Motion F5 + RFID/Bluetooth = Better Safety

Many of the techie blogs are focused on the feeds and speeds of Tablet PCs. In the real world where companies have to invest in a solution that solves a problem, a tablet like the Motion F5 rugged field tablet is a good choice for inspection and other industrial applications.

Here is a press release from a company that has combined the rugged Motion F5 tablet PC with a RFID wand reader that communicates with the tablet via Bluetooth to solve a required inspection problem.

Tracking of Safety Equipment Made Easy with Handheld RFID Readers


Construction and manufacturing companies are required by law to conduct regular inspections on safety equipment such as eyewashes, safety showers and fire extinguishes. An essential part of these inspections is the accurate identification of each location where the equipment resides, regardless of its location (regularly changing) and the environment (dirt, dust, corrosive chemicals). If the location cannot be verified, the equipment at that location cannot be passed as safe.

Tuscaloosa, AL, January 16, 2009 --(PR.com)-- CASE Inc, an Alabama based software development company, has developed an RFID tracking solution for safety equipment incorporating handheld RFID readers from Tracient Technologies and Motion F5 tablet PC’s. The solution is designed for construction and manufacturing companies who are required by law to conduct regular inspections on safety equipment such as eyewashes, safety showers and fire extinguishes. An essential part of these inspections is the accurate identification of each location where the equipment resides, regardless of its location (regularly changing) and the environment (dirt, dust, corrosive chemicals). If the location cannot be verified, the equipment at that location cannot be passed as safe.

Manual data entry from testing is time consuming and creates an unacceptable opportunity for error, especially through operators selecting incorrect equipment records or equipment locations in the database / handheld application. So CASE Inc has developed an RFID based solution for verifying the location of safety equipment in a fast, accurate and effective way using existing off-the-shelf hardware along with custom written software.

CASE Inc CEO Thomas McKane says “We considered using Barcodes but found they were are out of the question due to degradation and cost of replacing stickers when they became worn and/or unusable. Outdoor use and use around mostly metal areas makes barcode stickers hard to place and use. RFID tags have proven to be far more versatile and don’t need ‘refreshing’ as they get dirty.”

CASE found the RFID tags also provided certainly. RFID tags are unique whereas barcodes can be duplicated, not guaranteeing true proximity verification.

CASE’s choice of hardware started with Motion F5 tablet PC’s and docking stations because of the built-in camera, WIFI, and durability in harsh conditions. However the F5’s built-in RFID readers didn’t always work around metal and the tablets would not fit into small, hard to reach areas where tags were sometimes mounted. Tracient’s hand-held Padl-R HF readers were selected to overcome these limitations, ensuring that inspections could be carried out 100% of the time. Connected to the tablet via Bluetooth, the Padl-Rs provided a quicker wand-like reading solution than the built-in tablet reader, cutting the time in half when inspecting hundreds of points per inspection.

Tracient’s readers were chosen because of their small size and competitive pricing, considerably less than comparable readers found in the United States. Their ease of use was also a big advantage - only 10 minutes of training per operator was needed to begin using the readers reliably.

Thomas McKane, CEO, CASE Inc says “The quality has been excellent and integration has been very easy. The support and sales teams from Tracient are highly professional, we are continually impressed with their response time and knowledge in the field of RFID technology. So far it has proved to be a perfect decision to use their readers.”

CASE chose RFID Tags from FerroxTag due to the low price/point and compatibility with metal in an industrial environment.

CASE’s rapid prototyping software development was used to write the inspection software. The software was loaded onto the Motion F5 tablets were it was used to match tag ID’s with the corresponding location. The tablets ran SQL 2005 Express which the CASE software used to reference the RFID tag ID's and verify the location. The tablets then sync’d with a master SQL 2005 server via WiFi or CAT5 connections.

In March 2008 a large US based manufacturing company (who wishes to remain anonymous) allowed CASE to begin testing the solution in one of their facilities. Testing started with approximately 50 RFID tags in highly critical safety areas, focusing on the more important inspections. The tags were placed in locations where inspections could be verified, i.e. pump houses, storm water drains etc. Different environments were also tested, including wood, metal and plastic. The testing revealed the read distance to the tags was fairly consistent, regardless of the environment, with the Padl-R typically reading the FerroxTags at 1-2 inches (2-4 cm). After several months of testing, CASE moved on to other facilities.

