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        Portable thin client lasts eight hours

        Jonathan Angel | Date: Nov 7, 2008 | Comments: 1


        NEC has announced a portable thin client device that runs Windows XP Embedded. The laptop-styled Quovio TCM380 offers eight hours of battery life, with a 1.2GHz Via C7-M ULV processor, a 15.4-inch display, an Express Card slot, 802.11b/g/n wireless, and optional cellular networking, the company says.



        (Click here for a larger view of NEC's TCM380)

        The Quovio TCM380 is designed to include all the features of an ordinary notebook computer except one -- the hard drive. Instead, it packs 1GB of flash storage, with a preinstalled copy of Windows XP Embedded. Like other portable thin clients, such as HP's 2533t or Devon IT's SafeBook LVO, the TCM380 is touted as offering mobile users extra security, since any thief grabbing the device won't abscond with any locally stored data.


        NEC's Quovio TCM380 looks like any notebook, except for the "thin client" legend on its lid

        Bundled client software supports connecting to a variety of servers, including Microsoft Windows Terminal Servers 2000/2003/2008, plus Citrix's XenAPP and MetaFrame. With an optional terminal emulation package, mainframes and minicomputers are also accessible, NEC says.

        The TCM380 uses Via's C7-M ULV processor, supported by the CN896 northbridge and VT8237 southbridge. The device comes with 512MB of DDR2 RAM, said to be expandable to 1GB.

        While the Via processor won't inspire any TCM380 users to write home about the device's speedy performance, NEC has apparently made the most of the CPU's relatively low power consumption. The Quovio TCM380 is claimed to have battery life greater than eight hours, even with WiFi active, via twin 4800mAh battery packs. If lighter weight is more important than longevity, one battery pack can be left behind, NEC adds.

        Standard connectivity for the TCM380 is via a 10/100 Ethernet port or 802.11b/g/n wireless networking. According to NEC, cellular networking is also available, via an optional Sierra Wireless MC8775 module. The MC8775 delivers tri-band (850, 1900, 2100MHz) HSDPA/UMTS and quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz) EDGE/GPRS data modes, says Sierra.

        The device has a 15.4-inch display with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, and can also output video to an external display via a VGA port. Other interfaces include three USB 2.0 ports, a microphone input, and a headphone output.

        Finally, in addition to a SIM card slot for the optional cellular modem, the Quovio TCM380 has an Express Card slot, according to NEC.

        Features and specifications listed by NEC for the Quovio TCM380 include:
        • Processor -- Via C7-M ULV clocked at 1.2GHz
        • Memory -- 512MB of DDR2 RAM, expandable to 1GB
        • Display -- 15.4-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution
        • Storage -- 1GB of PATA flash storage; optional DVD-ROM drive
        • Networking:
          • LAN -- 10/100 Ethernet
          • WLAN -- 802.11b/g/n
          • WAN -- Optional tri-band (850, 1900, 2100MHz) HSDPA/UMTS and quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz) EDGE/GPRS cellular
        • Other I/O:
          • 3 x USB 2.0
          • 1 x VGA
          • 1 x headphone out
          • 1 x mic in
        • Expansion:
          • Express Card slot
          • SIM card slot
        • Battery type/life -- Dual slots for 6-cell, 4800mAH battery packs, each providing four hours or operation
        • Dimensions -- 13.77 x 9.64 x 1.37 inches (350 x 245 x 35mm)
        • Weight -- 5.5 pounds (2.5kg)
        Availablity

        Pricing and availability was not announced, but the Quovio TCM380 appears to be on sale now in Europe and the Middle East. More information may be available from NEC's French website, here.


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