Tablet PCs as Thin Client

Jan. 26, 2005

Motion Computing has converted its M1400 Tablet PC into a thin client device, substituting Windows XP Embedded for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. Dubbed the "M1400TC," the device is useful for equipping mobile workers with tablet-style computing resources, while keeping sensitive information on secure network servers, the company says.

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Like the company's standard M1400 Tablet PC, the M1400TC is offered with a choice of a 900 MHz Celeron M, or a 1.1 GHz Pentium M, processor. Instead of the standard model's hard drive, the M1400TC provides a 512 MB flash storage device which only contains the Windows XP Embedded OS and a limited number of essential applications. The device comes with Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), Citrix ICA Client, and Microsoft Internet Explorer with the Sun Microsystems Java Runtime Environment.

The unit includes a 12.1-inch wide-viewing-angle XGA TFT LCD, and is packed with interfaces and expansion ports, including: built-in 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth wireless, a 10/100 Ethernet port, a Firewire (IEEE 1394) port, USB, a V.92 soft modem, and a PC Card slot for additional expansion.

According to Motion Computing, the M1400TC thin client tablet was the result of "close collaboration" with its healthcare, retail, and manufacturing customers. Users wanted to walk and compute with a lightweight slate tablet with pen input, but required the high data security, networked data access, centrally managed administration, and high system reliability associated with thin client computing, the company says.

Motion lists the following key hardware features and specifications, which apply to both the M1400 Tablet PC and M1400TC thin client:
Processor -- Celeron M at 900 MHz or Pentium M at 1.1 GHz

Memory -- 256 or 512 MB of DDR RAM

Display:
12.1-inch XGA TFT LCD, with viewing angles greater than 160 degrees

Intel Display Power Saving Technology

Ambient Light Sensor (ALS)

Intel 855 GME Extreme Graphics controller

Active digitizer pen (no battery required)

Mouse click button
Internal storage:
M1400 Tablet PC -- 20, 40, or 60 GB 2.5-inch hard drive

M1400TC -- 512 MB flash storage device
Communications:
Integrated 802.11 b/g

Integrated Bluetooth

10/100 Ethernet (RJ-45)

V.92 soft modem with RJ-11 connector; 56.6Kbps/14.4Kbps transceiver fax
Other I/O:
Two configurable audio jacks

Microphone in

Headphone out

Two USB 2.0 ports

External VGA display connector

IEEE 1394 Firewire
Expansion -- Type II PC Card slot

Docking connector

Security -- Integrated fingerprint reader with software based password management

Dimensions -- 11.65 x 9.45 x 0.87 inches

Weight -- Approx. 3 lbs.
The M1400TC is priced from $1,649 and is available now