The trial proved the following benefits:

- Significantly reduced time to manage and verify inspections. The average time for an inspection was cut by 1/3rd.
- Verifiable inspections that cannot be fabricated with pencil and paper.
- A completely paperless solution, creating cost reduction by removing the expense of paper and paper storage.
- A much cleaner and safer workplace creating better working conditions for employees.

CASE Inc believes their solution will provide their customers with long term cost reduction in environmental/safety compliance due to less environmental fines and fewer safety accidents. They believe the solution is both robust and long lasting because if RFID tags change in the future, the Tracient readers follow industry standard protocols and offer compatibility with most brands and types.

Thomas McKane says “This is great as it has freed us from having to deal with proprietary hardware, which reduces costs in the long term and increases flexibility regarding the choice of tag.”

CASE Inc intend to market the solution to manufacturers, construction companies and utility providers through out the United States.

ALLTP releases Motion F5 Tablet PC video

I am excited to announce that we have released the first in a series of tablet pc videos. Because tablet pcs just aren't available in stores, we have long had a 48 hour demo program. Now, we are taking the next step to make it easier for you to make a purchasing decision by giving the opportunity to see videos of several different tablets. Now you can decide which is best, or at least which ones aren't a good fit, simply by watching a short video.

Please enjoy and let us know your thoughts. Your feedback is very important! And if you REALLY like it, please go to YouTube and give us a nice rating.

Motion Tablet webinar - save $500 off a new tablet

Motion Computing and Allegiance Tablet PC Experts are sponsoring a webinar on December 10th at 11am CENTRAL STANDARD TIME.

Topic: Motion Tablets, Designed to Improve Field Mobility

Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Time: 11:00 am, Central Standard Time

If you attend the full webinar (about an hour), you will get a code that entitles you to $500 off a new Motion Tablet PC (LE1700, F5 or C5).

IMPORTANT: Motion also has a promotion until the end of the year giving people $200 off Motion LE1700 tablets with the UltraView display - YOU CANNOT COMBINE THESE DISCOUNTS.

Sign up here: https://motioncomputing.webex.com/motioncomputing/j.php?ED=111603087&RG=\1

Benefits of Acronis True Image on your Motion Tablet

If you own a Motion LE1700 Tablet PC, you own this software:

With the introduction of Acronis True Image 10.0 Home, you are provided with four backup products in one.

Our original disk imaging backup option, which enables you to create an image of your entire hard disk drive, including the operating system, applications, user settings, and all data. Use the image to restore your PC to a known working state without any reinstallation.

A new file-based backup option, which enables you to back up and restore individual files and folders, like your My Documents folder, your music, video and photos or some specific file, like your latest tax return. A wizard walks you through all of the steps.

You can back up your applications settings. If an application seems to malfunction or ceases to run you are supposed to reinstall it using the last updates and then recover your settings from the backup. The list of supported applications will be gradually built up. Updates will be available with new program builds or via the Internet. For Instant Messengers, the program will back up both settings and history.

Acronis True Image 10.0 Home offers a straightforward way to back up messages, accounts and settings for Microsoft Outlook 2000, 2002, 2003 and Microsoft Outlook Express. It preserves your e-mails, contacts, calendar, tasks, notes, signatures, news folders, e-mail rules and user settings with just a few mouse clicks.

Acronis True Image 10.0 Home is intended for use at home and in the home office. It is a tool that enables you to protect and recover data on your PC. Its easy-to-use wizards walk you through the steps required to protect and recover your data, including:

• Creating bootable media (floppy disks, CDs, or flash drives), which will enable you to start your computer when the operating system becomes unstable and you cannot boot your machine
• Creating and scheduling the backup procedure to protect all the information stored on your system and backing up specific files and folders, like your My Documents folder or your most recent tax return
• Recovering your data in case of a system failure

There are several exclusive features of the Acronis True Image 10.0 Home software that distinguish it from other products:

• Provides multiple backup options in one product - our original disk imaging backup option allows you to protect your entire PC, and our backup options allow you to protect your music, photos, videos, email and application settings
• Supports Microsoft Vista, so you can safely upgrade to this new operating system
• Allows you to create backup rules, so you do not have to worry about managing your backups
• Enables you to receive e-mail notifications on your backup status, so you have peace of mind knowing your PC is protected
• Find specific files by exploring backup files
• Use your system during a recovery with the Acronis Active Restore feature
• Save data to special partition on your hard drive, the Acronis Secure Zone. There is no need to purchase an extra hard drive, CDs, or DVDs to protect your data. This is especially useful for notebook computers
• Restart your computer by hitting the F11 key in case you computer does not boot correctly with the Acronis Recovery Manager. Even if your operating system has been deleted, the Acronis Recovery Manager can boot your computer
• Run backups while you are using your computer
• Restore your entire PC in minutes, including the operating system, applications, and user settings without reinstallation of any software
• Automate backups on a regular basis by creating a schedule
• Walks you through each task so that you don't need to be a computer expert to use it

Conventional hard drive vs. Solid state drive: Which should you buy?

