The Psion Teklogix "extremely rugged" 8525 vehicle-mount computer is aimed at the data collection needs of warehouses, freezers, ports, yards, and wide-area mobile applications, and can be configured to operate in Intense and Cold Environments (ICE). The 8525 is based on a 400MHz Intel PXA255 processor equipped with 128MB SDRAM and 32MB nonvolatile Flash memory, and it boasts a half-VGA (640 x 240 pixel)... TFT color LCD screen with EL backlight.
Flexible expansion is facilitated by means of multiple expansion card slots (CompactFlash, SD/MMC, PCMCIA) and external input/output ports (USB, serial), enabling the addition of scanners, imagers, wireless communications options, etc. Additionally, the unit features an IP 66 dust and immersion rating and will operate down to -30 degrees C.
The 8525's wireless communication options include 802.11 (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, GSM/GPRS, CDMA, and Psion's new "Digital" Narrowband radio. According to Psion, a majority of port customers continue to use narrowband radio technology, which is said to offer extended range, enhanced signal clarity and more efficient battery use. Narrowband radio is also "user friendly" and easily maintained using an icon driven GUI interface for precision tuning, the company says.
Key features and specifications of the 8525 include:
- Processor -- 400MHz Intel XScale PXA255
- Memory -- 128MB SDRAM; 32MB Flash
- Display -- half-VGA (640 x 240 pixels), 16-bit transmissive color TFT LCD with CCFL backlight and passive 5-wire touchscreen
- Keyboard:
- 68-key "PC like" format with 10 function keys. Alternate formats:
- Blue/Green EL backlight
- Epoxy coated elastomeric
- Internal expansion slots: (accessible through sealed end cap)
- One SDIO/MMC slot
- One Type II CompactFlash
- Two Type II / one Type III PCMCIA slot
- External ports:
- Tether Port with:
- RS232 serial port (decoded scanner, printer)
- Undecoded scanner port
- USB host port
- RS232 serial port
- High density socket with:
- RS232 serial port
- One USB device port
- Two USB host ports
- Speaker/Mic connection
- Wireless options:
- 802.11b CF card (now)
- 802.11g CF and PC cards (future)
- Bluetooth SDIO radio (5m range)
- Next Gen Narrowband 400-500MHz radio (future)
- GSM/GPRS PC Card radio (future)
- CDMA radio (future)
- Operating system -- Windows CE 4.2
- Programming environment:
- HTML, XML
- Windows CE SDK
- Java,Visual C++
- Standard Protocol APIs
- Power -- 10-90 VDC; designed for forklift power
Why Windows CE?"The Windows CE family of products are quickly becoming the mobile computers of choice among customers," Psion says, in its product brochure. "Windows CE .NET supports advanced networking protocols that make it an excellent match for distributed computing applications. Additional CE .NET benefits include native support for Bluetooth, improved browser functionality, simplified WLAN configuration, and a shortened response time specifically designed to reduce latency in industrial devices. Ease of application integration, comprehensive application development tools and a growing set of connected capabilities make Windows CE .NET the logical choice for Next Generation Platforms."
Psion says the "standards-based platform" enables application developers to easily create customized applications using the company's Mobile Devices Software Development Kits.
Related stories:
The 8525's wireless communication options include 802.11 (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, GSM/GPRS, CDMA, and Psion's new "Digital" Narrowband radio. According to Psion, a majority of port customers continue to use narrowband radio technology, which is said to offer extended range, enhanced signal clarity and more efficient battery use. Narrowband radio is also "user friendly" and easily maintained using an icon driven GUI interface for precision tuning, the company says.
news feed
