Mobile Demand xTablet T8700 Rugged Tablet PC – A Seriously Tough Cookie

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Having only yesterday, whilst posting about Dell’s new Lattitude XFR D630 Notebook (a mobile computing solution that marks Dell’s entrance into the rugged PC market), made the observation that ‘ruggedized’ gadgets seem to be developing into a somewhat of a trend, we now have this new xTablet T8700 Rugged Tablet PC from Mobile Demand to add to our rapidly expanding collection of super tough gadgets.

Making Dell’s Lattitude XFR D630 look like an overtly glamorous affair, the xTablet T8700 Rugged Tablet PC certainly pulls no punches in the aesthetics department with its design seemingly dominated by its tough guy prowess.

Just like Dell’s offering, the xTablet T8700 meets the MIL-STD 810F standard for ruggedness ensuring that the device can withstand drops, shocks, water, dust and extreme temperatures in its stride but, unlike Dell’s Lattitude XFR D630, this device offers a somewhat more industrial perspective on mobile computing in coming complete with integrated imager and bar code reader as will as an in-built credit card reader – which suggests that this device is aimed in part at the warehouse market.

Mobile Demand xTablet T8700 Rugged Tablet PC Features:

• Intel Core Duo ULV U2500 1.2Hz processor
• 2GB of DDR2 RAM expandable to 4GB
• 8.4″ daylight-readable touch screen display (800 x 600 resolution)
• 80GB 2.5″ hard drive/Solid-state disks in 8GB/16GB/64GB capacities
• Networking: LAN — Gigabit Ethernet WLAN — 802.11a/b/g PAN — Bluetooth 2.0 (optional)
• Integrated fax/modem with RJ11 connector
• 2 x USB 2.0 host
• 1 x serial port
• Docking connector
• Microphone in and speaker out
• CompactFlash Type II slot
• PC Card slot, CardBus 2.1 compatible
• PCI Express slot (number of lanes not cited)
• Dimensions — 10.6 x 7.2 x 1.7 inches
• Weight, including battery — 4.6 pounds

Available with a host of additional options, Mobile Demand’s xTablet T8700 Rugged Tablet PC comes with either Windows XP Tablet PC Edition or Windows Vista Business operating systems and, in retailing at around $3800 for the base model, comes in at a mere $100 cheaper than Dell’s ‘ruggedized’ notebook.

Mobile Demand [via]