Want to demo or rent a Tablet PC?

For almost five years, Allegiance has been the only company that allows customers to try a Tablet PC before they make a purchase. With choices of a 48 hour demo (you pay only shipping) or a two week or month long rental, your organization can make sure that a particular Tablet PC is the right fit before you buy.

The models that we currently offer are the:

Sahara i440D Pen/Touch Slate Tablet PC
Motion Computing F5 Rugged Field Tablet PC
Motion Computing C5 Medical Tablet PC
Motion J3400 Rugged Field Tablet PC
Lenovo X200 Convertible Tablet PC
Fujitsu ST6012 Slate Tablet PC

Along with the tablet, you can demo/rent a docking station, mobile dock and convertible keyboard if it is available for the model you choose.

Since we let you load all your own software on the tablet, you can test the units in your own environment just as you would use them for your daily work.

If you want to learn more about the program, visit out 48 hour demo/rental web page.

Or you can call us at 215-441-5580 x1.

Allegiance' customer Doster Construction featured in Mobile Enterprise Magazine

Our customer, Doster Construction, evaluated a number of handheld and tablet PC options before settling on the Motion Computing F5 Field Tablet PC. They have since implemented 25 of them for their field supers and project managers.

Here is an excerpt from a nice article in Mobile Enteprise Magazine:

Regarded as a national leader in wood-frame construction, Birmingham, AL-based Doster Multifamily celebrated 40 years in the business this year by maximizing workflow on the job site, improving on its already rigorous quality control process and saving time and money on every project.

How did they do it? By implementing rugged tablets and automating field-based processes to connect to backend systems. But, of course, it wasn't just a simple case of design and build.

Doster knew a mobile solution could help it:

• improve communications with subcontractors;


• reduce wasted paper and time spent inputting handwritten field notes;


• improve accuracy of inspection records; and


• track work flow.

The company had deployed PDAs in its Multifamily Division the previous year in an attempt to meet some of these goals. "We went the PDA route initially because it seemed simpler," explains Doster Network Support Specialist CJ Rainer, "We weren't sure if the guys in the field were going to take to using the PDAs, how well they'd grasp the technology, and how excited they'd be about it. We were pleased at how quick they did grasp it and even outgrow it. We were only up a few months before we started to realize we could do more with technology out in the field than what we were able to do with the PDAs."

The PDAs lacked processing power, the screen size was too small to easily collect data in the field, and there had been a few instances of major data loss due to the clumsy and time-consuming process of syncing the handhelds to backend systems. Due to these issues, many workers were still using pen-and-paper to track quality control inspections.

You can read the rest of the article here.

Is GOBI good for Tablet PC users?

Gobi is built-in wireless broadband that, along with a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card, allows you to connect to the internet on a carrier's cellular network.

The advantage of Gobi for tablet PC owners is that it is built-in so there is nothing to connect and no extra device to lose. Also, you can use a SIM card from any carrier so if you travel a lot you can have a connection to the best network.

The disadvantage is that since the hardware is built-in there is no way to upgrade it when faster technology becomes available. Also, you can't share with another computer like you could with a USB Broadband device. Last, to take advantage of multiple carrier networks, you need multiple SIM cards and a cellular data plan with each carrier - very expensive except for the most intense road warriors.

Here is a link to the Gobi website: http://www.gobianywhere.com/

Here is a link to current tablet products that include Gobi technology: www.gobianywhere.com/products.php

On the list is the Motion J3400, Lenovo X200 and several HP and Panasonic units.

Allegiance now offering Lenovo X200 screen protector

We have commissioned a new WriteShield screen protector for the Lenovo X200 tablets and it is finally ready for sale.

These screen protectors are high quality with anti-glare and anti-fingerprint properties. These are not your crazy uncle's cheap-plastic-shiny screen protectors!

Click here to learn more and purchase

We also carry custom screen protectors for these tablet models: Fujitsu ST5112, HP TC4200, HP TC4400, Lenovo X41, Lenovo X60, Lenovo X61, Motion C5, Motion F5, Motion LE1600, Motion LE1700, Motion LS800, Motion M1400, Sahara i440D, TabletKiosk eo7110

Lenovo TopSeller tablets still the best deal

Last year I wrote an article about saving money by purchasing Lenovo TopSeller X200 Tablet PCs versus purchasing directly from Lenovo online. Recently, I revisited their website to see if the pricing gap had narrowed. It hasn't.

