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TabletKiosk TufTab v7112XT
TabletKiosk expands its UMPC family with the TufTab v7112XT

The last time we heard from TabletKiosk, they had announced their new Sahara Slate PC i400 Series of TabletPCs. The 12.1" XGA PCs feature processors ranging from a lowly Celeron M ULV 423 processor on up to a Core Duo LV L2500.

Today the company is focusing its attention on the Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) market with the TufTab v7112XT. The TufTab v7112XT is described as "semi-rugged" and is able to resist the elements including rain, dust and high humidity. The UMPC can also withstand extreme shock and prolonged vibration.

Power comes from a 1.2GHz VIA C7-M ULV processor (5w, 400MHz FSB) while 1GB DDR2 SDRAM, a 1.8" 40GB PATA HDD, and a 7" 800x400 screen are standard. Connectivity options include a PCMCIA slot, a single USB 2.0 port, a SD/MMC slot, VGA connector, 10/100 NIC, 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR.

The 1.97 pound TufTab v7112XT measures 8.11" x 5.32" x 1.14" and is available in black or white. TabletKiosk will begin shipments of the $1,699 USD device in April of this year.

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Hmmmm
By drebo on 3/21/2007 10:24:03 AM , Rating: 1
I just don't see a market for these. I think they're pointless. If its kiosk functionality you need, a 10-inch touchpad dumb terminal is the way to go anyway.

What market niche are they supposed to be filling?

With the current smart phones in the state they're in (Sprint smart phones can even do Windows Remote Desktop), the mobile market is lost, as who's going to want to carry around this, their phone, AND a laptop? Anything that needs doing (besides possibly email, which is done on the phone anyway as it doesn't require a separate wireless internet account) can't be done on this, it's simply not powerful enough.

Anyone want to clue me in as to why these companies are throwing away so much money on something with no place in the world?




RE: Hmmmm
By mindless1 on 3/21/2007 2:01:47 PM , Rating: 2
Actually the point is not that every single person will want one, necessarily, just as every single person won't want to carry a laptop with them everywhere, nor the same model of phone or PDA. I'd say there's going to be a market for this type of device, regardless of whether this one in particular, simply because people dont' always want to take their laptop along and a phone, no matter how glorified, is still poor for many tasks beyond talking on the phone.


RE: Hmmmm
By VooDooAddict on 3/22/2007 10:19:22 AM , Rating: 2
Once they move to affordable SSD, I'd rather carry something like this and a very slim non-smart phone then my bulky treo or a blackberry.

After work hours I don't need the big PDA functionality.
... 'Coarse there's that other issue with UMPC.


SSD
By dice1111 on 3/21/2007 9:24:01 AM , Rating: 2
Looks like a perfect candidate for a solid state drive. They might be able to drop the "semi" off the name is they did.
I'm a huge fan of rugged hardware as my work consist of visiting some very unfriendly locations.




RE: SSD
By FNG on 3/21/2007 11:30:23 AM , Rating: 2
There is more to fully rugged than just having a disk survive a fall, and that can be done with existing disk tech using gel packing and other fancy tricks with accelerometers and what not. AFAIK semi-rugged usually can survive a fall while the computer is not powered on, fully rugged computers can handle the same fall while running. Also, fully rugged does not just resist rain, dust, etc... it is able to operate in the rain and dust for extended periods of time.


Incomplete
By exdeath on 3/21/2007 10:25:36 AM , Rating: 2
UMPCs should come with CDMA/GSM and GPS standard, in addition to biometrics, and all the standard stuff included here. The Asus R2H nearly fits the bill but doesn't have CDMA/GSM and isn't quite so rugged.

Add a BT virtual keyboard projector and you're all set.




RE: Incomplete
By mindless1 on 3/21/2007 1:54:05 PM , Rating: 2
Yes, because when a new product enters the market it is important to price it right out of the market already.

IMO, better to not have these features yet, see who bites, then offer the upgraded version or add-ons.


iPhone
By atticu5 on 3/21/2007 7:34:52 PM , Rating: 2
all this talk of a umpc is just reminding me of the iPhone, it can do music, video, internet and phone. throw in word, excel and other office apps and you're set. and it's $600-700 and not $1200-1600




RE: iPhone
By spartan014 on 3/22/2007 12:23:55 AM , Rating: 2

Word and excel? Excuse me.. iPhone is from "Apple" and it runs OSX not windows.. That means all software also comes from them. You can't install what you want. You should go for a Windows Mobile Device if you want that..


Why it needs so many IO's?
By Roy2001 on 3/22/2007 12:58:29 AM , Rating: 2
IMO, it just need a dock for all those USB, PCMCIA, VGA and NIC connectors. It only needs SD slot(s). Bluetooth should handle headset, keyboard/mouse. This is a UMPC, not a laptop or tablet PC.




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