As more tablet PCs come with optional Solid State Drives, I've wondered and been asked if there is a significant advantage that justifies the current cost delta between SSDs and convential hard drives. Wikipedia provides a great answer which I've summarized below.

Advantages

• 
  Faster start-up, as no spin-up is required
• Typically, fast random access for reading, as there is no read/write head to move
• Extremely low read latency times, as SSD seek-times are orders of magnitude lower than the best current hard disk drives
• In applications where hard disk seeks are the limiting factor, this results in faster boot and application launch times
• Extremely fast write
• No noise: a lack of moving parts makes SSDs completely silent
• For low-capacity flash SSDs, low power consumption and heat production when in active use, although high-end SSDs and DRAM-based SSDs may have significantly higher power requirements
• High mechanical reliability, as the lack of moving parts almost eliminates the risk of mechanical failure
• Ability to endure extreme shock, high altitude, vibration and extremes of temperature: once again because there are no moving parts. This makes SSDs useful for laptops, mobile computers, and devices that operate in extreme conditions.
• Larger range of operating temperatures. Typical hard drives have an operating range of 5-55 degrees C. Most flash drives can operate at 70 degrees, and some industrial grade drives can operate over an even larger temperature range.
• Relatively deterministic read performance: unlike hard disk drives, performance of SSDs is almost constant and deterministic across the entire storage. This is because the seek time is almost constant and does not depend on the physical location of the data, and so, file fragmentation has almost no impact on read performance.
• For low-capacity SSDs, lower weight and size: although size and weight per unit storage are still better for traditional hard drives. When failures occur, they tend to occur either 'on write', or 'on erase', rather than 'on read'. With traditional HDDs, failure tends to occur 'on read'. If the drive detects failure on write, data can be written to a new cell without data loss occuring. If a drive fails on read, then data is usually lost permanently.

Disadvantages

• Cost – as of mid-2008, SSD prices are still considerably more costly per gigabyte than are comparable conventional hard drives: consumer grade drives are typically USD 2 to 3.50 per GB for flash drives and over USD 80 per GB for RAM-based compared to less than USD 0.15 per gigabyte for hard drives.
• Capacity – currently far lower than that of conventional hard drives
• DRAM based SSDs have a higher vulnerability to abrupt power loss.
• Limited write (erase) cycles – flash-memory cells will often wear out after 1,000 to 10,000 write cycles for MLC, and up to 100,000 write cycles for SLC
• Slower write speeds – as erase blocks on flash-based SSDs generally are quite large (e.g. 0.5 - 1 megabyte), they are far slower than conventional disks for random writes and therefore vulnerable to write fragmentation, and in some cases for sequential writes. SSDs based on DRAM do not suffer from this problem.
• Lower storage density – hard disks can store more data per unit volume than DRAM or flash SSDs, except for very low capacity/small devices.
• Higher power consumption – at idle or under low workloads laptop battery runtimes decrease when using an SSD over a 7200 RPM 2.5" laptop hard drive, flash drives also take more power per gigabyte. RAM based SSD require more power than hard disks, both operating and when turned off.

Lenovo adds 128Gb SSD AND cuts prices

As usual, I don't learn anything on my own from our vendors, but from our wonderful customers. A gentleman called me today wanting to buy a Lenovo X200 Tablet PC and informed me that Lenovo had slashed the prices on the SSD drives. I went out to their website and found that not only had they cut the price of the 64Gb SSD in half ($249 from $499) but had also added a 128Gb SSD for only $499. They indicate that the sale is through December 1st.

If you want to configure a Lenovo X200 Tablet PC, you can do that here. Keep in mind that when you order from Allegiance Tablet PC Experts, we only collect sales tax in Pennsylvania.

