabemobile.com Rob Bushway

    @thomas – that is correct – the dock doesn’t rotate side to side, but it does rotate up and down for angle adjustments.

  • sbtablet

    Rob,

    This thing is very cool! I can see how excited you are about it. A couple of questions: on the mobile keyboard, I see the rails on the sides when it is open, and I wonder if they are sharp, or get in the way at all when using the keyboard. And on the mobile dock, it seems that it would be somewhat awkward connecting anything without laying the thing down on its face. Is that a problem? Also, I’d love to see a photo of the dock in action, with peripherals connected, etc.

    Thanks for the great InkShow!

    Sharon

  • http://www.gottabemobile.com Rob Bushway

    @sharon – I never notice the rails on the side, so they don’t interfere at all with typing (at least with my usesage). the dock is not mobile – it is intended to be sitting on a desk and only having to connect things once to set it up. check out this photogallery which shows the dock connected to various peripherals: http://www.motioncomputing.com/products/tablet_J3400_gallery.asp

  • Sara Fauzia

    I really like the design of the mobile keyboard, but it could learn a few things from your IBM one. Mostly what you touched up on–the small period, comma, and question mark keys–but also the lack of a trackpoint. I don’t think, after becoming so comfortable with my ThinkPad, that I could live with an only-touchpad option. I signed up to attend the soonest Motion webinar on the J3400, and if they give the opportunity to ask questions (I have no idea how they work as I’ve never attended one), I’ll definitely bring this up.

    I really hope the flush bezel option will be available with the touch-enabled–unlike Lenovo’s touch-enabled X200t. Also, is there any idea if it’ll employ the N-Trig digitzer? I don’t think I’ll be interested in a unit without touch; the navigation was definitely made for fingers!

    All in all, I’m truly pleased with Motion’s latest and greatest offering. I’m glad they decided to go for the rubberized black design; I had too many scratches on my LE1700′s extended battery, and the paint was all but faded on the tablet buttons. If Motion improves the keyboard (trackpoint is a must) and offers touch, it’ll be hard to quiet my interest.

  • http://www.gottabemobile.com Rob Bushway

    @sara – I have no clue on N-Trig vs Wacom, or even if touch is a sure thing. I speculated in part 1 that if touch is coming ( and the interface of QuickNav points that way as I pointed out in part 2) that I’d bet on a Wacom implementation before N-Trig – pure speculation on my part, though.

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