February 2011

CoActiv EXAM-PAD bundles 10-inch Win 7 tablet with PACS software
We're starting to see custom applications sold packaged with the new breed of media tablets. An example is CoActiv Medical, a healthcare software and IT systems provider that sells digital image and data storage services and related solutions for hospitals, imaging facilities and medical practices of all sizes. CoActiv is now offering the Windows 7-based EXAM-PAD Model 10 PACS (picture archiving communications system) solution with exam viewing technology that connect to an EXAM-PACS server to display high quality multi-modality images securely in real time from anywhere in the world. The tablet itself appears to be a an Atom N450-powered Onkyo TW117 media tablet with a 10.1" capacitive multi-touch 1024x600 LED display. [See CoActiv EXAM-PAD page] -- Posted Monday, February 28, 2011 by chb

Fujitsu announces Stylistic Q550 tablet
Fujitsu, which had been one of the very pioneers in tablets but recently concentrated on convertible notebooks, again has a Stylistic tablet. The Intel Atom-based Q550 runs Windows 7 on a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 pixel outdoor-viewable multi-touch screen that can also be used with an electromagnetic pen in an auto-switching arrangement. There's an SD Card slot, Smart Card, a fingerprint reader, 30 or 62GB of solid state disk, as well as WiFi, Bluetooth and optional Gobi 3000 with GPS. Pricing starts at under US$800 and the device will be available in April. [See description and specs of the Fujitsu Stylistic Q550] -- Posted Friday, February 25, 2011 by chb

NEC releases contactless hybrid finger scanner
With security becoming ever more important, NEC's announcement of a hybrid finger scanner that can simultaneously acquire fingerprint and finger vein characteristics without physical contact is relevant. The NEC HS100-10 works with major access management software (such as IBM Tivoli and Novell) and NEC will provide the “Hybrid Finger Authentication Development Library.” [See NEC hybrid finger scanner] -- Posted Friday, February 25, 2011 by chb

iPad competitors finally gearing up
According to DigiTimes, HP will start selling its webOS-based TouchPad in April, and expects to ship four to five million units in 2011. Motorola, in the meantime, may be in for a hard time with it Xoom tablet due to an unexpectedly high price ($599.99 with a new two-year Verizon contract or $799.99 without a contract). -- Posted Tuesday, February 22, 2011 by chb

Motion announces low-end version of C5v MCA tablet
Motion Computing is now offering a low-end version of its C5v Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA) using an Intel Core i3 processors and a smaller 30GB solid state disk. This new option makes a lower entry price point (US$1,899) available for healthcare organizations that require the durability, integrated features and ergonomic design of the C5v, but do not need the advanced systems management capabilities of the Intel i5 or i7 vPro processors. -- Posted Tuesday, February 22, 2011 by chb

Tenfold increase in tablet sales predicted
Even though the tablet market is still largely just the Apple iPad, both DisplaySearch and iSuppli predict massive increases in tablet sales over the next three to four years. DisplaySearch predicts an increase in tablet unit sales from just under 20 million in 2010 to a staggering 172 million in 2014, or over a third of all PC sales. iSuppli sees total sales of 242 million in 2015. Note that the projections differentiate between "media tablets," such as the iPad, that will account for the lion's share of unit sales, and tablets with full PC functionality, which are also expected to greatly advance to almost 40 million in 2015. -- Posted Thursday, February 17, 2011 by chb

Acer hedges bets, launches two more tablets
Acer is cranking it up in the tablet arena. Adding to the already announced Iconia Tab A500 tablet PC, at Mobile World Congress 2011, Acer also announced the AMD-powered Iconia Tab W500 that runs Windows 7 on a 10.1-inch screen, and the Nvidia Tegra-powered Iconia A100 that runs Android 3.0 on a smaller 7-inch display. Both tablets have dual cameras. -- Posted Tuesday, February 15, 2011 by chb

HP announces webOS-powered TouchPad
As expected, Hewlett Packard announced the TouchPad, a tablet that is virtually identical in design, size and weight to the Apple iPad, but runs webOS, which Palm pioneered on its Pre and Pixi smartphones. Powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm "Snapdragon" processor and offering either 32 or 64GB of memory, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G WWAN, and a 1.3mp camera, the TouchPad will be available in the summer of 2011. HP did not release information on battery life, price or carriers. [See description and specs of the HP TouchPad] -- Posted Thursday, February 10, 2011 by chb

Full review: updated Getac V100
The Getac V100 is a compact rugged mobile computer that can either be used as a standard laptop or, by rotating the display, as a tablet PC. The latest technology update (2010/2011) includes an energy-efficient ultra-low voltage 1.2GHz Intel Core i7-640UM processor, a large 320GB serial ATA hard disk, gigabit Ethernet, fast wireless PAN and WAN implementations, SD Card reader, super-bright outdoor-viewable screen, and an integrated camera. RuggedPCReview.com spent several weeks with the updated V100 and found much to like. [Read detailed review of the updated Getac V100] -- Posted Tuesday, February 8, 2011 by chb

Mobile Demand adds xTablet C1200 rugged convertible tablet
Mobile Demand announced it is complementing its lineup of rugged Tablet PCs with the xTablet C1200 convertible tablet computer. The C1200 has a 12.1-inch 1280 x 800 pixel touch display with optional digitizer and runs Windows 7 on an Intel Core i5-520UM ultra low voltage processor. The 12.9 x 10.9 x 1.6 inch device weighs 5.5 pounds, has an integrated carry handle, solid state storage, a spill-resistant keyboard, and a 4-foot drop spec. I/O can be customized via modules, and a secondary battery can boost battery life to eight hours. [See description and specs of the Mobile Demand xTablet C1200] -- Posted Thursday, February 3, 2011 by chb