Keep in mind that from time to time Lenovo has sales and offers coupons that reduce the price of their build to order units. The TopSeller bundles are still a little less expensive and, since you don't have to wait for them to be custom built, ship more quickly. Since the TopSeller bundles can't be customized, if you need a specific configuration the Lenovo store is your only option.

First, it's important to see what is included in the various TopSeller bundles. Here is a screen clipping from their website showing the part numbers and features:

Here are some comparisons:

7449-88U - This has the LED backlit display, 160Gb 7200rpm HD, Ultrabase w/DVD-RW, Vista Business, 8-cell battery and 3 year warranty. The price on our store is $1,949. Configure the same unit with the same features on Lenovo's website and the price is $2,339.15.

TOTAL SAVINGS: $390.15

7449-EKU - This has the Multiview/Multitouch display, 160Gb 7200rpm HD, Ultrabase w/DVD-RW, Vista Business 64, 8-cell battery and 3 year warranty. The price on our store is $2,199. If you configure this on Lenovo's site the total is $2,729.15.

TOTAL SAVINGS: $530.15

To look up all the different configurations and specifications of Lenovo TopSeller units, go to the Lenovo website and scroll down to ThinkPad X200 (7449) - TopSeller.

To check prices on Lenovo X200 Tablet PC configurations, visit our Lenovo store.

Product Feature: ReadyDock for Motion C5 and F5

The ReadyDock-C5M is optimized to house your Motion C5 Mobile Clinical Assistant tablet PC. It is the best way to organize, store and charge your tablets while making the most efficient use of space. ReadyDock can eliminate the clutter of wires and has no messy power set up. ReadyDock also locks securely to protect your valuable electronic devices.

The ReadyDock has custom power contacts that are compatible with your Motion C5 Tablet PC. Just slide your tablet firmly into an available slot until you hear a “click.” Lock the cabinet and walk away confidently knowing your electronic device is secure. You’ll know when the tablet has finished charging when the light has changed from yellow or orange to green. Unlock the door and press the easy-to-release lever. Your tablet is fully charged and ready for your next assignment.

Choose from a variety of configurations depending on your needs. The ReadyDock storage cabinet can be configured to house 5, 10 or 20 Motion C5 Tablet PCs. A single unit model holds five tablets and is 12 5/8” W x 11.5” H x 13.25” D. Stack one unit on top of the other, place them side by side, or stack four in a cube. The ReadyDock storage cabinet can even be wall-mounted for out-of-the-way storage, or to save you much-needed countertop or desk space.

ReadyDock storage cabinets are lightweight at just 15.6 pounds (without tablets inside). They are aesthetically pleasing in white powder coated metal and are designed especially for medical environments because they are easy to wipe clean and disinfect.

Today, many physicians, physician assistants, nurses and busy health professionals use Tablet PCs or Motion C5 Tablet PCs. Give them a handy place to recharge their tablets so they never lose a minute of productivity. Even moreso, ReadyDock storage cabinets secure the tablets and ensure patient confidentiality is never compromised.

Busy medical personnel love the technology and convenience of their Tablet PCs and these electronic tablets have become an indispensable part of patient care. Help your staff have easy access to the tablets and protect your valuable investment by purchasing ReadyDock storage cabinets. These cabinets are lightweight, appropriate for the clean medical environment, and provide centralized storage and docking station for tablets that is rugged and secured by a lock.

To learn more and check pricing, visit the ReadyDock product page.

DaVinci Mobile Pro: Sketching and form filling for appraisers

In my blog I like to feature solutions that are specifically designed to take advantage of the capabilities of Tablet PCs. DaVinci Mobile Pro is built for tablet PCs. For appraisers who have been using pen and paper, DaVinci Mobile Pro allows them to incorporate electronic sketching and form filling into their daily workflow and appraisal process. By allowing appraisers to complete the majority of their paperwork in the field, it can significantly reduce the amount of time an appraiser spends entering data in the office.

DaVinci Mobile Pro allows an appraiser to perform a complete onsite inspection and sketch while reducing the chance of errors. By replacing the traditional clipboard with a tablet PC, appraisers using DaVinci Mobile Pro are able to rapidly tap through field using pre-defined QuickLists or custom lists imported from WinTotal. Since all the screens are customizable, appraisers can add or remove fields, change room features and edit lists to suit their exact needs. DaVinci and WinTotal share the same file format so migrating to DaVinci Mobile Pro is simple and easy.

