- Rob Bushway

Motion Computing is improving upon their C5 / F5 Tablet PCs by integrating WWAN into the C5, offering SSD as an option, increasing HDD capacity at no additional cost, and introducing new accessories like the new Mobile Dock and Flex Carry hand strap.

If you have not been reading our Talk To Motion thread, be sure to. Fascinating comments for sure.

Motion Computing® , a leader in mobile computing and wireless communications, today announced the C5 mobile clinical assistant (MCA) and F5 semi-rugged tablet PC feature upgrades and new custom peripherals created for the unique design of the devices. The C5 now features integrated mobile broadband and solid state drive (SSD) options to extend its usability to the point of care, regardless of patient location. Additionally, the C5 and F5 now feature improved capacity with standard 80 GB hard disk drives (HDD) at no additional cost.

“Motion understands mobile workforces and we are focused on improving productivity across a broad range of environments, from the patient bedside to the construction site,” said Mike Stinson, VP of Marketing at Motion. “Customer feedback is a critical part of improving our tablet PCs, and based on recent input we’re confident that these upgrades will enable our target customers to be more productive, no matter where work takes them.”

With the C5’s optional integrated mobile broadband, mobile clinicians can improve productivity by accessing important patient information, including digital images and patient history details. For many mobile point of care applications, such as those in home healthcare, ongoing connectivity will enable better collaboration with other treating clinicians and reduce travel time by allowing the immediate transfer of documentation after every patient visit, which can reduce processing delays and improve billing cycle times. Additionally, the optional SSD will help further protect the C5 from the occasional bumps and drops experienced by highly mobile professionals.

Motion® continually adds features and options that help organizations reduce the number of devices technicians carry, improve workflow, reduce data collection errors and ensure users can communicate with host systems and each other from the field. With a new standard 80 GB HDD in the Motion F5 semi-rugged tablet PC, mobile field forces in construction, government, field sales and service, and manufacturing are now able to store more images and other documentation, allowing them to complete tasks and solve customer issues when away from the office.

Motion also announced today new peripherals, custom-designed for the C5 and F5 that offer expanded options to more easily transport, charge and utilize the PCs while away from the office or standard docking stations.

Motion Mobile Dock. The Motion Mobile Dock offers the convenience of docking the C5 or F5 in almost any location, such as a vehicle, wall or cabinet, and features full port replication and charging capabilities.

Motion Flex Carry. An ergonomic solution that provides alternate methods for carrying and holding the devices throughout the workday, the Flex Carry includes shoulder and hand straps and easily fits into the standard docking station for uninterrupted workflows.
Motion tablet PCs now ship with Windows Vista® Business, which offers integrated features that improve the tablet computing experience. Benefits include improved handwriting recognition, enhanced searching capabilities, tablet input panel with auto-fill features for email addresses and URLs and pen clicks that enable users to quickly conduct an action with a simple pen gesture.

The Motion F5, C5 and Flex Carry are available now through Motion’s network of resellers and distributors. The Mobile Dock is expected to ship August 1, 2008. Visit www.motioncomputing.com/buy/index.asp for more information.

- Rob Bushway

Rugged Tablet PCs have been getting quite bit of focus lately with MobileDemand's xTablet T8700, Motion Computing's F5, and Panasonic's most recent entry. Considering the unique nature and market for rugged devices, I've decided to launch a new forum category to discuss issues particular to rugged units: weight, testing, applications, verticals, semi-rugged, fully rugged, peripherals, etc. If you are using a rugged tablet pc, a developer for rugged apps, or are in the market for a rugged device, head on over.

- Rob Bushway

I've been having this back and forth discussion with Warner about Motion Computing's F5 Tablet PC. He's had it for several months and seems to conveniently forget to send it back to me, even though I bring it up on a weekly basis. I know he is busy using it to help launch his new theater, but I want it back; so, I thought I'd take my issue public.

I miss the F5 badly, Warner, and I want it. I love the inking, the 10" inch screen, the seamless bezel, the integrated WWAN, the handle, the semi-ruggedness - it is just a great slate tablet pc and I want to begin using it again.

You've got my address.

- Sierra Modro

Sybase iAnywhere announced today that they'll provide full support for the Panasonic Toughbook U1, the new rugged ultra-low-small PC. Sybase iAnywhere Afaria a core component of the Information Anywhere suite, provides comprehensive management and security capabilities to ensure that mobile data and devices are up-to-date, reliable and secure." Fundamentally more of an IT application, but it should certainly help the deployment possibilities for the new Toughbook U1.

Read the full Press Release

- Matt Faulkner

I noticed this today on YouTube - demonstration of the Winmate2007 rugged Tablet PC.  I could be wrong, but I don't remember seeing anything about this one in the past.  Very informative video and the case that comes with it looks useful too!

