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        Medical tablet has sealed case

        Jonathan Angel | Date: May 28, 2009 | Comments: 1


        Tangent announced a medical tablet PC that runs Windows via a 1.06GHz Core 2 Solo processor. The sealed "Medix 10T" has a 10.4-inch touchscreen, a 60GB hard disk drive, 802.11a/b/g/n wireless, a two megapixel camera, a fingerprint reader, plus optional RFID and barcode scanning, says Tangent.



        (Click here for a larger view of Tangent's Medix 10T)


        Intel's Paul Otellini with the first MCA device, Motion Computing's C5
        (Click image to enlarge)
        Tanget's new tablet is the latest in a series of devices employing Intel's 2006 MCA (mobile clinical assistant) reference platform [PDF link, here], which specifies a touchscreen tablet device with sealed buttons and ports. First implemented by Motion Computing with its C5 and closely related F5, and then by Panasonic with its Toughbook H1, the MCA design includes an integrated carrying handle, a fingerprint reader, an RFID reader, WiFi, a two megapixel camera, and a separate docking station.

        All MCA devices 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.

        While Motion and Panasonic were alone in the MCA market for at least a few months, a recent bevy of product introductions means that there are now at least half a dozen such tablets. (For further details, explore the links at the end of this story.) However, Tangent touts its new Medix 10T as having "much lower pricing," dual hot-swappable batteries, a touchscreen that responds to both a stylus and to fingers, and a more powerful processor than most.

        According to Tangent, the Medix 10T uses a Core 2 Solo U2100 processor, clocked at 1.06GHz, with Intel's 945GME northbridge and ICH7M southbridge. Memory is expandable up to 2GB of DDD2 RAM, and mass storage is provided by a 60GB, 4200rpm hard disk drive. The tablet is safe to spray with cleaning agents, because it meets IP54 standards, runs fanlessly, and has no cleaning holes, the company adds.

        Like the other MCAs, the Medix 10T sports a fingerprint reader and a two megapixel camera, while a barcode reader and RFID reader may be specified as options. The cellular modems offered on some of the device's competitors don't appear to be featured here, but Tangent has included 802.11a/b/g/n wireless networking, implemented via a Mini PCI Express card, plus Bluetooth 2.1.

        The tablet's 10.4-inch display has 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, includes anti-glare glass, and may be operated either via a stylus or using fingers, Tangent says. The company adds that the device comes with two, hot-swappable 2400mAh batteries which recharge in three hours, though expected battery life wasn't specified.

        Finally, the Medix 10T is akin to most of the other MCA designs in that its only standard port is a DC input. Other than that, there are contacts designed to mate with the optional docking station pictured at the top of our story. According to Tangent, the dock includes an RJ45 Ethernet port, four USB ports, two battery charging bays, and a supplemental power input.

        Features and specifications listed by Tangent for the Medix 10T include:
        • Processor -- Intel Core 2 Solo U2100 clocked at 1.0GHz
        • Memory -- Up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM via single SODIMM socket
        • Display -- 10.4-inch touchscreen display with 1024 x 768 resolution
        • Camera -- 2 megapixel with autofocus
        • Storage -- 60GB, 4200rpm HDD
        • Networking -- 10/100 Ethernet (via optional dock)
        • Wireless:
          • 802.11a/b/g/n
          • Bluetooth 2.1
          • RFID (optional)
          • Barcode scanner (optional)
        • Other I/O -- Docking connector
        • Battery -- Dual 2400mAh batteries
        • Operating temperature -- n/s
        • Dimensions -- 10.63 x 10.08 x 1.39 inches (270 x 256 x 35.3mm)
        • Weight -- 3.3 pounds (1.49kg) with both batteries
        Tangent President Doug Mansour stated, "The Medix 10T is a key entry into a market poised to explode in the next few years in response to the federal economic stimulus legislation to modernize health care systems. It is ideal ... on nursing carts, for emergency rooms, and all point-of-care applications."

        Further information

        According to Tangent, the Medix 10T runs either Windows XP Tablet Edition or Windows Vista Business. It is available now, for prices starting at approximately $2300. More information can be found on the company's website, here.


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