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Posts Tagged ‘Rugged’

First Rugged Windows 8 Tablet goes to Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1

Jan
18
2013

Panasonic have announced a new rugged Windows 8 tablets coming this quarter called the Toughpad FZ-G1. We got some hands on time with the G1 yesterday and are finally impressed by a Toughbook tablet!

Toughbooks like the legendary CF-18 and CF-19 have an extremely good name in sectors like mining and utilities. When it came to tablets though, the Japanese manufacturer generally came up short with poor screen choices and bulky designs (Toughbook H1 / H2 for example).

It seems that the Panasonic engineers might have finally let go of that convertible tablet design heritage and built an awesome field rugged Windows 8 tablet.

What we like about the Toughpad FZ-G1:

  • It is a certified Rugged Windows 8 Tablet! But it can ship with Windows 7 – Corporate SOE builders need not despair!
  • IPS Display – very good in and out, wide viewing. This is the first time that Panasonic have built a Toughbook with a decent screen. Perfect finally!
  • 1920 x 1200 resolution. This is a brilliant 10.1 screen. Still small enough to be very mobile and the 16 x 10 aspect ratio is perfect for reading in portrait mode.
  • 10 point capacitive multi touch input and Wacom pen on board.
  • Drop tested to four feet, IP65 rated – very weather resistant.
  • Intel Core i5 Gen 3 “Ivy Bridge” processor with 4Gb or 8Gb of RAM. Processor has an IP65 rated fan unit on board to keep the device cool unlike previous Toughbook tablets.
  • 128Gb and 256Gb options.
  • Vehicle and desktop docking options.
  • Weight at around 1.1kg. Lightweight for a rugged computer!
  • Removable / replaceable battery.
  • Specify either a GPS, Serial Port, Ethernet Port, MicroSD or 2nd USB port into the expansion port at the top.
  • Faster battery charge times, down to 3 hours.
  • Desktop and vehicle docking options – Passthrough GPS and 3G/4G antenna.

What could be better:

  • Screen edges are a little hard to hit with Windows 8 thanks to the slightly recessed screen.
  • Battery is not hot swap.
  • No fingerprint or RFID login. A smart card reader to come as an option later.
  • GPS, Serial Port, Ethernet Port, MicroSD or 2nd USB must be specified from factory and can’t be changed later.

None of these are deal breakers though and the Toughpad FZ-G1 is a breakthrough Windows 8 tablet. Pricing is expected to be competitive in the rugged tablet market.

As usual, 3G options are destined for Australia since suitable multi-band embedded 4G devices are not currently available for PCs.

The Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 is available to purchase now from the Tablet PC Store,  and by calling Tablet PC on 1300 110 101.

Take a look at our photos of the production sample of the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 rugged Windows 8 tablet in action:

Rugged-Windows-8-Tablet-Panasonic-Toughbook-FZ-G1-1Rugged-Windows-8-Tablet-Panasonic-Toughbook-FZ-G1-3Rugged-Windows-8-Tablet-Panasonic-Toughbook-FZ-G1-4Rugged-Windows-8-Tablet-Panasonic-Toughbook-FZ-G1-5Rugged-Windows-8-Tablet-Panasonic-Toughbook-FZ-G1-8Rugged-Windows-8-Tablet-Panasonic-Toughbook-FZ-G1-10

Rugged-Windows-8-Tablet-Panasonic-Toughbook-FZ-G1-6Rugged-Windows-8-Tablet-Panasonic-Toughbook-FZ-G1-7Rugged-Windows-8-Tablet-Panasonic-Toughbook-FZ-G1-9

The Toughbook FZ-G1 kicks of 2013 to a great start. We’re calling it the year of the Rugged Windows 8 tablet!

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Motion F5t Tablet – BIM Demonstration(Building Information Modelling)

Dec
27
2012

Using Tekla BIMsight on Windows tablet

As demonstrated in the video below, the really awesome thing about a Windows tablet (Windows 7 or Windows 8) is having a full operating system that can run full Windows programs with all of their power and complexity in a mobile form factor.

The video below shows the Motion F5t running Tekla BIMSight and as you’ll see the Motion F5t is built to handle the complex 3D modelling in the program with ease.

Whether you want to run CAD, BIM, GIS or any other software that comes with it’s own TLA (three letter acronym) you’ll find that it is just so much quicker and easier on a full OS tablet than a dumbed down touch only version. Of course with Windows 8 now in the fold you can have both the dumbed down touch version and the complex full OS version with you at all times.

The Motion F5t is perfect for the BIM (Building Information Modelling) job. It is a rugged field tablet with an generation 3 (Ivy Bridge) Intel Core i7 processor, up to 16Gb of DDR 3 RAM and 256Gb SSD. In other words, there is not a more powerful mobile slate tablet available.

