(Click for larger view of Glacier Everest E4000)
Glacier's Everest e5000
(Click image for further information) |
The e4000 is a "more affordable" version of the
Glacier Everest panel PC (right) introduced in 2007, now called the e5000, says Glacier. Typical applications include onboard forklift computers, warehouse walls, and shop floor data collection stations. According to a company spokesperson, the company spun off the stripped down e4000 model after a number of warehouse, supply-chain, and shop-floor customers asked for "fewer features and a lower cost, but with the same need for durability."
Like the e5000, the e4000 can be purchased with a 600MHz Celeron or 1.4GHz Pentium M processor, and can be equipped with up to 1GB of DDR SDRAM, says Glacier. The unit ships with a choice of either a 10.4-, 12.1-, or 15-inch SVGA (800 x 600-pixel) LCD screen with 5-wire resistive touchscreen. The display can be fitted with an optional sunlight-readable display, as well as a
novel heated touchscreen that keeps the screen clear even when wheeled in and out of a freezer, according to the company.
The e4000's shock-protected 2.5-inch solid-state disk (SSD) is available in capacities up to 16GB. Peripheral interfaces include an Ethernet port, and two USB 2.0 ports, instead of the e5000's three ports (it sacrifices the internal port), and a single serial port instead of two. Audio I/O is provided, but not the e5000's VGA out connector. The e4000 lacks its sibling's PCMCIA slot and internal backup battery, but does include a mini-PCI expansion slot, according to Glacier.
In addition to the PS/2 keyboard/mouse ports, controls include three programmable function buttons and status LEDs. A custom diagnostic and configuration utility enables data logging and real-time monitoring of processor temperature and other critical system statistics. The 6-60 VDC power supply is said to include an intelligent UPS (uninterruptable power supply) function.
Image available for thin client operationUntil September, the Glacier Everest was available only as a "thick" client device, running desktop operating systems such as Windows XP Embedded, Windows XP Professional, and Linux. At that time, Glacier announced the availability of the "Igel-5310 LX Premium" thin client image.
The image is Linux-based, and is apparently based on one of three firmware stacks available for Igel's "Premium" line of thin client PCs. (For further information, see the coverage on our sister site
LinuxDevices.com,
here .)
Igel recently
refreshed its thin client software, offering Windows Embedded Standard (WES) with three different "Digital Service Packs" on a variety of devices. However, Glacier did not provide information on any plans to offer a WES thin client on the Everest e4000.
Stated Dan Poisson, Glacier's director of engineering, "The E4000 configuration has been re-engineered to incorporate the features most commonly requested by warehouse, freight, and shop floor customers."
AvailabilityThe e4000 is available now at an undisclosed price. More information on the Everest may be found
here.
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