Motion Computing’s “Tell Us Your Story Campaign” Demonstrates How Tablet PCs Are Changing The Way People Work

Motion is accepting entries for the “Tell Us Your Story” campaign through Dec. 19, 2008.

Visit http://www.motioncomputing.com/promotions/index.asp to access the entry form or read winner submissions.

AUSTIN, TX – Oct. 30, 2008 – Motion Computing®, a leader in mobile computing and wireless communications, announced today that its recently launched “Tell Us Your Story” campaign is confirming that tablet PCs are improving the way mobile users are conducting business. End-users around the world are responding with their own unique examples of how Motion’s tablet PCs have improved productivity and mobile workflows.

Kicked-off on Oct. 6, 2008, the campaign encourages both end-users and resellers to submit stories about how Motion tablets have improved they way they work.

Kevin Kauffman, senior application development specialist with Penn National Insurance reported that Motion tablet PCs have helped the provider of property-casualty insurance and surety bonds improve productivity by enabling representatives to complete more surveys in less time and improve data accuracy through the ability to directly input information into the tablets while in the field.

“Using Motion tablet PCs has helped Penn National Insurance create a totally automated process that reduces time and expenses, streamlines workflows, and equips representatives to become risk management consultants through the availability of real-time data,” said Kauffman. “After our initial success with the tablets, we are now well-positioned to pursue additional mobile projects for even more value.”

Michael Devenjin, IT manager with Macadam, an automotive services company in Belgium that provides vehicle assessments for leasing companies across Europe, reported that Motion tablet PCs have replaced paper-based processes, resulting in an 18 percent productivity improvement. Assessors now provide repair costs while at the customer site and have further enhanced customer service through the added ability to reroute assessors in real-time based on their location.

“Macadam differentiates itself from competitors by providing service and gathering necessary information on site,” said Devenjin. “Using the tablet PCs in the field improves documentation accuracy and has turned a highly inefficient, paper-based process into a streamlined process that improves productivity and more importantly, helps us further differentiate from our competitors through an enhanced level of customer service.”

Motion has received entries from across a variety of industries, including education, legal, healthcare and technology; a testimony to the depth and breadth of tablet PC usability. Both Motion resellers and end-users are reporting a reduction in paper use, improved productivity through the immediate electronic documentation of data, improved customer service and improved mobile efficiency.

“Motion is excited about the opportunity to gather feedback from our customers and partners about unique applications, workflow improvements and productivity benefits,” said Mike Stinson, vice president of marketing, Motion Computing. “We have focused our products on the needs of mobile workers in a variety of vertical markets and are pleased to learn details of the positive impacts tablet PCs have across industries and geographies.”

Save almost $1,000 on Lenovo X200 Tablet PC bundles

Lenovo only sells their TopSeller models through resellers like Allegiance Tablet PC Experts. These are preconfigured bundles that cannot be modified. Usually, they are a little better deal than what is available on the Lenovo website. When the Lenovo X200 Tablet PC was released, we posted the TopSeller models on our website. Then a customer advised us that the difference between one particular model, the 7449EKU, was almost $1,000 less than if he had ordered it as a Build To Order on Lenovo's website. I didn't believe it until I tried it myself.

Here is a screen capture of the configuration from Lenovo's website:



You can buy the same exact configuration from us for only $2,199:

Allegiance Tablet PC Experts Lenovo TopSeller 7449EKU

Doubtful this could be true? I would be too. Here is a link to the IBM/Lenovo website that shows all the configs for their computers:

IBM/Lenovo Personal Systems Reference for ThinkPad Notebooks

Using the bookmarks on the left side, go down to the tab for ThinkPad X200 Tablet (7449) - TopSeller. You'll see this:



The second TopSeller (744988U) has similar savings. Here is the Lenovo BTO shopping cart:



Versus a price of just $1,949 on our website:

Allegiance Tablet PC Experts Lenovo TopSeller 744988U

These TopSeller configuration have the same delivery time of 2-3 weeks. Keep in mind that since Allegiance only has an office in Pennsylvania, that is the only place where we are obligated to collect sales tax. The tablet will have to be shipped to use first and then sent to you but for the cost of around $45 in shipping you can get a heckuva deal.

Tablets in the Classroom

WIPTE is the Workshop on the Impact of Pen-Based Technology on Education. Their annual conference will be held on October 16-18 this year and if you are in the area of Purdue University, you can get more information here.

