Innovation permeates the Tablet PC market, with the Tablet PC OS appearing on an increasing range of devices that provide both vertical and horizontal opportunities. CRN Test Center engineers reviewed new models from two leading Tablet PC vendors, Fujitsu and Motion Computing.
Fujitsu LifeBook T3000 Tablet PC
Fujitsu has over a decade of experience in the pen-tablet market, which it put to good use when it developed its first Tablet PCs, all high-quality, slate-style models. The company has since built on that experience as well as its experience in notebook PC sales to produce its newest offering, the convertible LifeBook T3000.
 MICHAEL GROS Assistant Managing Editor |
The Tablet PC is based on a Pentium M 1.4GHz processor with 256 Mbytes to 2 Gbytes of 400MHz memory. 802.11b wireless connectivity is included standard, while a dual 802.11 b/g radio is available. A switch on the rear of the unit momentarily disables the wireless radio, helping to save on battery life.
The company estimates a 4.5-hour battery life, which is a limitation for people who use their tablets away from their desks all day long, but the tablet's bridge battery and warm-swap capability allow its main battery to be switched without having to power down the machine.
The T3000 weighs 4.2 pounds, which is a tad heavy if it will be carried all day. Hard drives of 40 Gbytes to 60 Gbytes are available. The on-screen Fujitsu Utility menu gives easy access to display controls, power options, Tablet PC settings, etc. Navigation is accomplished through the tablet's touch pad, stylus or buttons on the side of the screen, which allow the user to scroll through on-screen pages and rotate the display image. The T3000 was a breeze to use in both the notebook and slate modes.
Fujitsu configures its Tablet PCs through a build-to-order system. To join the single-tier channel program, solution providers must complete a credit application and commit to $50,000 in annual Fujitsu purchases. The vendor's local and regional sales staff provide sales assistance and co-selling opportunities for partners, and Fujitsu creates co-branded e-mail campaigns. Sales and technical training are available online and in person, and Fujitsu provides technical support through field system engineers and a solution provider Web site. Pricing for the T3000 starts at $1,799, and solution provider margins range from 14 percent to 18 percent.
Motion Computing M1400 Tablet PC
Motion Computing has always shown a high level of innovation and a keen insight into customer needs when developing its Tablet PCs, and its newest offering, the M1400, is no exception.
Motion Computing specializes in slate-style Tablet PCs aimed at vertical markets such as health care, education, field-force automation and government. The M1400 is based on Intel's newest mobile processor, the Pentium M 1.1GHz ultra-low voltage processor, and is available with 256 Mbytes to 2 Gbytes of 333MHz memory and dual 802.11b and g wireless connectivity. The tablet's 12.1-inch display was designed for extra-wide viewing and is viewable up to 160 to 170 degrees in any direction, making the M1400 useful for presentations and other situations where several people need to be able to view an application simultaneously.
Security is one of the primary criteria when selecting mobile devices, due to their ease of mobility and the long list of applications they can access. Whether a Tablet PC is used by a doctor to access confidential patient records in a hospital or by a salesperson to check data from the field, robust security must be present to protect the Tablet and any information it can access.
The M1400 includes an integrated OmniPass fingerprint reader from Softex in its upper-left corner; a quick swipe of a finger across the reader can let a user log in to Windows and access applications. The reader can be used to lock access to the BIOS setup and to prevent the tablet's hard drive from being removed and being used in another computer. Another clever use of the fingerprint reader is that included software can be taught to remember Web site passwords, and can input them automatically as soon as the user loads up the Web site and swipes his or her finger across the reader. The fingerprint reader was a bit challenging to set up, but easy to use.
The M1400 includes a dual-microphone array that can be customized on the fly to record sounds in particular scenarios. For instance, if the tablet is being used to record a meeting, the microphones can be set to accept a wide range of sounds, and if only an individual is being recorded, the microphones can be set to accept only a narrow range of sound and cancel any background noise. Test Center engineers appreciated the ability to adapt the microphones to various recording scenarios, but thought the background noise cancellation could be improved.
The M1400 has a warm swap capability and an average battery life of four hours, according to the company. On the back of Motion Computing's batteries are external power meters that tell the user how much battery life is remaining.
Other features include the Motion Dashboard software, which can control all of the Tablet PC's major functions; built-in Bluetooth connectivity, a USB keyboard; and an ambient light sensor that adjusts the screen to compensate for light conditions. Buttons on the side of the screen help in navigation and screen rotation. The M1400 weighs around 3 pounds, is less than 1-inch thick and is available with hard-drive sizes of 20 Gbytes, 40 Gbytes or 60 Gbytes.
Motion Computing sells its Tablet PCs through a build-to-order system. Its channel program is divided into two tiers: VARs, who sell to end users, and Master VARs, who sell to both end users and VARs. The vendor provides online and in-person sales and technical training, dedicated account representatives, MDFs and co-op funds, and a solution provider Web site with sales and technical resources. Solution provider margins vary based on partner type and sales volume, and pricing on the M1400 starts at $1,999.
CHANNEL PROGRAM SNAPSHOTS
> FUJITSU LIFEBOOK T3000 TABLET PC
COMPANY: Fujitsu Computer Systems
Sunnyvale, Calif.
(877) 372-3473
www.us.fujitsu.com
DISTRIBUTORS: Direct from vendor
TECH RATING: 
CHANNEL RATING:
> MOTION COMPUTING M1400 TABLET PCCOMPANY: Motion Computing
Austin, Texas
(512) 637-1100
www.motioncomputing.com
DISTRIBUTORS: Direct from vendor
TECH RATING:
CHANNEL RATING:
Note: Vendors can earn up to five stars for technical merit and five for their channel program. If the average of these two scores is four stars or greater, the product earns CRN Test Center Recommended status.
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