There’s a great look at the J3500 over at RuggedPC Review including photos and a video.

Press release:

Motion Launches the J3500 Rugged Tablet PC

Enhancements include advanced Intel® Core™ vPro™ processors, and a host of new options including dual touch technology, durable Gorilla™ glass and expanded storage capabilities

AUSTIN, Texas – June 22, 2010 – Motion Computing®, a leading provider of integrated mobile computing solutions, today announced the J3500 tablet PC. Built on the Motion® J-Series line of tablet PCs, the J3500 features Intel® Core™ vPro™ processors for enhanced performance, security and manageability. The J3500 also offers a variety of integrated features including touch technology, Gorilla™ glass, and expanded storage options.

New Capacitive Dual Touch
The J3500 with capacitive dual touch enables mobile workers to take advantage of the natural gesture navigation features built in Windows® 7 and other software applications. Optimized for digitizer and touch input, users can navigate touch-enabled software applications or legacy programs with smaller targets that require the accuracy of pen input. For more flexibility, palm rejection technology distinguishes between intentional and false touch while stylus recognition enables users to easily switch between input modes.

“Motion has long been recognized as an innovator in tablet computing, and is again offering new ways for enterprise users to enhance productivity through multiple interaction methods,” said Eddie O’Brien, VP Microsoft OEM. “Now, mobile workers can take full advantage of tablet computing, benefitting from the accuracy of pen input and the convenience of natural gestures, enhancing productivity as they navigate applications in the field.”

Enhanced Integrated Features
The J3500 also offers new features to help improve productivity and durability across Motion’s target vertical markets such as construction, field service and healthcare, including:

• Extra-durable Corning Gorilla™ glass, offering up to a 4 times improvement in breakage resistance1, and new anti-smear coating for improved visibility
• Enhanced system storage, with available 160GB hard disk drive (HDD), and 64GB or 128GB solid state drive (SSD) options and up to 4GB of RAM
• Improved 3.0 megapixel documentation camera
• Integrated Gobi2000™ mobile broadband with GPS

“Governments today must empower an extensive mobile workforce that depends on accessing information whenever and wherever,” said Darrell Lewis, VP of Product Management at Accela, Inc. “With Accela Mobile Office™ software running on the J3500, field workers in areas such as permitting, licensing, code enforcement, and public works, can take advantage of enhanced mobile computing capabilities in a sleek, rugged device.”

Intel Core vPro for Enhanced Performance, Security and Manageability
Now with Intel® Core™ i7 or Core™ i5 vPro™ technology, the J3500 offers a significant improvement in performance and enables Motion customers to experience:

• Enhanced remote management capabilities enabling IT technicians to repair and secure the PC from any location, even while powered-down or in sleep mode, enabling greater levels of energy efficiency and streamlined maintenance processes
• Increased security with fully manageable hard drive encryption, and Intel® Anti-Theft technology used with Computrace®, protecting valuable data in case of loss or theft
• Improved multitasking with smart technology that adjusts processor speed to support workload changes, providing power when needed and working more efficiently when possible

“Enterprises have embraced the J-Series line of Motion Tablet PCs based on their flexibility, performance, mobility and durability,” said Mike Stinson, Vice President of Marketing, Motion Computing. “With the J3500, we extend the enterprise benefits with a tablet PC solution that is powerful, durable, multi-functional and mobile, enabling mobile workers to significantly improve productivity and collaboration through real-time access to enterprise data in the field.”

Enterprise-Ready, Durable Tablet PCs
Tested to withstand harsh mobile work environments, the rugged and flexible J3500 Tablet PC meets MIL-STD-810G and IP-52 ratings to ensure protection against bumps, drops, rain or other conditions that can damage commercial-grade computing solutions. Additionally, the dual hot-swappable battery solution extends the computing day and enables easy replacement of charged batteries without interruption. Built to fit seamlessly into enterprise environments, Motion’s complete line of tablet PCs utilize either the Windows® 7 or Windows XP operating system, reducing the burden on IT and enabling mobile workers to manage the same applications available to office-based employees.

Availability
The new Motion J3500 is now available through Motion’s network of value-added resellers and distributors. For more information or to find a certified Motion reseller visit Motion’s Channel Resources page.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MotionComputing
Facebook: http://facebook.com/MotionComputing

About Motion Computing
Motion Computing is a global leader in integrated mobile computing solutions, combining world-class products with services customized for the unique needs of target vertical markets. The company’s enhanced line of rugged tablet PCs, mobile point of care solutions and accessories are designed to increase mobile productivity while providing portability, security, power and versatility.