Here is some more information from the WIPTE website:

WIPTE is open to anyone with an interest in instructional technology. A wide variety of disciplines are embracing Tablet PC's and similar pen-based devices as tools for the radical enhancement of teaching and learning. This conference is intended to leverage this shared passion and to identify best practices in the educational use of pen-based computing so that all educators may benefit from this next generation of technology. Each WIPTE paper presentation includes an assessment component as an important part of the presentation. The WIPTE program also includes keynote talks, poster presentations, vendor booths, panels, and special sessions.

Searching through the website, I found a couple cool videos. They look like they are definitely "sponsored" productions but interesting nonetheless.

This video shows how teachers and students at Forest Ridge of the Sacred Heart are using the digital organizer, OneNote 2007, tablets, and digital textbooks to change and enhance learning.

Hands-free interaction with your Web-based applications

Check out a demonstration of EverSpeech Maple, a product that gives you hands-free interaction with your tablet at www.everspeech.com/demos. Your feedback is much appreciated.

Here is some information from the company.

EverSpeech Maple provides speech recognition and synthesis solutions for Web-based applications. Our product:

• improves productivity
• reduces errors
• increases functionality and usability
• frees up one or both hands

Our standards-based approach supports open architecture solutions or your applications.

Features of EverSpeech Maple:

• Integrates with Internet Explorer as an add-on
• Speech enables standard Web pages for effective voice interaction
• Optimizes speed and accuracy with a small number of additional tags and attributes
• Integrates with other input modalities such as pen, touch, mouse, keyboard, etc.
• Integrates with any back-end Web technology such as JSP, ASP, PHP, etc.
• Integrates with any database such as MySQL, Microsoft SQL, etc.

Case Study: Pro-Teck Tailored Waste Solutions

Pro-Teck Tailored Waste Solutions in New Haven, Connecticut, is an established leader in the field of transportation and disposal solutions. It has an extensive transportation network throughout the Northeast region of the United States, with jobs as small as five gallon pails up to thousands of tons of soil.

When Pro-Teck’s financial administrator, Peggy Manalis, was asked to come up with a better tracking system for the company’s fleet of trucks, she turned to her IT consultant for help. And her IT consultant strongly recommended the tablet computer.

An Internet search led Manalis to Allegiance Tablet PC Experts. Once she spoke with John Hill, she knew Pro-Teck was heading in the right direction. “Not only was the price right, but John Hill was incredibly helpful and responsive – he was able to answer all of our questions and point us in the right direction.” Manalis found that the ordering experience was “fabulous, very easy. I spoke with John on the phone and he helped me with everything.”

Pro-Teck started with one tablet computer in December ’07, and now they have three. With Active Ink software, all of the company’s forms are right on the tablet. As Manalis notes, “Everything is automatic now – information can be input and e-mailed to the office immediately. This has cut down on the hours it used to take to fill out all of the forms -- it has been a tremendous time and money saver.” Pro-Teck has already recommended tablet computers and Allegiance Tablet PC Experts to several other companies. The tablet is helping to take business up to the next level.

Case Study: Cascade Women's Health

Cascade Women’s Health group’s philosophy is to provide gynecological and obstetrical care in a “user-friendly” environment. To that end, this Ohio practice services patients the “old-fashioned” way.

When you call the office, you don’t get a computer, you get a helpful person on the other end of the line. The office staff has been able to continue that almost-forgotten service by saving time in other areas, through the use of modern technology.

Cascade’s practice administrator, Nancy H., explains that the office became much more efficient three years ago, when the staff and providers began using Motion tablet computers.
Everyone especially loves the size of the tablets – they are small and lightweight, but still support all of the practice’s needs. All of the providers carry the tablets from room to room while they see their patients, and all information is entered into the tablet before each patient has walked out of the door.

The providers write their notes and prescriptions, and they even order lab work, right on the tablets. The office also has tablets at the patient check-out windows, and the providers carry the tablets with them to the hospital and to their homes.

Since Cascade began working with John Hill and Allegiance Tablet PC Experts, the office has been moving forward in its technology and efficiency, while not moving backwards in the realm of customer service. Talk with Nancy, and she’ll highly recommend the technology – and you WILL be able to talk with her, because real people answer the phone at this practice!

