Laptops Arena

While this has been announced some time ago, the Motion Computing tablets got updated officially only a few hours ago. Well, in fact, we're talking about one rugged tablet PC, and a mobile clinical assistant. Any of these seem to be your thing? No matter if the answer is affirmative or not, take a look at these two beauties pictured below, and then decide to go away or keep reading, all right?

According to the official press release, "Upgrades to the C5 and F5 include expanded communications capabilities with the Intel® WiFi Link 5300 series 802.11 a/g/draft-n, Intel Centrino® technology with the Intel® Core™2 Duo processor for improved performance and battery life, and a new 64GB SSD upgrade. An external battery charger is also now available for the C5 and F5, which enables users to quickly charge additional batteries for use throughout the workday."

Both updated Motion Computing tablets are available right now, via Motion's resellers network, as well as its distributors worldwide. Anyway, this doesn't mean I'll leave you here, because if you're new to them, you probably want to know more about the C5 and F5, right?
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OK, this is what Motion Computing says about the C5:

"The C5, the industry's first MCA developed in collaboration with Intel®, is a hospital-grade device that is proven in healthcare environments. Now deployed in more than 4,000 healthcare organizations worldwide, the C5 has proven to enhance clinician satisfaction, improve point of care documentation, increase clinician productivity and improve clinical documentation accuracy."

At last, let me give you the details about the black beauty from Motion, the F5 rugged tablet. Just as a side note - black is the only color suited for rugged netbooks, believe me! :)

"The F5, now with a black exterior to better withstand dirty and dusty mobile work environments, is a rugged tablet PC that provides electronic clipboard functionality and is an ideal solution for field workers who compute and enter data while standing or walking. Mobile professionals across construction, field sales and service and government are using the F5 because it provides the durability and functionality of a rugged PC without the extra weight and price associated with traditional, fully rugged devices."

Computing while in motion isn't something everybody enjoys, although I managed to meet quite a few people that enjoy netbooks and other portable computers more than desktops. In fact, even statistics of the market share evolution show that notebooks have left the desktop computers in the dust. Well, that's evolution...and so is the Motion J3400, too!

The Motion J3400 rugged tablet PC comes with the following technical specifications:

• Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology, which includes the Intel® Core™2 Duo processor to provide high performance and optimal battery life
• Speak Anywhere® technology that intelligently switches between two of three microphones for high-fidelity voice and sound input
• Intel® WiFi Link 5300 Series 802.11 a/b/g/draft-n, CSR BlueCore™ Bluetooth® 2.1, and integrated Gobi™ mobile broadband for a variety of communications options
• 1.8 inch hard disk drive (HDD) that provides extra shock protection
• Shock-mounted display and HDD with DataGuard™, an accelerometer that protects data during drops or other events that could potentially damage the hard drive
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• Optional low cost 64GB SSD for extreme shock and vibration protection
• 2.0 megapixel camera for seamless, in-the-field documentation
• Smart card reader and biometric fingerprint reader for enhanced security
• GPS for real-time mapping, location tracking or the geo-tagging of digital photos
• FlexDock with full input/output connections, a convenient charging bay and mounting compatibility with any VESA device
• J-Series Work Anywhere™ kit to give users a comfortable option for carrying the device throughout the workday

The best part of it all comes at the end, as usual. For this category of portables, the starting price is pretty low - only $2,299. The Motion J3400 is already available for purchase from Motion resellers and distributors worldwide.

Motion Computing’s first semi-rugged tablet PV, the F5, will feature Authentec’s fingerprint sensor technology for protecting stored data and networks the tablet connects to.

Other mobile devices have adopted this security module considered to be the most advanced, and these include cell phones such as the
Asus M536 and Asus M50 and M70 notebooks.

"We worked very closely with our customers on the development of the new F5 tablet, and among the requirements was best-in-class security. That's why we turned to Motion's longtime fingerprint sensor supplier AuthenTec to add convenient security to this innovative new tablet," said Jerome Kearns, Motion's SVP of Operations. "We believe that the AuthenTec fingerprint sensor helps simplify password management while increasing data security on highly mobile devices."
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Designed and optimized for field workers’ needs, the Motion Computing F5 tablet PC is small and semi-rugged with magnesium-alloy internal frame and Elastomer overmolding.

Available at a suggested retail price of $2,699, the Motion Computing F5 runs on Windows Vista Business or XP Tablet PC Edition being powered by the Intel Core Solo U1400 processor clocked at 1.2GHz, and integrating 1GB RAM memory, 40GB HDD storage, wireless module, optional mobile broadband module, optional barcode scanner, optional SSD drive, high-clarity display, and built-in 2MP camera.

"We are pleased to further expand our longstanding relationship with Motion, and we look forward to supporting the successful launch of their new semi-rugged tablet PC," said Tom Aebli, AuthenTec's senior director of PC Marketing. "Our durable fingerprint sensor adds convenient security to the F5. Today's field service personnel will experience reliable and consistent operation when they're ready to put the F5 to work. That's because our TruePrint-based fingerprint sensor reads below the surface of the skin to quickly and easily image their worn, calloused or dirty fingerprints."

Motion Computing’s F5 Tablet PC will come with the SanDisk’s 32GB UATA SSD 5000 drive as an optional component, measuring 1.8 inches.
The SanDisk SSD 5000 durable and reliable drive matches the rugged PC from Motion Computing, one of the leaders in wireless mobile computers industry, that has chosen the new SSD model from the world’s leader in flash memories.

During CeBIT this year visitors will be able to see also the new series of SSD models including SanDisk 64GB SATA 5000 2.5-inch SSD, product that won at Customer Electronics Association Innovations 2008.



The Motion F5 Mobile Field Tool is a semi-rugged computer weighting almost 3 lbs (1.5Kg), coming in a thin and light form factor with a built-in handle and equipped with Wi-Fi module, 3G, Bluetooth wireless, optional wireless broadband, pen/speech inptut methods, built-in 2MP camera, RFID reader, optional barcode scanner, and a special 10.4-inch XGA TFT LCD display with View Anywhere optimization to allow field workers watch clear images even in sunlight conditions, and with the Intel Display Power Saving Technology.

Available at a MSRP of $2,699, the tablet is powered by Intel Core Solo U1400 at 1.20GHz speed, and integrates the Intel 945GM chipset, Intel 945GM Extreme Graphics controller, 256MB VRAM with with Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology, 1GB DDR2 SDRAM memory with the possibility to add up to 2GB, Azalia HD audio codec, Motion Speak Anywhere technology, multi-directional array microphone design with 2 microphones, Knowles Acoustics IntelliSonic software, and built-in speaker.



Other features include a fingerprint reader, TCG Trusted Platform Module 1.2, and connectivity elements such as Ethernet LAN, three USB ports, VGA out, and charging bay for the 40WHr Li-Ion battery.
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"We have selected SanDisk SSD in our new F5 because we believe it gives our users the most robust and reliable solid state solution available in the market today for mobile Tablet PCs," said Michael Johnson, executive vice president of engineering at Motion Computing. "SanDisk was among the first to bring this innovative SSD technology to the market and it's that experience, and the quality of their product, that allow us to offer the durability in the F5 that our customers demand."



"The F5 paired with a SanDisk solid state drive can withstand the toughest working environments," declared Richard Heye, vice-president of SanDisk's SSD division. "We're pleased to support Motion Computing's commitment to the technology needs of these highly mobile users."