With all the contests and give-a-ways flying around these days it is easy to forget some of the exciting opportunites to save some money. We posted about this a week or so ago, and it is certainly worth repeating. If you’re interested in Motion Computing’s F5 Tablet PC you can save a whopping $1000 simply by attending a webinar that they are hosting on Tuesday, May 20th at 1pm CST. Find out more at this link or sign up at this link. Rob keeps asking me for the evaluation F5 that I’m checking out, but I have to say, I’m liking using this slate Tablet PC very, very much. It has a good Inking experience (check out this InkShow) and works great for note taking. I even have become very appreciative of the handle.

Thanks to John Hill of Allegiance Technology Partners for the reminder.

I'm hankering to get my eval Motion Computing F5 Tablet PC back from Warner, but I don't think he is going to be quick to give it up. It really is an awesome slate Tablet PC.

I just learned that Motion Computing and Allegiance Technology Partners have come together with an awesome opportunity for those interested in the F5: If you participate in this 45 minute webinar, you'll qualify for an amazing $1000 discount off the F5 (if purchased within 30 days of watching the webinar). Wow. That is a significant discount and certainly makes the F5 a very attractive option for those wanting a 10" slate Tablet PC.

Learn more information by visiting Motion Computing.

Hat tip to John Hill and his personal blog for letting us know.

Prices on Motion Computing's popular LE1700 slate Tablet PC have been cut in some big ways. Depending on the configuration, savings can be as much as $350.

Here are some examples of the savings. Check this link for more info:

• 1.5 ghz, 2 GB Vista with View Anywhere and SXGA - Originally $2605, Now $2265
• 1.5 ghz, 1 GB XP / Vista, SXGA - Originally $2257, Now $2007

This week I’ve been lucky enough to test out several different Tablet PCs during rehearsals for our production of Driving Miss Daisy that starts performances at Wayside Theatre today. Tablet PCs, (and UMPCs for that matter), are all about note taking for me. During rehearsals I am constantly taking notes. I’ll be blogging more about my experiences with the various devices (Lenovo ThinkPad X61, Motion F5, Fujitsu P1620) and note taking software in this next week.

Last night at rehearsal though one of our staff was looking over my shoulder when I had the Motion F5 in my lap and noticed the screen smudges. They asked me if it was broken.

I’ve become accustomed (obviously too accustomed) to the smudges on the Lenovo ThinkPad when I’m in note taking mode and I guess I’ve learned to ignore them. Both the Motion and the Lenovo have a ViewAnywhere technology on their screens. Lenovo calls theirs SuperView and whatever the coating is that supposedly lets you view the screen in bright light conditions leads to the smudgy deposits that fill the screen. It is unsightly, and I’ve found the pen actually starting to drag as it passes through some of the gunk.

Again, I’ve gotten used to this, and thanks to the Shwamee Microfiber cleaning cloth I use, I’ve gotten into a routine of cleaning the screen each night or morning. But my colleague’s “is it broken?” comment drew a new picture for me last night.

Think about this OEMs. Someone sees someone using your product and decides to take a closer look. They see that smudged up screen. That can’t be a favorable impression. The explanations of why the smudges are so apparent also can’t do much to make that first impression go away when the explanation begins with “oh, that’s the technology that lets you view the screen in bright light conditions,” especially when those greasy deposits do nothing but reflect light.

This isn’t just a usability or a technology issue, it is also a marketing issue. OEM’s would be wise to look for a better way if they want potential customers to see a clear path to purchasing their product.

Ok, I finally got around to unboxing those two boxes that arrived the other day and taking a quick first look at the two Tablet PCs they contained. In one box was the Motion F5 Slate Tablet PC that Rob was evaluating and in the other is the Fujitsu P1620. (A big thank you to Allegiance Technology Partners for sending along the review unit.) I'm in tech week this week for a new show, Driving Miss Daisy, so, I'm not having much time to check them out, although I'm using both, along with the ThinkPad X61 to Ink notes in rehearsal and I'll be reporting on the differences there next week some time. So for now, enjoy the unboxing.

Last month, I had the opportunity to speak with Lenny Englehardt,  N-Trig's Vice President of Business Development. We talked about a number of issues on the mind of GBM readers, and as you'll see, Mr. Englehardt was not the least bit shy in sharing his opinion on number of topics like small form factor devices, Microsoft, and Apple.

We had such a good conversation that we're planning a special podcast to discuss these items in more depth, as well as follow-up with some more reader questions. Follow the Read More link for the complete interview.

Thanks to a tip from a reader, I  learned today that Motion Computing is laying off 15 - 20% of its employees.