TabletKiosk® Introduces the Eyesboard™

TabletKiosk® Introduces the Eyesboard™: Its New On-Screen, Virtual Keyboard

TORRANCE, CA, September 8, 2008 — TabletKiosk®, a leading manufacturer of Tablet PC and Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) computing solutions, continues to improve the slate-style Tablet PC user experience by including the Eyesboard™ on-screen virtual keyboard on all of its systems as well as offering it as a free download for existing TabletKiosk Tablet PC and UMPC owners.

The Eyesboard, created by PlazaLOGIC, is an on-screen, virtual QWERTY keyboard, that enables users to type directly on the screen with their fingers or a stylus. Sporting a realistic "3D" look, multiple language options, easy size adjustment, choice of colors, and optional settings — including opacity, "snapable" palettes, menu buttons and sound effects — the Eyesboard virtual keyboard is highly customizable to best fit each user’s unique needs.

“Given that touch screen kiosks with virtual keyboards are now commonly used in airports and retail stores, today’s Tablet PC owners are more familiar with the idea of on-screen typing,” said Martin Smekal, president of TabletKiosk. “By including the Eyesboard as a standard feature on all of our tablets, we believe that we have greatly improved the overall mobile computing experience.”

The Eyesboard virtual keyboard looks and behaves like an actual computer keyboard with its traditional QWERTY key layout, separate numeric keypad and accessible function keys. To maximize screen real estate, the Eyesboard is fully user resizable, and capable of docking or minimizing to the taskbar—so that the keyboard is always accessible even when editing a full size document. It also features adjustable opacity settings to allow whatever is below it to be completely hidden or partially visible. In addition, the Eyesboard virtual keyboard conveniently appears at the Windows Log-In screen for easy password input, but runs with restricted functionality to maintain system security.

“The inclusion of the Eyesboard virtual keyboard for on-screen typing absolutely enhances the usability of our Sahara Slate PC® and eo® Ultra-Mobile PC systems, especially for those users new to the platform,” said Martin Smekal. “The Eyesboard is the perfect complement to the slate Tablet PC form factor because it provides an extremely familiar method of entering text without adding extra components or weight.”


About TabletKiosk®

TabletKiosk is a registered trademark and wholly owned subsidiary of Sand Dune Ventures Inc., a privately held technology incubator. The company produces slate-style Tablet PCs and Ultra-Mobile PCs marketed and sold through an authorized reseller channel and directly through its website. For more information, visit www.tabletkiosk.com.


About PlazaLOGIC

PlazaLOGIC Ltd. Is a software design company that specializes in developing solutions for Tablet PCs, Ultra-Mobile PCs and touch screen computers. For more information, visit www.plazalogic.com.

Motion Computing F5 now has USB/Ethernet available

FINALLY!

While the F5 is a great rugged tablet, not having a USB port has been an issue for appraisers who want to import digital pictures, pharmaceutical companies that use Network Security Tokens for authentication and anyone else who needs a way to get info in and out of their tablet without a docking station.

Motion recently announced a solution and here is the text of the press release:

Motion Announces New Offerings for its Most Rugged Tablet PCs

Smart card reader and EasyConnect USB/Ethernet module improve the usability and enhance security options for the F5 Mobile Field Tool and C5 Mobile Clinical Assistant

AUSTIN, TX – September 3, 2008 - Motion Computing®, a leader in mobile computing and wireless communications, today announced the availability of two new options that improve the usability and security of the F5 Tablet PC and C5 Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA). The new smart card reader enables companies to improve the security of critical data by enhancing authentication processes. Additionally, the EasyConnect USB/Ethernet module allows for easy connection to other devices or local area networks (LAN), without sacrificing the durability and protection offered by the fully sealed, protective design of the rugged tablet PCs.

The optional, integrated smart card reader, manufactured by ITG OMNIKEY® supports both Windows® XP and Vista® operating systems and features an ExpressCard™ interface, a transmission speed of 12 Mbps, and the highest reading performance rate on the market today. Additionally, the EasyConnect USB/Ethernet module is lightweight, easily connects to the devices’ docking connector, and features one 2.0 USB port and one 10/100 Ethernet port.
In addition to the new technology options, Motion® is announcing the new F5 Display Protection Plan (DPP). Now, in addition to the F5’s industry-leading, three-year, field-ready warranty that covers damage from short drops (approx. 30 inches) and ordinary course exposure to rain and dust, customers can now purchase the DPP additional coverage which allows them to have eligible damaged displays replaced at no charge, including shipping.