W770 is our new product, Rugged Tablet PC, VIA C7M CPU ,8.4" or 10.4" LCD with 4-wire touch screen, Microsoft Win XP embedded. It focuses on the vertical market as Law enforcement, Field service, manufacturing & warehouse, Fire and emergency services, transportation & distribution, Utility & energy and Military which need mobile and rugged device as W770 for the application. With a Rugged bag, the device is able to pass the drop test from 3 feet high. Please watch the video for its operating presentation.

- Rob Bushway

Only MobileDemand would think of this: using a T8700 Rugged Tablet PC to hit a baseball.

- Rob Bushway

MobileDemand is continuing to make progress in the rugged tablet pc space, this time inking a deal with Affiliated Foods Midwest:

Affiliated Foods Midwest, a member-owned grocery cooperative headquartered in Norfolk, Neb., recently partnered with rugged Tablet PC manufacturer MobileDemand to help simplify its order entry process and streamline operations - a move that helped significantly decrease the cost of goods sold for participating retailers.

The 850 independent grocers that make up AFM previously used small screen handheld computers for their order entry process. This forced them to download data to a desktop computer to review, optimize and finally place the order. The co-op recognized that this was a time-consuming and inefficient process and presented an opportunity to switch to a new full screen, rugged mobile computing system.

- Matt Faulkner

I have been going over the TabletKiosk G840XT for a while now and have been pretty happy with what I have seen so far!.  The unit still feels really light for a rugged unit, that's for sure!  I didn't think I would like the 'number pad' at first, but after having it on the unit, it's a nice addition.  This InkShow is Part 1 of 2.  I needed to make sure I had a few shots of the device before I started to beat it up and break it right :)

In this InkShow I take the G840XT for an spin looking mostly at the software.   I add a couple of comments on the exterior that I didn't mention in the Shortcut I filmed a couple of weeks ago.  I go over some of the software that is specific to the machine and I also take it out on a quick GPS test.

- Rob Bushway

The folks at MobileDemand and the Box Canyon Dairy have been putting rugged Tablet PCs to the test, using them to help streamline management of the dairy's breeding and vet procedures. They've produced a thorough of a case study, complete with video and written documentation.

Here is a description of the problem MobileDemand was aiming to solve for Box Canyon Dairy, along with some videos, and more information on MobileDemand's website:

Idaho Dairy Reduces Cattle Wrangling Time by 50 Percent with New Software, RFID and a Rugged Tablet PC.

CHALLENGE

· Streamline management of the dairy’s complex breeding and veterinary procedures

· Provide employees with access to up-to-date information

SOLUTION

· Migrate existing software to a mobile, full screen TabletPC

· Introduce mobile version of DairyQuest on to fully digitize management of dairy’s veterinary procedures

RESULT

• More efficient, streamlined operations

• More accurate decision making, less errors

Scott Haag, general manager of Box Canyon Dairy in Wendell, Idaho is all too familiar with challenges of running large dairy. The 2,500-acre dairy roughly 100 miles southeast of Boise, has been in operation for the past 26 years and milks roughly 7,000 cows on a regular basis. The dairy owns an additional 1,000 dry cows and is in the process of buying another dairy, which will bring its total count to approximately 10,000 cows.

With an operation of this magnitude, management of the veterinary care and breeding of these animals is not only a priority but a necessity. So, when Haag decided to implement a more efficient process for the health, care and breeding of the cows, he turned to ProfitSource, a software developer for the agriculture industry based in Wisconsin, and MobileDemand, a rugged Tablet PC manufacturer based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The resulting implementation has completely transformed daily operations at the dairy.

By MobileDemand: http://www.RuggedTabletPC.com

And ProfitSource: http://www.DairyQuest.com

 

- Rob Bushway

A lot of readers like to know how different screen technologies work indoors and out.

In this video from MobileDemand, they compare their xView screen to their standard display.

 

Here are the show notes from MobileDemand's video:

This video demonstrates the difference in direct sunlight and indoors between the standard xTablet Tablet PC display and the new xView sunlight readable display.  We show you various angles during a sunny day in direct sunlight. 

Note that the displays are nearly equivelent indoors, while the sunlight readable display is far superior in direct sunlight.

We intend to also demonstrate the difference and viewability of each display while inside of a vehicle, such as a beer truck.  MobileDemand has sold thousands of tablets that are used in beer trucks and other vehicles with our standard display and have had great success.  That extra little bit of shade inside the vehicle makes all the difference so the standard display is easily viewable. 

The MobileDemand xTablet is your rugged computing solution for the wireless world. What sets the xTablet apart? Three words: POWER, CAPABILITY and RUGGEDNESS. With the industry’s highest processor performance, this resilient tablet PC can be used anywhere from the shop floor, to the delivery truck to the checkout line. And our military-tested ruggedness will meet your business’ performance standards. Features include:

· Integrated numeric keypad

· Bar-code scanner

· Credit card reader

· Sunlight readable display

· Vehicle mounts and accessories are also available to complete your system

The xTablet is a versatile, flexible and powerful performer that is designed with your needs in mind.

- Rob Bushway

And you thought our abuse of MobileDemand's xTablet T8700 was bad? Check this out!