I contacted Mike Stinson of Motion Computing to learn more and he shared the following with me in an interview just a couple of hours ago:

• The reduction in work force is 15 - 20%, comprising of about 40 employees.
• The cuts are coming from three different areas in the company: 1) Reduction of inside sales to utilizing 100% of channel partners, 2) removal of a duplication of effort between Motion and their manufacturing partners (Compal and Pegatron) , 3) admin and marketing. The biggest cuts are coming from #1 and #2 above.
• This is the third series of layoffs in the last 12 months, the most recent coming in December. The first layoff, in April of last year, was due to the cancellation of a development project.
• Motion is still experiencing 30% growth year to year, but were projecting more. They are not hitting previously set milestones which were used to justify personnel hires, so they are having to bring expenses in line with current revenue.
• Milestones were originally set without fully comprehending the extremely long adoption cycle in the healthcare field, in which they are marketing the C5 Tablet PC. It is taking much longer than originally thought to move from trial to implementation (ie, closing the sales loop). They feel very good about the F5 and the Field Force vertical, which should bring the points in the adoption cycle much closer together.
• The current sales pipeline looks very healthy and they are still encouraged about the healthcare vertical space.

I just received word that Motion has sold out of their LS800 Tablet PCs.  If you are still interested in those "blow out" prices, I'd encourage to check with Motion resellers like Allegiance Technology Partners and others.

While using Motion's newest Tablet PC, the F5, this past month, I've grown to really appreciate the elegance and practicality that a well designed slate Tablet pc offers. It is amazing how much a slate will force you to work differently and exercise a different part of your brain - the creative and personal part. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting back to slate land, thanks to the F5.

Being forced to ink more, I have begun to notice some inconsistencies in how the TIP is handled in some of Microsoft's own software, namely Windows Live Writer.

For example, the title and article text fields do not display to floating TIP icon, which I have grown to rely on in my inking experience. The only way to use the TIP is by docking it at the top or bottom, and activating it from the taskbar. By comparison, though, any of the other fields like tags, hyperlinks, and other properties do display the floating TIP icon. By way of another comparison, the subject and email text fields in Windows Live mail also display the floating TIP icon.

The F5 I'm using has Windows XP SP 2 installed, so I'm also seeing just how much improved the recognizer and TIP experience is in Vista compared to the XP Tablet Edition. We have much to appreciate in Vista. If there was ever a reason to upgrade to Vista, Tablet pc is it.

Just got an email from Motion Computing about some fantastic pricing on their discontinued LS800. Learn more below and by visiting Motion here.

LS800 BLOWOUT - Now Just $1499 (was $2799) - Save $1300 Dollars
While Supplies Last - Buy the smallest, full-featured LS800 Tablet PC at an incredible price!
LS800 System Configuration:
·       Genuine Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition

·       Intel® Pentium® M (1.1GHz)

·       32GB Solid State Drive

·       1GB RAM (1x1GB)

·       Atheros 802.11 ABG

·       Motion Pak Software

·       View Anywhere® Display

Don't miss your chance to get one of the coolest mobile slate tablets of all time. About the size of a paperback, the ultra-mobile LS800 Tablet PC measures just 8.94” by 6.69” by 0.87”, and it weighs only 2.2 pounds. It’s easier to use, stow or transport than any Tablet PC available today and will easily fit in a lab coat pocket or purse. LS800 - the first Ultra Mobile PC.

The last time my daughter, Maggie, was in Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, Motion Computing Tablet PCs were easily seen being used on nursing stations and in patient rooms. That was two and a half years ago.

This weekend, Maggie was back at Children's Hospital  at Memorial Hospital, which is a whole different story. In between waiting for doctors and trying to pass time, I began looking for those same LE1700 Tablet PCs I spotted several years ago. I couldn't believe what I saw when I finally found them. They were locked down with Kensington Locks, with the pens gone, in docking stations underneath some nursing stations located next to patient rooms - pretty apparent that they were not to be removed. They had been relegated to just powering external monitors at a nurses station, clearly no longer being used for what they were designed for. I asked a nurse if they used them as Tablet PCs any longer, and she said no. They found the pen, what she called a "Magna Doodle thing", to be difficult to use, and found the lack of a keyboard to be frustrating. On the main nursing stations, they were using desktop pcs.

I can't tell you how hard it is to pass that station on the way to my daughter's room....There is another station just like it down the hall, that I try to avoid, because of the mere pain it brings my heart.....I just can't take it.