“These additions will help our customers continue to improve productivity by equipping mobile workers with tablet PCs that enable them to work no matter where work takes them, whether it be the patient bedside or a construction site,” said David Altounian, President and COO of Motion. “Motion continues to develop solutions that improve mobility and complement, not compromise, the rugged design that is critical to professionals that work in harsh or highly mobile environments.”

A variety of features make both the C5 and F5 rugged devices able to withstand the harsh environments often associated with highly mobile workforces.

· A lightweight, magnesium alloy internal frame that delivers structural rigidity

· A rubber Elastomer overmold that adds protection against bumps and drops

· Chemical-resistant resin that is easy to clean/disinfect

· A sealed design to help protect from harsh environmental conditions such as exposure to dust and moisture

· Optional Solid State Drive (SSD) for extreme shock and vibration protection

· Shock-mounted display and hard disk drive (HDD) with DataGuard™, an accelerometer that protects data during drops or other events that could damage the hard drive

· A Motion exclusive thermal management system that protects from data loss

Motion is also announcing the Carry Sleeve, a full-cover case designed specifically for the C5 and F5 that provides a shoulder strap, hand strap and easel for an easy hands-free work environment. The Carry Sleeve is the latest addition to Motion’s in-the-field productivity peripherals that expand options to more easily transport, charge and utilize the C5 and F5 while away from the office or standard docking station. Also available are the:

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

· Motion Flex Carry. An attachable, ergonomic solution that provides alternate methods for carrying the devices throughout the workday – it includes shoulder and hand straps and easily fits into the standard docking station for uninterrupted workflows· ReadyDock. A multi-tablet storage and charging station from ATS for optimal space management and workflow improvement.

The F5, the latest tablet PC from Motion, is a rugged, highly mobile PC that provides electronic clipboard functionality and is the ideal productivity tool for field workers who compute and enter data while standing or walking. Its lightweight, rugged design and integrated features provide onsite, real-time productivity in the harshest environments. Mobile professionals across construction, field sales and service, government and insurance are using the F5 because it provides all of the durability and functionality of a rugged PC without the extra weight and price associated with traditional, fully rugged devices.

“The F5 is the ideal tool for our water conservation teams that spend the majority of their time away from the office and are often required to work outside in unpredictable weather environments,” said Ted Calloway, Technology Analyst for Denver Water. “The rugged, fully sealed exterior ensures that the tablet PCs will remain protected despite changing environmental conditions and the lightweight, highly mobile design with convenient tablet input helps our mobile employees be more productive while in the field.”

The C5, the industry’s first MCA developed in collaboration with Intel®, is a hospital-grade device that is proven in healthcare environments. Its rugged, disinfectable design and integrated features provide improved productivity while supporting the five rights of patient care – the right patient, right time, right medication, right dosage and right route. In a series of clinician usability studies conducted with leading healthcare organizations, the C5 has proven to improve point of care documentation, enhance clinician satisfaction, reduce transcription error rates, increase clinician productivity and improve clinical documentation accuracy.

The smart card reader and the EasyConnect USB/Ethernet module are available now, and the Carry Sleeve will begin shipping in October.

FiatLux Visualize™ software previewed on the Motion Computing C5 at SIIM 2008 Annual Meeting

Another great software company developing an application perfect for the tablet PC!

FiatLux Imaging Brings Medical Imaging to Tablet PCs

SEATTLE—May 22, 2008—FiatLux Imaging, Inc., features it’s advanced medical imaging software, FiatLux Visualize, with Motion Computing’s C5 enabling physician bedside discussions with their patients and family regarding the results of their CT/MRI scans and illustrating to patients possible treatment options and plans. FiatLux Visualize, currently under development, is scheduled for release in Summer 2008 promising physicians greater power and access. “Our goal is to provide powerful, intuitive, and affordable advanced medical imaging that's accessible anywhere. Our ability to run on very portable devices like the C5 in addition to the standard desktop/laptop further advances that capability.” said Dr. Brynn Karch, chief medical officer.

Read the rest of the press release...

TabletPCBuzz is all new just for you

TabletPCBuzz, one of the longest running forums focusing exclusively on Tablet PCs, has relaunched today. Utilizing new forum software, it is easier to search and use. Providing access to over 300,000 posts and covering hardware from Dell and HP to Motion Computing and TabletKiosk, TabletPCBuzz is the best user to user forum for tablet PC users.

