Motion Computing tablet PC boasts all-day battery life

Motion Computing's J3400 Tablet PC starts at £1,600

Tablet PC specialist Motion Computing has announced a new model for mobile workers that can fit in two batteries for all-day use, and is designed to survive outdoor environments.

Available immediately, the J3400 Tablet PC joins Motion's family of systems aimed at vertical markets such as healthcare and engineering. The new model has the durability and functionality of a rugged PC, without the extra weight and cost associated with fully rugged devices, according to Motion.

"It's designed for 'working and walking', so it won't replace the 'bomb-proof' rugged systems, because these tend to be too heavy," said Andy Toal, Motion's regional manager for Northern Europe.

Nevertheless, the J3400 meets the US military's MIL-STD-810F specifications and is built around a special internal frame for a light but resilient design. It has a shock-protected hard drive with solid state drives as an option, and is sealed to IP52 rating against dust and water.

For all-day use, the new Tablet PC can be fitted with dual hot-swappable batteries. This enables it to run for three and a half hours on a single battery and seven and a half with both fitted, according to Motion. It weighs 1.8kg in this latter configuration.

Because workers may be using the unit outdoors, the J3400 has a 12.1in screen designed for viewing in varying light conditions. It uses Motion's View Anywhere technology and combines LED backlighting with a design that makes as much use of ambient light as possible.

"We believe it's the best outdoor screen on the market," said Toal.

The J3400 is available with Intel's ultra-low voltage Core 2 Duo SU9400 or SU9300 processors, clocked at 1.4GHz and 1.2GHz, and 2GB or 4GB of memory. The 1.2GHz version in particular strikes a good balance between performance and battery life, according to Toal.

An integrated 3G modem is a factory option, while 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are standard. The 3G option also comes with GPS for applications such as navigation or tracking.

Other features of the J3400 include a 2-megapixel camera, integrated smartcard reader and a biometric fingerprint swipe sensor. The latter comes in handy for log-ins without the need for a keyboard, Toal said.

Options available include a clip-on keyboard and a full I/O dock for using the J3400 on a desktop. The latter also features a battery charger slot.

"Using a battery for all-day use is now becoming a reality rather than a wish-list item," said Toal.

Prices for the Motion Computing J3400 start at £1,600.