02-08-2005, 10:00 AM
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Swami
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,303
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Motion Computing Releases M1400TC: Embedded XP Thin Client Tablet
"Motion Computing has decided to offer a thin client version of their M1400 Tablet PC called the M1400TC; they�ve essentially just stripped out the hard drive and replaced the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition OS it would usually run with Windows XP Embedded on a 512MB embedded flash drive. . . . [It's] got a Celeron M 900MHz or Pentium M 1.1GHz processor, a 12.1-inch LCD screen, built-in 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, 256 or 512MB of RAM, a fingerprint reader, and it�s about 0.9-inches thick and weighs roughly 3 pounds "
The M1400TC is obviously aimed at the corporate market, but can you guys ever seeing yourselves wanting one of these types of thin client units for use around the house etc? Personally I find that my laptop and PPC complement each other extremely well and that while travelling I will be using either of them depending on circumstances. It's certainly nice to have a smorgasbord of form-factors to choose from. The problem being, exactly which device or combination of devices best suits your needs (and wallet)? Decisions, decisions�. ;-)
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02-08-2005, 11:15 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 291
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I purchased a Tablet PC back in December (HP TC1100 Pentium M) I bought it partly because my old Dell Inspiron 8100 is too heavy to carry around but also because I like my gadgets 
I have to say that considering that the TC1100 is only a 1ghz M it really flies, its great for work as its light enough to carry to meetings or put in my rucksack and take to the other offices. I used to use my iPAQ 4700 for all these but always found it to be very gimmicky, sure I could access a network drive via wifi from the meeting room but it was slow and fiddly especially when it came to open larger documents. I could web browse on my 4700 at home or at work but again it was fiddly and for sites that aren't designed for the PPC it is painful to wait for the site to load.
I never liked the PPC touch screens either for writing on, it always felt too fragile and limited myself to the on-screen keyboard or my targus keyboard, with the Tablet PC I am happy to scribble away on the screen, or attach the keyboard and use that.
Don't get me wrong I still like my iPAQ and still have it mounted on my belt clip to remind me of meetings/appointments and its handy to take around when users have computer problems as I have typical problem/solutions and user names and passwords on it, I still read ebooks on it and listen to music, but it feels a lot more nimble now I am not trying to wring so much out of it.
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02-08-2005, 02:29 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 58
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I love this idea!!
But with no hard drive how could other apps (Picasa?) be installed? Could a network hard drive be used?
Sorry, but I don't know the limitations of XP Embedded.
If nothing else this thing could double as a digital picture frame when you aren't using it. :wink:
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02-08-2005, 03:43 PM
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Editorial Contributor
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,411
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This is only going to fly if the price is right. I have the full Tablet XP version of this. Got it when it first came out at twice the price they are going for now :? That's neither here nor there. The picture frame isn't a silly comment actually. This is going to require something to serve the OS I would assume, as a thin client is generally something that relies on a server somewhere to support it. Not really a typical home scenario. For a home though it could tie into a central home XP machine in remote desktop I would assume. That would let you browse from anywhere in the house, use it as a remote view for cookbooks in the kitchen, an interface into the X-10 home control stuff.
The target for this could be for situations where you have a lot of folks walking around with clipboards and forms, wharehouses, hospitals, etc. Places where data entry into a database, or other central storage would really be beneficial. Places where a full XP tablet is just kind of overkill.
Funny actually. MS had this remote display concept (Smart Display) that sort of provided a similar capability. They didn't catch on, and I think it was the price.
__________________
Sometimes you are the anteater, sometimes you are the ant.
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02-08-2005, 03:59 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 58
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Wasn't Microsoft's "Smart Display" technology called Mira or something like that. They made several displays but ended up cancelling the whole thing. It couldn't catch on because of the price of the hardware. Nobody wanted to pay $1000+ for a mobile second display.
The remote desktop connection should work but doesn't that lock out that desktop, keeping someone sitting at the desktop from using it?
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02-08-2005, 04:27 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 190
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Re: Motion Computing Releases M1400TC: Embedded XP Thin Client Tablet
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Originally Posted by Jonathon Watkins
about 0.9-inches thick
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That's what I call thin client. :wink:
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Omikron using SonyEricsson K700i & iPaq h2210
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02-08-2005, 04:37 PM
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Swami
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,303
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Re: Motion Computing Releases M1400TC: Embedded XP Thin Client Tablet
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Originally Posted by omikron.sk
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jonathon Watkins
about 0.9-inches thick
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That's what I call thin client. :wink: |
Yup, they have the right idea there. 8)
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02-08-2005, 05:14 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,887
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Hawkeye
I love this idea!!
But with no hard drive how could other apps (Picasa?) be installed? Could a network hard drive be used?
Sorry, but I don't know the limitations of XP Embedded.
If nothing else this thing could double as a digital picture frame when you aren't using it. :wink:
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XP Embedded is a "build-your-own" version of XP. In this case, Motion Computing chose what to include in the OS and what not.
At one extreme, an XP embedded system would be able to run everything XP can run; at the other, it might not run anything but what's in ROM. (Like for a cash register or ATM or voting machine, all apps that use XP embedded.)
Since they're pitching it as a thin-client it is probably intended to run applications remotely, either via a custom client app, browser-based server apps, or a remote multi-user system like Citrix Metaframe.
As for thin, eh, its okay. 8)
The NEC LitePAD versa id 0.5 inches thick and two pounds with a 20GB HD.
But it only has a ten inch screen.
Lots of fun Tablet PC hardware out there; I just wish somebody would hurry up and get the 8 inch tablets out the door...
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02-08-2005, 06:41 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 108
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For the right price this would be really cool thin client device for work and home. All would need is Remote Desktop client, wifi and good handwriting recognition.
As for a full tablet with hard drive, I agree that an 8" form factor would be ideal.
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I use Remote Conductor for iPad!
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02-08-2005, 06:43 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 171
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I would love to have a tablet. I can't type notes and want to be able to write them. I don't know about going without a hard drive though, partly because they can put a 60G hard drive in an Ipod! You're right about being able to use this around the house. Surf, play music off the server, etc...but I still need something a bit more powerful.
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