The new Motion R12 rugged Windows 8 Tablet will come into stock this week, so here are some up close photos to get your appetite going…

The Motion Computing R12 is the latest high end, rugged tablet from Motion, replacing the tremendously successful J-Series tablet. The J-Series first emerged in about 2008, so you can expect the new R12 series to have a similar long life cycle.

As a serious business user, you can expect to be able to get power supplies, batteries, cases and docking stations well past the end of the 3 year warranty of the device.

The R12 will come in many configurations, but featuring either an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. Up to 8gb of RAM and 256Gb of storage will be offered from the factory.

Thanks to Windows 8, the R12 now features an eight megapixel back camera with an LED flash. Far superior to previous camera offerings on the Windows 7 tablets. There’s a front webcam too, something that was missed by J-series users.

Users of the J-Series Motion tablets will be happy to see a new take on the mobile keyboard system. The Bluetooth keyboard connects via magnets to the back of the tablet and charges through a connector on the back of the R12. While you are using the keyboard, the holder acts as a sturdy easel to prop the tablet up.

To say the R12 is a fully featured Windows 8 Tablet is an understatement! Ports on the standard unit include:

• USB 3
• HDMI
• SD Card (Full size)
• Audio In / Out.

The optional “Slatemate” version also adds:

• Barcode reader
• RFID
• Serial Port.

In addition to the ports is the Wacom Active Digitizer pen. Thoughtfully the Wacom Pen in the R12 is nice and large but it also has a dock in the tablet (pen barn, as they say in Texas) and a tether point so that you don’t lose it.

The rugged Motion R12 also has a fingerprint reader for easy and secure login. Essential in our opinion.

Like the Motion J-Series tablets, the R12 has a well designed protective “Work Anywhere” cover that protects the screen and adds a shoulder strap option.

Seen here fitted to the “Slatemate” version of the R12, the Work Anywhere allows easy access to the hot-swap battery.

Motion rightly make a song and dance about their focus on a complete solution – a full range of accessories to ensure that any workflow can be catered for. It’s no surprise then that the R12 is ready to go with both desktop and vehicle docking options.

Both the vehicle and desktop docking options offer major connectivity including:

• Display out options (VGA, HDMI)
• Extra USB 3 ports
• Ethernet
• Audio in / out.

So when you’re in the office, use the R12 just like a high-end docked laptop. But when you slip it into your backpack or briefcase, the R12 is the most powerful tablet that you can carry!

On our test day, the new Intel Core i7 processor was very tidy about battery use. The tablet lasted a long day of testing and only need to be plugged in about 4:00PM. So for the average field user a single battery should get you through the day, but a spare in the bag would keep you running for a long haul Melbourne to Dallas flight!

For productivity and mobility, the Motion R12 is unsurpassed. We’ll have the R12 with us for on-site demonstrations anywhere in Australia from this week. Call us or email for your chance to see it!