Check it out here: www.tabletpcbuzz.com

Motion Computing LE1600 won't charge

Motion Computing LE1600 Tablet PCs occasionally develop a problem where the unit won't charge because the AC adapter port on the right side of the tablet breaks on the inside where it attaches to the motherboard. People that call us about this problem usually think their AC adapter is bad. That has only been the case one time and it was obvious because the cord was damaged. To test whether you have this problem, you can try and charge the tablet via the Convertible Keyboard or FlexDock. If it charges fine using those devices, your problem is the AC adapter port.

Now for the bad news...

Motion used to fix those at their repair facility by soldering the AC port where it separated from the motherboard. Now, they replace the entire motherboard at a cost of around $700 and an average wait time of 2-6 weeks. YIKES!

And some good news...

Allegiance Technology can do the repair for $125 plus the cost of return shipping. This repair may void any warranty you have and is not authorized by Motion in any way. But it sure is faster and cheaper than the alternative. Call 877-772-5587 x3 if you have more questions.

CBS Corporation To Acquire CNET Networks, Inc.

CBS to Become a Top Ten U.S. Internet Company with Unparalleled Content and Reach, Boasting Approximately 200 Million Monthly Unique Users Worldwide

CNET Networks' CNET, ZDNet, GameSpot.com, TV.com, CNET News, UrbanBaby, BNET, CHOW and Search.com, Among Others, To Be Combined with CBS Corporation's National and Local Interactive Businesses

So how is this tablet PC related? Well, whether you know it or not, a lot of content you see on computer reseller websites comes from CNET. Through various companies and internet properties, you see information provided by them. CNET owns ZDNet, TechRepublic, Search.com and MySimon has a very large footprint in technology and influences what products you see covered.

Another Motion F5 webinar - save $1,000 on a purchase

Our Motion F5 webinar went so well last week (34 attendees) that we are sponsoring another one next Tuesday, May 20th at 2pm EASTERN STANDARD TIME. Attendees will learn about the capabilities of the F5 during a 30 minutes webinar followed by a Q&A session.

Special Introductory Offer - Save $1000 !For a limited time, you can save $1000 off the purchase of one Motion F5 tablet by attending a product overview webinar.

F5 Product Webinars

Tuesday, May 20th, 1:00 pm CST - Register

The Motion F5 Mobile Field Tool is the first semi-rugged slate PC designed specifically for the mobile field worker that combines durability, mobility and integrated functionality with the benefits and convenience of tablet input. See our Motion F5 Brochure.

• Thin and light, about 3 lbs
• Semi-rugged, field-ready design with convenient, built-in handle
• Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth® wireless connectivity and optional wireless broadband
• Natural pen/speech input
• Integrated digital camera, RFID reader and optional barcode scanner
• View Anywhere® display for optimal outdoor viewing
• 3-year field-ready warranty protection

Clinical Ink automates clinical trials using tablet PCs

(Another in our ongoing series of software programs designed specifically for the tablet PC)

eSource Solutions for Clinical Trials

Clinical Ink offers customized electronic source documents running on tablet PCs—finally, a true eSource solution. Capturing source data on paper is costly and error-prone, but it remains prevalent because of familiarity and a lack of viable alternatives. Clinical Ink™ maintains the workflow and mobility of paper while allowing fast, secure transmission of source data.

Clinical Ink™ offers an eSource solution for clinical trials that provides cleaner data more quickly — saving money by reducing your time to market. Clinical Ink's solution runs on tablet PCs, allowing validated source data to be entered on customized eSource documents that retain the look and feel of paper forms. The data and forms can then be managed, viewed and stored via Clinical Ink's secure web portal.

Clinical Ink's interface is designed with the benefits of pen and paper in mind. Unlike traditional electronic data capture (EDC) systems, Clinical Ink allows you to record comments and explanations, as well as capture the data required by the protocol — all while moving freely from room to room, regardless of connectivity. Clinical Ink provides this ease of use while eliminating the problems with paper source and case report forms.

Source data is validated at the point of capture and seamlessly transmitted (using CDISC standards) to the chosen backend data system. Since there is only one data set, monitors don't need to perform source data verification. Remote viewing of source documents allows monitors to resolve queries from their home office, dramatically reducing monitoring costs. Getting cleaner data more quickly with Clinical Ink results in significant savings.

Learn more about Clinical Ink...