And, like the buildings that the Motion F5t is used to manage, it’s built to last for years. There’s a lot to be said for that!

If you only use the best tools for the job, then the Motion F5t is where you start.

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Why Electranet in South Australia uses the Motion F5v

Jul
28
2012

You’ve all heard me going on for 20 minutes about why I use the Motion F5v, but what do I know? I’m just a humble Tablet geek! Winking smile

David Peters from South Australia’s high voltage transmission company Electranet took us out onto a 275,000 Volt substation to show us why they also chose the Motion F5v for their field asset inspection teams.

The following video gives a great insight into why so many of Australia’s utility companies have chosen Motion tablets – especially the F5v – for their high demand field jobs.

Electranet uses the Motion F5v for field asset inspections

In case you missed it, the standout features that led Electranet to choose the Motion F5v were:

  1. Motion’s BOE Hydis AFFS+ outdoor display with View Anywhere – it’s still unmatched
  2. Built rugged and ready for onsite use – all over South Australia – from Olympic Dam to Adelaide City
  3. Hot swap fast charging batteries will let you go 24×7 on just 2 batteries
  4. Easy to access integrated barcode reader
  5. Powerful Intel Core i7 processor and standard Windows 7 Professional – allows Electranet to run standard Windows applications.

Tablet PC have helped many of Australia’s largest utility companies – such as Electranet, SP Ausnet, Jemena, Egron Energy, Melbourne Water and many more – to successfully deploy Tablet PCs for their field users.

If you’re still using pen and paper to collect data in the field, you’re falling behind! Contact us to find out how organisations like Electranet are reaping the benefits of Windows 7 Tablet PCs.

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Motion F5v Rugged Windows 7 Tablet PC– Now with Touch–Our video review

Mar
1
2012

I dropped my very cool and sexy Samsung Series 7 Slate out of the car the other day. Fortunately I was stopped at the time! But did I mention that I use the Motion Computing  F5v as my daily tablet? Well that’s why…

Whilst consumer tablets like the Samsung and the iPad for that matter will never be able to handle the rigours of life on the road (I don’t want to be replacing my most important work tool every month or so), the Motion F5v can and will!

So now the Motion Computing F5v has touch as well as the world’s best input system – the Wacom Active Digitizer Pen.

Touch on the new F5v is delivered as capacitive multi-touch over the top of Corning’s now famous Gorilla Glass. Currently the F5v touch does not have Motion’s View Anywhere technology, but it does have the Hydis AFFS+ display. So it’s not quite as good as the non-touch version outside, but that will come later in the year…

So here’s our run through with the Motion Computing F5v with touch:

For more information or to contact us for a demonstration, visit our Motion F5v product page .

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Motion F5v Rugged Windows Tablet PC – Now with Touch

Feb
29
2012

 

The Motion Computing F5v is the tablet that I personally use when I go mobile (nearly every day). Here are the reasons why:

  • It’s tough – IP54, Mil 810G
  • It’s mobile – 1.5kg, 10” Outdoor Screen
  • It’s connected – Bluetooth, Wifi, 3G, GPS
  • It’s fast – Intel Core i7, i5 or i3 processors
  • It just works!

But until now it’s had the Wacom Active Digitizer Pen but no fingertip touch. That has now changed and the F5v with touch is available and shipping as we speak!

Check out the Motion video below and you’ll see why the F5v – still our best selling rugged Tablet PC – is chosen by leading Australian organizations such as Rio Tinto, Newcrest Mining, SP Ausnet, Melbourne Water and many more…

For more information or to contact us for a demonstration, visit our Motion F5v product page .

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Detailed Motion CL900 Review on RuggedPCReview.com

Aug
3
2011

The new wave of Tablet PCs that landed in June have kept us so busy that we’ve barely had time to scratch let alone blog! Undoubtedly most of the impact has come from the Motion CL900 tablet PC. It has changed the windows tablet landscape with its rugged design, low cost and great battery life.

While you wait for us to tell you more about it, we thought we’d share a review with you from Dr Conrad Blickenstorfer of RuggedPCReview.com. The review goes into a lot of good technical detail and gives you a good overview of where the CL900 product fits in the tablet market. Read it here: http://www.ruggedpcreview.com/3_slates_motion_cl900_full.html

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Tablet Kiosk eo TuffTab – Rugged 7” Tablet PC

Sep
14
2010

We posted another video today of the brilliant Tablet Kiosk eo TuffTab. The TuffTab is ideal for field workers who need to enter data on the move. As a rugged Tablet PC it is built to survive drops and bumps. With an outdoor viewable display and an IP54 rating (water and dust resistant), the TuffTab will work for you rain hail or shine.