Going mobile with Motion's F5 Tablet PC means being able to mount it in a truck, utility vehicle, etc. Thanks to John Hill, we just learned that RAM Mounts now has a vehicle mount for the F5 available with prices starting at $84.

Motion's F5 semi-rugged Tablet PC is targeted to the field-force worker. To take full advantage of the camera, bar-code reader, RFID, digital pen, etc, a company needs good e-forms software. Fortunately, there are some good solutions out there, Mi-Co being one of them.

Mi-Co just announced full support of the F5 in this press release:

CHICAGO -- Gartner Wireless and Mobile Summit, Mar. 5, 2008 – Mi-Co, (www.mi-corporation.com)  the mobile data capture software company, today announced full Mi-Forms e-forms support for the Motion Computing® F5 tablet PC at the Gartner Wireless and Mobile Summit. The F5 is a balance between commercial-grade tablet devices and fully rugged PCs. 

Mi-Co's Mi-Forms take full advantage of the unique blend of workflow and information capture capabilities in the new F5 tablet PC, including out-of-the-box support for the unit's 2.0 MB digital camera, RFID and optional barcode scanner. Combining these hardware features in a ruggedized mobile PC with Mi-Co's industry-leading handwriting recognition capabilities, forms design and workflow integration makes the Mi-Co Mi-Forms solution for the Motion™ F5 a new standard for field data capture.

Motion Computing has released some videos demonstrating drop and water tests on the semi-rugged F5 Tablet PC. Be sure to watch our video review of the F5, too!

Motion Computing has officially announced their F5 Tablet PC. The F5 is targeted for the field force vertical market. The F5 is a semi-rugged Tablet PC, positioning itself between commercial Tablet PCs like the LE1700 and more rugged Tablet PCs like Mobile Demand's T8700. It improves upon Motion's Clinical Tablet PC, the C5, by including integrated Sprint Broadband WWAN, IP54 rating, 32 GB SSD option, and an optional vehicle dock. It also features a new two-tone color scheme, which is less likely than the C5 to show dirt. It includes other features from the C5 like an integrated 2 megapixel camera, handle, RFID, optional barcode scanner, a 10.4" active digitizer screen, 1024 x 768 resolution, and a 1.2 ghz Core Solo processor. The F5 weighs 3 lbs 9 oz.

I've been fortunate enough to use the F5 the past two weeks, and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Weighing in at 3 lbs 9 oz, it is well balanced and quite comfortable to hold in various positions. I have not enjoyed using a pure slate, including the TC1100, as much as I've enjoyed the F5. I can't over emphasize enough the value the handle and the flush 10.4" screen brings. In addition, the 32 GB SSD helps a lot with battery life, as I'm experiencing about 5 hours of battery life running Windows XP. As I noted in an earlier post, one of my customers, a cable manufacturer, already has their eye on one to use in shipping, receiving, and inventory management. The pen, SSD drive, integrated camera, integrated RFID, and handle were the features that won them over.

As I point out in this video review, though, there are several important weaknesses: no integrated USB ports, no support for touch, and a Core Solo processor. It is worth noting that many of the reasons field force workers would need USB ports are covered by the F5 integrating RFID, a barcode scanner, and Bluetooth for GPS connectivity. In addition, USB is available through the docking station and an optional vehicle dock. The lack of integrated USB ports, though, has bit me several times just this past week when trying to exchange data with customers or with other computers. Motion could get away with no USB with the healthcare focused C5, but I expect the lack of USB to be major pain point for potential F5 field force customers.

As I noted above, the 10.4" flush screen is a wonderful sweet spot for note-taking. Unfortunately, the $2699 starting price will put this slate Tablet PC out of reach for most consumers. I asked Motion about the potential for more consumer friendly Tablet PCs like the much requested ( and anticipated ) LS800 / LS900 variant. They told me they have no plans for an "LS900" or smaller form factor Tablet PC, but are always looking solutions that balance features, performance, and cost.

• Download the high res InkShow ( WMV, 21 min, 169 mb ) 
• Visit Motion Computing to learn more about the F5
• Read the press release
• Watch our interview with Motion's CEO, Scott Eckert
• Watch our InkShow on the C5
• Watch these additional videos from Motion covering drop and water tests:
  • Drop test – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkec9JY-KdY
  • IP54 (water) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQhKrgM1v-o

   The day has finally arrived. Motion Computing has officially announced their F5 Tablet PC. The F5 is targeted for the field force vertical market. The F5 is a semi-rugged Tablet PC, positioning itself between commercial Tablet PCs like the LE1700 and more rugged Tablet PCs like Mobile Demand's T8700. It improves upon Motion's Clinical Tablet PC, the C5, by including integrated Sprint WWAN broadband, IP54 rating, 32 GB SSD option, and an optional vehicle dock. It also features a new two-tone color scheme, which is less likely than the C5 to show dirt. It includes other features from the C5 like an integrated 2 megapixel camera, handle, RFID, optional barcode scanner, a 10.4" active digitizer screen, 1024 x 768 resolution, and a 1.2 ghz Core Solo processor. The F5 weighs 3 lbs 9 oz.