Here is run down by clip of what they do to the xTablet T8700

Tablet PC Insanity

Short demonstration clips showing how much abuse the xTablet rugged Tablet PC can take.

By clip number:

1. We actually use an xTablet while it is turned on as a hammer to hammer in a roofing nail to two pieces of 1 by 8 pieces of wood.

2. The xTablet is suspended in air, 36” inches high, as we run a PowerPoint demonstration denoting the number of drops. You can hear the audio clip “And when the machine breaks down, we break down.” It is a most appropriate phrase given how our customers use the tablets in mission critical processes. Our engineer presses a button and the tablet drops out of site.

3. A tablet hits the floor.

4. A tablet hits the floor again.

5. We are zoomed in to another clip of an online trailer of “Speed Racer,” and while the camera zooms out the tablet starts shaking. It’s mounted inside of a Red Devil paint shaker and being shaken to the extreme! We used the accelerometer on the Tablet PC and showed it was taking up to 15 – 17 Gs while being shaken in the paint shaker and still running!

6. We drop a 15 ounce can of corn from about 40 inches directly onto the display of an xTablet. This demonstrates our new screen protection technology we’ve implemented in a few pilot and beta test units – to be released sometime in June or July of 2008.

7. A close up of the same can of corn hitting the display after falling 40 inches.

8. The xTablet rugged Tablet PC is rated to the military standard for ruggedness called MIL STD 810F. This calls for an electronic device to withstand repeated drops from 36 inches high to 2 inches of plywood over concrete. It calls for a total of 26 drops – one each to all flat surfaces, edges, and corners. Our “Tablet PC Torture Chamber” provides a means for this test. You can see the number of drops and each orientation the tablet is placed into in the screen of the tablet. We run a PowerPoint presentation with each slide having the number of that particular drop orientation. You can see the yardstick that gives an indication of the height. We placed a slab of concrete (meant for air conditioners to be placed onto it) on the floor, then the two 1” rated plywood pieces screwed together (as you may know – making it actually 1.5” inches thick).

9. We show a close up of an xTablet on a turning table inside our “Tablet PC Torture Chamber” being drenched by water.

10. We show the tablet again getting drenched while we are connected to YouTube showing a clip of Gene Kelly singing “Singing in the Rain.”

11. The tablet continues to get drenched while it’s running a screen saver of an aquarium. The fish don’t mind so much getting wet.

12. A very close up clip of water running off the corner of the xTablet by the numeric keypad.

13. The xTablet is sitting face up and getting soaked while still operating.

14. The xTablet is face down now and we’ve heated it up so the CPU fan is running. We pour water directly into the CPU fan and heatsink well with no harmful results!

15. The Tablet PC is again used as a hammer to nail in three nails. Notice the accelerometer attached showing the real time G forces it experiences while hitting the nails. The second and third nails reach all the way through the boards and hit the concrete, so they can’t be nailed any further.

 

- Matt Faulkner

This shortcut I am taking a quick overview of the TabletKiosk GETAC G840XT Rugged unit.  In the video, I go over the specs of the unit that was sent to me to review.  After the specs, we take a look at the outside of the unit - ports, pen, buttons and feel. 

I am currently finishing up some testing using the GPS unit that I will post up too.  So far, it's been really fun to have this unit out in the field.  Enjoy the shortcut.  Expect more video soon!!

- Matt Faulkner

I have been playing with the TabletKiosk GETAC G840XT for a week or so and thought I would put up some of my initial thoughts.

• Very solid feel
• Light for being so tough - or at least 'feels' light to me
• GPS works good for being integrated and without an antenna (I have some video of that coming up)
• I wish my eval had TPC edition on there - but that is a special order as most will be using just the touch feature
• Touch screen work very well - and the stylus strap is like a elastic cord, it actually is a nice feature
• IMO it's a 'hard' touch screen - but that has been good while out testing field usage
• Very surprised at the processor speed - for 800 mhz it zips along pretty well with XP
• It made it through the shower without harm...
• Great 'touch' friendly menu system to changing volume, brightness and turning on and off system components
• I've been having fun dropping it in front of co-workers
  • It does feel very weird to know that I am dropping a machine that is so expensive - kind of like when we were all at CES
• Would like to have had some type of integrated tool for removing the battery

If there is anything you would like to know about the machine just let me know!!  This week is going to be jam packed with information about this unit!

- Matt Faulkner

I have just uploaded a set of 12 photos to our Flickr page.  These pictures show all sides of the G840XT and adn some close up shots of the keys on the front of the unit.  You can browse through the smaller images, but they all were uploaded in high res so you can take a really good look if you desire!

Check them out and let me know if there is anything you want to know about the unit!!

- Matt Faulkner

FedEx guy just came into the office.  Brought something for me to review/play with for a while :)

TabletKiosk GETAC G840XT Full Mil Spec Rugged Tablet PC!!  It even has the built in GPS unit in there - now I can have some real fun with it now.  No pictures of it out of the box just yet, we have to wait till I get home to record it for everybody to see!