Motion Mobility Solutions offers a complete portfolio of products, services and support that helps ensure a successful mobile deployment for increased productivity, reducing project risk while delivering a more rapid return on investment. For more information, visit www.motioncomputing.com.
1 Based on internal Motion strength tests versus standard glass.

Shown are an iPhone, an iPad, a Dell Latitude XT2 tablet PC and a Motion J3400 Tablet PC . Each device has its own set of pros and cons. Like the iPhone which is ultra-portable, but a real pain to work on secondary to the small screen. The Dell offers incredible flexibility, but the battery life is ho-hum and it doesn’t take abuse well. The J3400 is actually a solid machine and works well in our environment. It’s tough and offers darned good battery life when both batteries are installed. I haven’t rendered an opinion on the iPad yet. The coolness factor is through the roof, but after that I’m not sure where it fits.

I have plans to make a video at some point demonstrating how we use the iPad in pharmacy practice, but time seems to be against me.

Upgrades include availability of the Intel Core i7 or Core i5 vPro Processors along with new levels of power and security. The big ticket items that caught my attention were the reported 50% performance improvement, hot-swappable batteries with 30% longer life, availability of a solid-state hard drive and the use of Gorilla glass as the standard display. C’mon, anything with “Gorilla” attached to it has to be cool.

While I’ve been critical of the C5 in the past, I find myself becoming more interested in the device with each improvement made by the company. It’s clear that Motion Computing is taking tablet PC use in health care seriously, and I have to cheer for any company that’s willing to do that.

More information can be found here (PDF), by going to the Motion Computing website or by attending an upcoming webinar that promises an overview of the C5v.

Here’s the email:

Motion Announces the New C5v Rugged Tablet PC Offering Enhanced Power, Performance and Integrated Features

Join us for a Motion-hosted webinar to learn about the latest C5v Tablet PC from Motion Computing. Built on technology that delivers increased performance and battery life, the new Motion Tablet PCs provide increased levels of performance, security and manageability. Motion Tablet PCs are rugged, lightweight and durable with new features and integrated components that adapt to a broad range of demanding and mobile work environments.
Motion C5v Features and Benefits include:

• Up to 50% improvement in performance
• Approx 30% increase in battery life
• Intel® Core™ i5 and i7 vPro™ processors
• Increased storage capacity and memory
• Display now standard with Gorilla glass for up to 4 times the strength in breakage resistance
• Hot swappable battery
• Web camera and 3MP documentation camera

I’ve been fairly critical of this class of device in the past for several reasons. After using the Motion C5 for several weeks last year I found the 10.4 inch screen much too small for everyday use. In addition the design of the placement for the barcode scanner in the handle made the MCA too cumbersome to be really effective in patient care areas; it required too much manipulation to scan patient wrist bands. The nurses I’ve worked with tend to agree.

With that said, I can see using the Motion C5 as a secondary device when a mobile solution is necessary. It’s not really a bad tablet computer. It runs a full blown operating system like Windows XP and can be docked for use with keyboard and mouse after all. So when I saw that Motion Computing created the MCW-200 (Mobile Clinical Workstation) for the C5, I decided to give it a second look.

The MCW-200 is a computer on wheels, a.k.a. COW, which offers a docking station for the Motion C5 MCA on the back of the cart. It’s a very interesting concept. The ability to dock the C5 on the back of the COW gives nursing the flexibility to use a larger monitor, full keyboard and mouse on a mobile platform when needed, but the flexibility to pop the C5 out of the dock when a more mobile platform is desired. Why didn’t I think of that?

According to Motion Computing:
“The MCW-200, Motion’s most advanced clinical workstation, is fully integrated and highly flexible. Offering up to 15 hours of battery life*, it leaves clinicians free to focus on patient care, not battery management. Durable and maneuverable, the MCW-200 is available with numerous computing options to support an extensive range of applications. The MCW-200 is designed in compliance to the IEC-60601-1 standard to ensure conformity with international biomedical safety standards.”

The only thing I don’t see is an option to use my favorite Motion MCA, the J3400, on the MCW-200 instead of the C5.