I've been fortunate enough to have used the F5 the past several weeks, and have posted my impressions in this video review. In addition, we'll be using the F5 over the next several months, and passing it among the rest of the team. So, you'll definitely be hearing more from us as we use it over the coming months.

Here are some additional videos, from Motion Computing, on the F5 covering their drop tests and some water tests for IP54.

Drop test – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkec9JY-KdY
IP54 (water) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQhKrgM1v-o

The F5 starts at $2699 and is available now for ordering.

Press Release:

CHICAGO -- Gartner Wireless and Mobile Summit, Mar. 3, 2008 – Motion Computing^®, a leader in mobile computing and wireless communications, today announced the new F5 tablet PC. The F5, a new entrant into the tablet PC market, is a balance between commercial-grade devices and fully-rugged PCs that have costly features only required in a small percentage of field applications. 

The F5 addresses issues encountered by mobile workforces across industries like field service, manufacturing, government and construction.  Organizations within these industries are seeking to reduce the number of devices technicians carry, improve workflow, reduce data collection errors and ensure users can communicate with host systems and each other, in the field or in an office.  The F5 design enhances productivity with key features that include:

• Intel^® Centrino^® processor technology with the Intel^® Core Solo
• IP54 rated and designed to withstand exposure to dust and moisture
• Field-ready slate design that includes a magnesium frame, View Anywhere^® outdoor display, built-in handle and easily cleaned protective covering
• Shock mounted hard drive and combined accelerometer designed to detect drops and shocks in order to reduce the possibility of data loss
• Optional SanDisk^® 32GB solid state drive (SSD) providing further enhanced durability, reliability, higher performance and power efficiency
• Fully-integrated technologies to improve workflow and increase productivity:  digital camera, RFID and optional barcode scanner
• Embedded wireless broadband for continuous data access away from the office
• Microsoft^® Windows^® XP Tablet PC Edition; Windows Vista^® Business

Motion is also announcing a new three year “field-ready” warranty with the F5 that is a leader in the industry in protection for semi-rugged PCs.  The new offering covers damage from short drops (approx. 30 inches), and ordinary course exposure to rain and dust.

“Motion is dedicated to providing solutions that combine innovative mobile products and customized applications from experienced software partners and services that are unique to each vertical market that we serve,” said Scott Eckert, CEO of Motion.  “Our customers came to us with a need and we solved it with the F5.  We’ve combined the mobility and ease-of-use benefits of a tablet PC with the increased durability of a rugged PC, without all of the costs associated with a fully rugged system.”

Motion and its network of distributors and value-added resellers are seeing significant demand for the F5.  For example, Motion resellers Kishmish, Inc., and Xwave, are working closely with Destiny USA, located in Syracuse, New York, and its construction manager, Cianbro, to leverage slate PCs in the development of a $329 million project.

Destiny USA is a first-class destination being built to operate 100 percent free of fossil fuels.  As part of this green initiative, Destiny USA is requiring a paperless work environment, which Cianbro actively supports by using Motion slate PCs as highly mobile, on-site tools that do not require the use of paper.  Syracuse-based Seneca Data, one of Motion’s value added distributors, manages distribution of the tablet PCs for the project.

“Motion’s tablet PCs have helped Destiny USA and Cianbro to become virtually paperless, which has never been achieved in the $1.3 trillion dollar construction industry,” said Robert J. Congel, founder of Destiny USA.  “The F5 is clearly designed for the construction environment.  The semi-rugged features and integrated tool-set will further help us improve productivity, enhance the construction experience and empower our team members to innovate, while respecting the environment by reducing our dependence on paper-based processes.”

About the F5

The F5 is IP54 rated to meet the demands of the job from dusty warehouses to the occasional drop from a vehicle or exposure to a rainstorm.  In fact, the F5 is designed to protect from the top three causes of notebook damage, which continue to be drops, liquid spills and objects being dropped on to notebooks.  Durable enough to withstand exposure to these elements, the F5 is the first semi-rugged mobile computing device to focus on delivering a complete solution for mobile professionals, including the mobile platform, software, wireless capabilities, and integrated data capture and services.

