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        Medical tablet gets cellular, GPS

        Jonathan Angel | Date: Apr 27, 2009 | Comments: 1


        Arbor has added cellular connectivity and GPS to its medical tablet PC. The M1256 has a 12.1-inch touchscreen, a 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, a 60GB or 80GB hard disk drive, 802.11a/b/g/n wireless, a two megapixel camera, an RFID reader, and Bluetooth, says Arbor.



        (Click here for a larger view of Arbor's M1256)


        Motion Computing's F5
        (Click image for further information)
        From what we can see, Arbor hasn't yet posted news of the M1256 on its own website, but the device has been detailed by Rugged PC Review, which is also hosting what appears to be a copy of the device's official data sheet. Apparently, vendors are hoping that health care reform in the U.S. will lead to an increase in IT spending, because this new new tablet is merely the latest in a recent series of devices employing the MCA (mobile clinical assistant) reference platform devised by Intel.


        Intel's Paul Otellini with the first MCA device, Motion Computing's C5
        (Click image to enlarge)
        Intel first devised its MCA (mobile clinical assistant) reference platform in 2006 [PDF link, here], specifying a touchscreen tablet device with sealed buttons and ports. First implemented by Motion Computing with its C5 and closely related F5 (above right), and then by Panasonic with its Toughbook H1, the MCA design includes an integrated carrying handle, a fingerprint reader, an RFID reader, WiFi, and a separate docking station.

        All MCA Ddevices claim to shrug off being dropped, and all are IP54-rated for water and dust resistance. Generally speaking, the MCA tablets do not include slots for removable flash storage, apparently because apertures in their cases could harbor germs, and the devices are said to tolerate sanitizing washdowns with alcohol and other chemicals.

        Arbor's 12-inch version

        Like Arbor's previously released M1255, the M1256 distinguishes itself from other MCA devices by having a 12.1-inch display. Arbor's products are, surprisingly, also the only MCA devices that use Intel's Atom N270, rather than the Core Solo or Atom Z5xx CPUs employed by others. Naturally, the M1256 also employs Intel's 82945GSE northbridge and ICH7M southbridge.

        Unlike the M1255, the M1256 is said to include a CDMA/GPRS module, using Sierra's MC5727 or MC8790 chipset. Also, the device has a GPS module (chipset undisclosed) that lives in an separate vehicle cradle.

        Where the M1255's touchscreen display provided 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, identical to other vendors' MCA offerings, the M1256 is said to deliver 1280 x 800 pixels. The device additionally incorporates dedicated keys for navigation, starting audio or video recordings, taking pictures, doing RFID or barcode scans, or sending a "secure attention sequence" (Ctrl-Alt-Del).



        Arbor's M1256 in its docking station

        The previously released MCA devices have no wired interfaces except for power connectors, plus flush pins designed to make contact with their optional docking stations (above). Arbor says the M1256 does have a 10/100 Ethernet port, which is presumably protected behind some kind of germ-shunning door.

        The M1256 includes 1GB of RAM, a 1.8-inch SATA HDD with 60GB or 80GB of storage, and dual batteries that are claimed to offer up to 4.5 hours of operation. The device also offers 802.11b/g/n wireless networking, Bluetooth, a two megapixel camera, a barcode scanner, an RFID reader, and a fingerprint scanner.

        Features and specifications listed by Arbor for the M1256, per the data sheet provided by Rugged PC Review, include:
        • Processor -- Intel Atom N270 clocked at 1.6GHz
        • Memory -- 1GB of DDR2 RAM
        • Display -- 12.1-inch touchscreen display with 1280 x 800 resolution
        • Camera -- 2 megapixel
        • Keys -- Directional pad, camera, RFID on/off, barcode reader on/off, audio and video recording, secure attention sequence
        • Storage -- 60GB or 80GB HDD, or optional 32GB SSD
        • Networking -- Gigabit Ethernet
        • Wireless:
          • 802.11b/g/n
          • Bluetooth
          • RFID
          • Barcode scanner
          • CDMA/GRPS module
          • GPS (via vehicle cradle)
        • Other I/O -- Docking connector
        • Battery -- Dual 1880mAh batteries; up to 4.5 hours of operation
        • Operating temperature -- 0 to 40 deg. C (32 to 113 deg. F)
        • Dimensions -- 12.09 x 10.91 x 0.98 inches (307 x 277 x 25mm)
        • Weight -- 3.8 pounds (1.7 kg) with both batteries
        Arbor's data sheet does not list operating system support for the M1256, but the similar M1255 was said to run Windows Vista, Windows XP, or Linux (it appeared to be the first MCA computer to support the latter, open-source operating system).

        Further information

        As noted, Arbor does not yet list the M1256 on its website, but you can download the data sheet from Rugged PC Review, here. Rugged PC Review is also worth a look for its interesting comparisons between the Arbor products and the other MCA products released to date.


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