Using the Bluetooth feature of your tablet PC along with a Disto laser measuring device, appraisers can import measurements directly into DaVinci Mobile Pro. Along with the sketching features built into DaVinci Mobile Pro, the Disto and a tablet PC make a total solution that saves appraisers time and money.

To learn more about Tablet PCs that work with DaVinci Mobile Pro, visit http://www.alltp.com/.

Panasonic Tougbook H1 Medical Tablet PC

Computers make recording, tracking, and managing information easy for all businesses and they are vital in the healthcare industry where recording, tracking, and monitoring patient information is crucial to keeping people healthy and saving lives. Medical tablet PCs are a convenient and easy to use alternative to laptop and desktop PCs in a healthcare environment. They are very portable and durable and can meet the needs of healthcare date reporting with their innovative design and specifications.

The Panasonic Toughbook H1 Medical Tablet PC is one of the leading medical tablet PCs with both tablet and touch screen functionality. It is portable and lightweight making it the ideal computer for healthcare professionals who have to carry a computer around and record information continuously. The Panasonic Toughbook H1 Medical Tablet PC only weighs 3.4 pounds and it has an 80GB hard drive making it able to store and process all the information the industry requires. It has a shock-mounted hard drive as well making it extremely durable and able to withstand the demands of the healthcare industry. The Panasonic Toughbook H1 Medical Tablet PC includes industry leading software and hardware that provides a solution for many medical applications.

The Panasonic Toughbook H1 Medical Tablet PC is designed for ease of use with a bright 10.4 inch display that offers both touch screen and tablet functionality. It has twin batteries that can be swapped to keep the tablet running in times of high demand and between charges. The Panasonic Toughbook H1 Medical Tablet PC has Intel mobile processor technology and wireless capabilities for speed and versatility.

The Panasonic Toughbook H1 Medical Tablet PC comes with Windows Vista or XP and has 1024MB of RAM which is expandable to 2048MB. It has a touch screen as well as onscreen keyboard input and integrated stylus holder. It operates for six hours on a charge and comes with hot-swappable batteries that recharge in about 7 hours. It has a finger print reader and password feature for added security. It is shock resistant for up to a three foot drop and has a sealed sanitizable case for use in healthcare settings.

For more information about the Panasonic Toughbook H1 Medical Tablet PC, visit our website at http://www.alltp.com/. We have a unique demo program to let you borrow a unit for testing at your organization and more information can be found on our home page in the 48 hour demo section. You can also configure a Panasonic Toughbook H1 Medical Tablet PC for purchase at our Tablet PC Store.

Hospital helps abused children and tablet PCs have a role

A local hospital is using the Motion C5 and Picis' ED PulseCheck in the treatment of children who have suffered abuse. Using the built-in camera on the Motion C5 Mobile Clinical Assistant, emergency room staff can take pictures of the child's injuries and attach them to the patient record. The electronic chart is then sent to the pediatric receiving facility with everything properly documented.

Motion C5/F5 - New and Improved!

Motion Computing today announced upgrades to the Motion C5 Medical Tablet PC and the Motion F5 Rugged Field Tablet PC. Both can now use Verizon Broadband internally. This is tremendous news since Verizon is by far the more popular network, at least as far as Allegiance' customers are concerned. Having the flexibility to choose either Verizon or Sprint allows you to choose the mobile broadband provider with the best coverage in your area.

In other wireless news, the units now include Intel WiFi Link 5300 a/g/draft-n communications. While most of our customer haven't installed n-routers you can expect to see more of this technology over the next several years.

The next upgrade is the hard drive which now supports a 64Gb solid state drive.

A new option for the C5/F5 is an external battery charger. IT'S ABOUT TIME! I'm surprised Motion has been able to sell so many C5s into hospital environments without a battery charger being available. Better late than never!

The Motion F5 now comes with a black exterior which is much better for dirty environments. I think it will make it more appealing to customers in field service businesses.

Motion Computing FlexCarry case

I was asked recently about the FlexCarry case from Motion Computing that is designed to fit the C5 and F5 Tablet PCs. The case comes in white (more of a "bone" if you asked my wife about the color) and includes a black shoulder strap that you can also attach.

The case doesn't add much weight or bulk to the unit and provides extra protection for the display because if the tablet were to be dropped screen down then the case would prevent it from hitting directly on the floor or whatever you dropped it on.

The case does need to be partially removed in order to access the battery which is inconvenient but I don't see how a better case could be designed for easy battery access.

Here are some pics:

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.