Mobile PC options for pharmacists
New technology is providing unparalleled opportunity for pharmacists desiring mobile computing solutions. Mobile phone platforms such as the iPhone are offering ever increasing access to patient information, while Ultra-Mobile PCs (UMPCs) remain a viable alternative as a highly mobile computing solution with hardware configurations and software rivaling some desktop PCs. UMPCs offer an attractive alternative to PDAs and mobile phones, but their limited screen size may ultimately make them unsuitable for pharmacist use. I could find no literature evaluating the use of UMPCs in healthcare.

Other options include:

Laptop computers (laptops) – Laptops provide many desirable qualities such as large monitors, keyboards, a built-in pointing device (mouse, a touchpad, also known as a trackpad, and/or a pointing stick), ample processing power and memory. The obvious negative to a laptop is their awkward shape making them difficult to hold while accessing patient information. Their portability is designed around access to a surface on which to work. Without sufficient real estate to place the laptop, their use as a mobile platform is significantly reduced.

Netbooks – Primarily designed for web browsing and e-mailing, netbooks are popular for accessing the internet and for remote access to web-based applications. Netbooks are similar to laptops in almost every way with one major exception; they are typically smaller with screen sizes in the 8 to 10 inch range. Newer netbooks like the Eee PC T91 even offer a convertible tablet pc form factor and touch screen interface. While these devices offer an attractively low price and are a valid alternative to laptops, their limited screen size and limited processing power remain a question mark.

Tablet PCs (tablets) – Tablet PCs are portable computers similar to laptops in many ways. They offer large color displays, processing power similar if not identical to that of a laptop, large amounts of storage and are much smaller and lighter than a desktop PC. The difference between a tablet and a laptop is in the tablet’s unique form factor and pen driven interface similar to that of a PDA or mobile phone.

Tablet PCs can be grouped into two basic categories: slate and convertible. The slate tablet has no attached keyboard or mouse and closely resembles a paper notebook or clipboard. Data entry is performed via a tablet pen or voice, although a keyboard and mouse can be attached via a variety of ports. Slate tablets are often smaller, thinner and lighter than convertible tablet models. Examples of slate tablets include the LE1700 and Motion C5 and F5 from Motion Computing and the Sahara Slate i400 series by TabletKiosk.

Convertible tablets closely resemble a laptop with attached keyboard and navigation device. The lid may be rotated and folded down over the keyboard creating a form factor similar to a slate tablet. The convertible tablet PC may also be used as a traditional laptop with the lid in the upright position. The convertible tablet offers several advantages over the slate with its attached keyboard and navigation device providing flexible data entry.  However, the addition of the keyboard and navigation device adds bulk to the device often making them heavier than the slate tablet. Anecdotally convertible tablets appear to be more popular than their slate counterparts. Convertible tablet PC examples include the Dell Latitude XT by Dell Computing and the ThinkPad X200 Tablet offered by Lenovo.

Common to both the slate and convertible tablets is the use of digitizing tablet technology (digital inking). Digital inking is made available through the use of a digitizer overlain on an LCD screen that creates an electromagnetic field. The motion of the digital pen on the screen is recorded via this field as a series of data points that are ultimately displayed and stored as pen strokes. The user sees visual confirmation of this on the screen as writing, allowing users to input data via the digital pen provided with the tablet. The end result is similar in look and feel to writing with traditional pen and paper. The digitized handwriting can be converted to standard text via handwriting recognition software or as sketches, drawings or notes making paper notes nearly obsolete. Annotating electronic documents such as those in the portable document format (PDF) is also possible. Handwriting recognition can be challenging, but practiced use can result in remarkable speed and accuracy during data entry.

The digital pen also acts as a navigation device similar to the stylus on a PDA or a mouse on a traditional desktop PC. The pens included with tablet PCs often have programmable buttons that are similar to the buttons on a typical desktop PC mouse. Applications may be accessed by tapping the pen on the screen, simulating a mouse click.

Tablet PCs are equipped with hardware configurations similar to that of desktop PCs making them capable of running hospital systems and office suite programs, such as Microsoft Office. The benefit of this is seen with user comfort and familiarity, creating less of a learning curve to the new device. They offer an ideal solution for the mobile pharmacist.

A great source of information for tablet PCs is TabletPCReview.com. They cover the latest trends in tablet PC use and manufacturing.