Motion Computing ships its first x86 tablet

AFTER ANNOUNCING IT in January, Motion Computing has started shipping the CL900 Tablet PC, the first tablet device based on Intel's Atom Oak Trail processor and chipset.

This means that Intel's x86 architecture has finally arrived for tablets.

The Motion CL900 is a rugged tablet design that combines an Atom Z670 Lincroft chip running at 1.5GHz and an Intel SM35 chipset with the Whitney Point controller hub. The Atom Z670 Lincroft is Intel's chip for the ultra-mobile and mobile internet device (MID) classes of products, amongst which are tablets.

The Z670 manages to lower thermal design power (TDP) by a moderate amount. While it draws about 10 per cent less power over its predecessor while at full throttle, it'll shave 33 per cent over its predecessor while in its slowest clock state, drawing just 1.3W. That's still quite a bit more than an ARM chip, but it's what Intel deems is enough to satisfy the MID and tablet system integrators.

One, or preferably two gigabytes of DDR2-800 RAM will keep Windows 7 fed and happy, while the 10.1in LED-backlit screen manages 1366x768 resolution, which is enough to display HD 720p video. Its butterfinger immunity comes from a Gorilla Glass pane.

On the integrated graphics front, you'll find the Intel GMA 600. This is a Direct X 9.0c part capable of running Windows 7 and it still ekes out enough horsepower to decode HD 1080p video, which is where HD output matters, really. Clock-for-clock, Intel's GMA 600 graphics engine is twice as fast as its predecessor, while maintaining the same execution units, an example of linear process improvements.

Storage-wise the CL900 comes with a meagre 30GB SSD, just enough for a Windows 7 installation and a few productivity apps, or an optional 62GB SSD that jacks up the price quite a bit.

As for connectivity, you get all the bells and whistles as standard, except 3G, which comes in the form of an optional Qualcomm Gobi module. There are no tie-ins with mobile operators announced yet, but those might be forthcoming in time.

To those who said it couldn't, shouldn't, or wouldn't be done, we have to say that, although it isn't exactly a thing of beauty when you put it side-by-side with other tablets, it is a rugged device and it is x86, so it will definitely have its appeal for all day sysadmins and operators, or even outdoor use with more technical professionals.

Motion Computing's Intel Atom tablet is now available for a pricey $899 without 3G, although that's normal for a rugged device. Don't think of it as a tablet, think of it as a very flat, robust PC.

Plans to market the device outside the US haven't been announced, as of yet, but judging by the list of regulatory certifications, it will be just a matter of time until it reaches Europe. µ