December 2014

The uniquely designed R12 from Motion Computing is the sleeker, lighter, and faster successor of the company's J3600 tablet. The Intel Haswell-based R12 is a rugged, modern and highly configurable Windows tablet with strong performance and a bright, sharp 12.5-inch capacitive multi-touch display large enough for complex applications. Enterprise and business customers will appreciate its excellent connectivity and and integrated 8-megapixel documentation camera as well as the ability to add scanners, RFID, and even a legacy serial port through its optional "SlateMate" bolt-on modules. [See full review of the Motion R12]

Chromebooks passing iPads in US schools
According to PC World, Chromebook shipments to U.S. schools passed iPad shipments in Q3 of 2014 and are nearing 50% of the educational market. PC World attributes that to the high cost of iPads combined with a lack of a keyboard and multi-user support. Google’s Chromebooks, on the other hand, offer the keyboard, low prices, simple management, and support for easily passing Chromebooks among students. -- Posted Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Honeywell buys DataMax-O'Neil
Honeywell announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Datamax-O’Neil, a global manufacturer of fixed and mobile printers used in a variety of retail, warehouse and distribution, and health care applications, for $185 million. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2015. Interesting situation: for the past few years, both Honeywell and Motorola were on rugged company acquisition sprees. Now, Honeywell buys one of the two largest mobile printer companies, whereas Motorola Solutions was bought by another large mobile printer company (Zebra). [See Honeywell press release and DataMax-O'Neil press release] -- Posted Saturday, December 20, 2014

Fujitsu launches two new Stylistic enterprise tablets
There was a time when Fujitsu dominated the tablet scene with its various semi-rugged and rugged Stylistic models, but over the past several years Fujitsu tablets were less visible. Now, Fujitsu announced the launch of its next-generation tablets, the Fujitsu STYLISTIC Q555 and STYLISTIC Q335. The Q335 is an 8-inch 1280 x 800 pixel Intel Atom quad-core Z3735F powered Windows tablet ideal for business users requiring enhanced portability, the 1.47-pound 10-inch 1920 x 1200 Q555 a semi-rugged 2-in-1 with enterprise-grade security. [See Fujitsu press release] -- Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Xplore Technologies extends contract with large airline
Xplore Technologies announced additional orders for its XC6 Windows tablet PCs by one of the world's largest and most well-known airlines. The new order extends the previously announced multi-million dollar project, arming the airline's ground crews with ultra-rugged tablets at airports across the U.S. [See Xplore press release] -- Posted Thursday, December 11, 2014

Full review: Motion Computing CL920
Motion's CL-series was among the first serious enterprise market Windows tablets with capacitive multi-touch when the platform was launched in early 2011. Now in its third generation, the new Motion CL920 is much faster and much more powerful thanks to its Intel Bay Trail Pentium N3540 processor. Ancillary technology (WiFi, BT, USB, WLAN, GPS, cameras, etc.) was updated as well, and there's now a superb new display with Gorilla Glass 3. [Read full review of the Motion Computing CL920] -- Posted Wednesday, December 10, 2014