Uniquely, the TuffTab includes a resistive multi-touch screen that can be used with rough / gloved hands. Even better, there is a version that includes a Wacom Active Digitizer as well as the Multi-touch screen. Regular viewers will know that this means the best of both worlds… The convenience of touch combined with the accuracy and versatility of the pen for note taking and data entry.

Tablet Kiosk eo TuffTab Rugged 7” Multi-Touch Tablet PC

The Tablet Kiosk eo TuffTab is another demonstration of the depth of Windows Tablet PCs offerings.  No matter what work you do, there is a Tablet PC that will suit your workflow!

For more information on the Tablet Kiosk eo TuffTab visit our website.

TabletPC.com.au

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BBC Reporter Breaks ‘Unbreakable’ Rugged Phone – Needs Gorilla Glass!

Jan
14
2010

The Sonim XP1 is a rugged, IP54 rated, MIL-810F drop tested mobile phone that is pretty close to unbreakable… That is until this BBC reporter got hold of it (Click on the screenshot to watch the video):

BBC-Reporter-Breaks-Phone

As you can see, the weak point of this phone is its glass screen. We find that the glass screen is the weak point on many of the Tablet PCs on the market too – even the rugged ones. Even though standard screens are made from chemically hardened glass, they are still prone to break when a little force is applied.

Corning turned this problem on its head when they released Gorilla Glass last year – Gorilla Glass is strengthened with a process that achieves a much deeper level of strengthening. You can see a demonstration of Gorilla Glass by Andrew Moore-Crispin of butterscotch.com here at CES in Las Vegas last week.

Motion Computing were the first Tablet PC manufacturer with Corning Gorilla Glass on the rugged F5 and C5 tablets last year. Gorilla Glass is up to four times stronger than other glass used in Tablet PCs and as yet, Motion are still the only Tablet manufacturer using the technology.

Having used Tablet PCs for nearly 10 years (and broken at least 4 screens), I can attest to the value of this glass. It should be an essential component on all Tablet PCs along with a low power Hydis AFFS+ outdoor viewable display – another Motion Computing first.

Sonim should plan a visit to Corning to make their rugged phone even tougher (so that this doesn’t happen in future)!

TabletPC.com.au

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Xplore iX104C4 Rugged Tablet PC Review

Nov
9
2009

The Xplore iX104C4 is a super tough IP65 rated rugged Tablet PC. Because the Xplore is ATEX certified we have been able to deploy it on gas inspection work for the coal seam gas projects in Western Queensland.

Whilst the Xplore is not intrinsically safe (no computer is), it is safe for use in certain dangerous environments (ATEX / UL1604 Class I / Div II.). You will need to check to be sure that the ATEX certification that this device carries will satisfy the requirements of your work environment. Give us a call to discuss it.

The Xplore is built with a triple layer magnesium housing and a unique patented bumper system that enables it to pass a direct drop test onto concrete from 4 feet. It also comes with a choice of Wacom active digitiser or a Wacom digitiser / touch screen combination.

Importantly Xplore also uses smart outdoor screen technology to ensure maximum viewing without needless power draining backlighting. And best of all, with Xplore you don’t have to sacrifice computing power for ruggedness. The iX104C4 uses an Intel Core 2 Duo processor giving it great computing performance.

Thanks to www.RuggedPCReview.com for the pictures in this video. You can read their review of the Xplore iX104C4 here.

TabletPC.com.au

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Motion F5 in the Rain – IP54 Rated

Nov
2
2009

I got caught out in one of Melbourne’s four seasons (the rainy one) with one of our Motion F5 tablet PCs recently. As you can see from the video below, the Motion F5 has an IP 54 rating, so it takes it all in stride…

The Motion F5 has an IP54 rating for water and dust resistance. IP is an industrial rating scale for Intrusion Protection. The first number, in this case a 5 relates to the dust rating, and the second number relates to the water rating.

To achieve these ratings, the Motion F5 – and for that matter the Motion C5 – must run through a series of physical endurance tests. The machines must operate through the testing without failure. To see the tests in action, watch below:

Motion F5 Water Test

Water is sprayed constantly onto the Motion F5 from all sides for 1 hour. It must continue to operate throughout the test.

Motion Dust Protection Test

Whilst this video shows the Motion J3400, the Motion F5 and C5 pass the same test. The Tablet PCs are subjected to a fine dust cloud for 8 hours and must continue to operate.

Motion F5 Drop Test

The Motion F5 unit is dropped from 3 feet onto all sides, corners and faces. It must continue to operate throughout this test to pass.

Motion F5 Gorilla Glass Test

This demonstration shows a 1kg ball bearing dropped onto the screen. As you can see, the screen flexes but does not break thanks to the Corning Gorilla Glass technology.

Tablet PCs like these go into places that regular computers don’t go. It is important that you choose a Tablet PC that is designed to go where you want it to go!

TabletPC.com.au

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