Additional F5 capabilities include:

• Thin and light with high performance capabilities (approximately 3 lbs.)
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth^®, and optional integrated mobile broadband
• Shock, drop, vibration and temperature resistance
• Vehicular docking capabilities
• Intuitive buttons and triggers
• Integrated barcode scanner (optional)
• Integrated RFID reader offering quick and simple inventory tracking and management
• 2.0 megapixel camera
• Integrated fingerprint reader to simplify password management while increasing data security
• Natural handwriting interface for convenient data capture while standing or walking
• Speak Anywhere® audio technology for convenient access to voice notes and advanced communication

The F5 began shipping in February 2008, and is currently available through Motion’s network of value-added resellers and distributors.  With initial pricing ranging from $2699 - $4000, depending on the configuration, this is a significantly lower point of entry than fully-rugged PCs.

See Motion, the F5, and the company’s enhanced line of tablet PCs in booth W at the Gartner Wireless and Mobile Summit or in the on-site Motion Mobility Showcase where attendees can register to win a new F5.

This has been a totally crazy week. I've spent more time on the road than I've spent at my desk.

Yesterday, I spent a half day at a cable manufacturing plant doing a bunch of SQL Server programming work. As I've been using the unannounced Motion Tablet PC for all of my note-taking the past two weeks, I had it with me during my visit there, too. I showed it off to the controller and he was duly impressed, to the point that he was asking me when it was going to be available, pricing, etc. He immediately saw practical use for the tablet in many facets of his business - from warehouse management to shipping / receiving to outside sales needing to communicate with the home office. I've been demoing tablet pcs to him for several years and this is the first time I've seen him that interested in buying one.

By the way, if you have not been following the comments in these two Motion threads ( here and here ), be sure to give them a read. There are some great comments in there, with some anonymous poster with inside info on the tablet pc giving a whole bunch clues - it's been hilarious and fascinating to follow.

You guys are ruthless. I give you a mile, you want two. I give you some chocolate cake, you want icing on it. Geesh, what else can a guy do to get some appreciation around here?

Hoping to satisfy the longings of the heart of many GBM readers out there, I begged the powers-that-be at Motion Computing to share something else about that super secret Motion Computing Tablet PC I've been using the past week, and here it is:

It's durable.

How's that for something extra to whet your appetite.

Stay tuned.....

The big conference right now for IT and healthcare is the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMMS).

Making a big splash at HIMMS is Motion Computing, showcasing their C5 Mobile Clinical Assistant. When I was at St. Louis Children's Hospital this past week, several doctors and staff made mention of the C5, although I don't remember seeing one in use.

Motion Computing®, a leader in mobile computing and wireless communications, today announced that one year after its initial launch, the C5 mobile clinical assistant (MCA) is proving to change the way patient care is delivered. The success of the industry’s first mobile clinical assistant is clear this year at HIMSS, where the device will be featured by more than 50 vendors across the show floor.

“The C5 was developed by Motion and Intel to address many of the issues that are facing healthcare organizations today,” said Scott Eckert, CEO of Motion. “The most positive result is that we are enabling caregivers to provide better patient care by impacting such critical areas as improving point of care documentation, enhancing nursing satisfaction and providing immediate access to information to help clinicians prevent medication issues, like medication administration errors.”

Results from a recent study:

*  42 percent improvement in point of care (POC) documentation
* 80 percent reduction in data that needed manual transcription, reducing the potential for human error
* Identification of 15 of 1853 “near misses” at the point of medication administration
* Decreased transcription error rate from 25 percent to 7 percent due to increased POC documentation

Checkout this case study from Island Hospital ( PDF ), detailing their use of the C5

I've been a bit quiet here while I'm away taking care of some family stuff, but wanted to take a few moments to talk about a new Motion Computing Tablet PC I've been thoroughly enjoying this past week. I can't talk much about the details nor post pictures, but this ought to whet your appetite until it is released.

First of all, it is a little larger than the LS800, and is not a replacement for it.  This Tablet PC is targeted to a vertical space ( ie - not a consumer or broad business line product ), which shouldn't come as a surprise. As we've seen, Motion is continuing to target different vertical market segments, and this tablet pc is geared along that effort.

I've been toting it back and forth from my hotel room to the hospital and it is a pure joy to hold, carry, and ink on. It is light and fits perfectly in my Tom Bihn Buzz Bag. It has garnered quite a bit of attention as I've used it in Maggie's hospital room. I brought the TC1100 with me, but have primarily been using this new Tablet PC.

I'll be posting an InkShow video review on the day it is officially announced, and will certainly post more in the coming weeks.

Gotta run - got some inking to do!