Kontron's range of fanless
Micro Client HMI devices, intended for applications such as building management, machine and system manufacturing, and transportation, first made its debut in December 2004, supporting Windows CE and Linux via a Marvell PXA255 processor. In 2005,
x86 compatibility was first added to the Micro Clients via a 200MHz STMicroelectronics STPC Vega. Since then, the devices have targeted x86 exclusively, stepping up to 600Mhz Celeron M processing power in, for example, the 7-inch
M@C70 and the 15-inch
M@C150.
Kontron's larger Micro Client IIA devices have front-mounted USB ports (left), and all appear to have VGA output (right)
(Click to enlarge)Last December, Kontron unveiled its "second generation"
Micro Client II, featuring processors ranging from the 500GHz AMD LX 800 processor with 500MHz up to the 1.0GHz Intel Celeron M. As the company noted at the time, the devices make use of Kontron's
ETX processor modules, allowing processors to be swapped and changed in the field.
Now, Kontron has announced the Micro Client IIA product range, again with a range of touchscreen sizes, and with recycled product names. The M@C70 has a seven-inch display with 800 x 480 resolution; the M@C104 and M@C121 have 10.4 and 12.1 inch screens, respectively, with 800 x 600 pixels; and the M@C150 has a 15-inch screen with 1024 x 768 pixels.
OUR VERDICT:
Evolution, not revolution, as Intel's Atom moves into existing products
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The essential difference between these products and previous Micro Clients appears to be the across-the-board inclusion of 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPUs. Kontron doesn't say which specific Atom has been employed, but we suspect it's the
N270. That's because Kontron employs that part in its
ETX-DC module, which is most likely at the heart of the Micro Client IIA products.
Processors aside, the Micro Client IIAs are all said to offer up to 2GB of RAM, plus CompactFlash storage and -- in every model except the M@C70 -- room for a 2.5-inch hard disk drive. The M@C104, M@C121, and M@C150 include three USB ports (two on the rear, one on the front), an RS232 serial port, an optional second RS232/422/485 port, and two 10/100 Ethernet ports. The M@C70 omits the front-mounted USB port, but is otherwise the same.
Although Kontron does not list video output on its Micro Client IIA spec sheet, the devices apparently also include a VGA port for an external display, as shown in the photo above. Also pictured is a power connector, said to be capable of accepting 11.4 to 28.8VDC input.
Features and specifications listed or pictured by Kontron for its Micro Client IIA devices include:
- Processor -- ETX COM module, using 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor (likely the N270)
- Chipset -- n/s
- Memory -- Up to 2GB
- Storage -- Compact Flash, and, except for M@C70, 2.5 inch HDD (hard disk drive)
- Expansion -- CAN bus and additional field busses optional
- Touchscreen displays:
- 7-inch with 800 x 480 resolution (M@C70)
- 10.4-inch with 800 x 600 resolution (M@C104)
- 12.1-inch with 800 x 600 resolution (M@C121)
- 15-inch with 1024 x 768 resolution (M@C150)
- Networking -- 2 x 10/100 Ethernet
- Other I/O:
- 2 x rear-mounted USB
- 1 x front-mounted USB (not on M@C70)
- 1 x RS232
- 2 x RS232/422/485 (optional)
- Dimensions:
- M@C70 -- 9.25 x 6.61 x 1.92 inches (235 x 168 x 49mm)
- M@C104 -- 13.7 x 10.9 x 1.96 inches (348 x 277 x 50mm)
- M@C121 -- 14.9 x 12.28 x 2.16 inches (380 x 312 x 55mm)
- M@C150 -- 17.7 x 13.9 x 2.2 inches (450 x 354 x 56mm)
- Weight:
- M@C70 -- 5.73 pounds (2.6kg)
- M@C104 -- 7.93 pounds (3.6kg)
- M@C121 -- 10.8 pounds (4.9kg)
- M@C150 -- 14.3 pounds (6.5kg)
Further information
According to Kontron, the Micro Client IIA run Windows XP Embedded, Windows CE, and Linux. Pricing was not provided, but the devices appear to be available now.
More information may be available at Kontron's website, here.
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