ARMOR X7 packs full computing power in small rugged package

As mentioned earlier, DRS Tactical Systems is releasing a new Tablet PC that features the small and fast Intel 310 Series solid state drive. Just announced are the details of that release, a smaller, lighter brother to their X10, the ARMOR X7.

The X7 is similar to the X10 in most ways (see my review of that model for details). In addition to aforementioned switch to 310 Series SSD, a key difference is the screen size, which is 7-inch 1024 x 600. It retains the dual-digitizer transmissive sunlight-viewable screen with active pen and resistive touch input.

The processor is scaled down to Intel Atom N450 1.66 GHz. The advantage of that is increased battery life, which they advertise as 9+ hours on dual hot-swappable 4-cell 5900mAh battery packs. Running on the standard 2-cell 2950mAh battery packs will reduce battery life proportionately, but also cut the weight down to 2.85 lbs. Still not a featherweight, but most tablets aren’t certified to MIL-STD-810G. And let’s face it, if your computer needs to be that rugged, you the user should be rugged enough to handle carrying three pounds around.

Full press release below for anyone who needs a tough tablet. More info at https://www.drsarmor.com/x7.

DRS Tactical Systems Expands ARMOR Product Offering With Its All-New Compact Tablet

PARSIPPANY, N.J., JANUARY 12, 2011 – DRS Technologies, Inc., A Finmeccanica Company, announced today that its Tactical Systems Group has recently unveiled its newest ARMOR™ rugged mobile computer, the ARMOR™ X7 compact tablet. This all-new small mobile computer is specifically-designed for those mission-critical tasks that require connectivity, hand-held mobility, ease of use and the durability to support all-weather operations.

“The ARMOR™ X7 is a completely new product created in response to our customer’s request to take our knowledge in tablet computing and make it more portable,” said Mike Sarrica, vice president and general manager for DRS Tactical Systems. “The result is a very unique, ergonomically-friendly compact tablet that expands the capabilities of tablet computing in the field and mobile workplace like never before.”

“Built with integrated non-slip handgrips, the ARMOR™ X7 utilizes dual, hot-swappable battery options to exceed nine hours of operating time. It builds on many years of our experience in field service; transportation, rail and port facilities; public safety, and other areas of challenging environments as well as the experience from our military and commercial personnel that have deployed our rugged mobile computers around the world,” Sarrica added.

The ARMOR™ X7 is certified to MIL-STD-810G for extremes in temperature, vibration, shock and drops. It is highly resistant to dust and moisture, earning an IP65 rating for ingress protection, while providing a 7” sunlight readable touch screen display.  It includes a range of connectivity options such as Gobi® 2000 WWAN, Bluetooth® wireless, integrated GPS and 802.11 a/g/n WiFi, at a weight of only 2.8lbs. It features a single-core Intel® Atom™ processor N450 and runs Windows Microsoft® Windows 7 Professional.

Additionally, the ARMOR™ X7 marks the debut of the new m-SATA solid-state drives from Intel in the rugged marketplace, in both 40GB and 80GB capacities. “Our compact tablet carried a requirement for a compact memory solution and the Intel® Solid-State Drive 310 Series design fit the bill,” commented Sarrica. “It was an easy choice based on quality and performance.”

“The ARMOR X7 from DRS is an excellent embedded implementation of the Intel® Solid-State Drive 310 Series m-SATA form factor,” said Pete Hazen, director of marketing for Intel’s NAND Solutions Group.  “The ultra-small Intel SSD offers high performing, reliable and low-power storage for on-the-move systems like the DRS ARMOR.”
Further specifications, features and benefits of the ARMOR™ X7 can be accessed at www.drsARMOR.com/X7.

About ARMOR™

The ARMOR™ brand is based on over 25 years of experience developing computer and display systems that survive in the harshest environments. DRS Tactical Systems has both a strong legacy in military computing and, due to its 2005 acquisition of Walkabout Computers, a rich heritage in industrial tablet computing. The combination of legacy and heritage has resulted in a unique competitive advantage for its customers. For more information on ARMOR, please visit www.drsARMOR.com.