Motion Computing's Rugged Tablet Targets Enterprise WorkersMotion Computing's Rugged Tablet Targets Enterprise Workers

Tech In Far-Flung Settings

Motion Computing on Wednesday announced the CL920, an addition to its line of rugged enterprise tablets. Motion says the new hardware focuses on data capture and is a perfect productivity companion across a handful of different industries. The Windows-based CL920 is light, powerful, and tough enough for just about any work environment.

The CL920 features a 10.1-inch high-definition screen with 1366 x 768 pixels. It boasts an LED backlight and 180-degree viewing angles, and Motion claims the display has superior outdoor viewability. Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, the capacitive touch display also supports an active digitizer (included) for pen-based input.

The device relies on an Intel Baytrail processor with four cores clocked at 2.16 GHz each. It includes Intel HD graphics and 4 GB of system memory. Storage options include either 64 or 128 GB. Motion says the battery provides up to eight hours of working time, which may get most people through a full work day but might not be enough for others. The battery can absorb a full charge in about 90 minutes.

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The CL920 meets MIL-STD 810G for toughness, which means it can take a significant beating -- or at least survive the daily trials and tribulations many mobile computing devices face. It has an ingress protection rating of 52, which means it is highly water-resistant, if not almost waterproof. Motion says the device is protected by a chemical-resistant chassis and is approved for use with a long list of cleaners and disinfectants. The tablet weighs 1.9 pounds has a textured exterior to ensure workers can maintain a good grip on it.

Ports include one USB 3.0, one micro-HDMI, one SD card slot, the dock connector, and a combined headphone/microphone jack. Connectivity options include WiFi and LTE 4G (Motion didn't specify which carrier). The device has a 5-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel user-facing camera.

As always, Motion Computing offers a full line of accessories ready to accompany the CL920. For example, the SlateMate add-on includes a barcode scanner and magstripe reader; the ReadyDock is a storage and charging cabinet for multiple CL920s; and there is a mobile dock with key lock in-vehicle mount, as well as a range of cases and straps.

The CL920 will ship with your choice of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Motion didn't commit to Windows 10 compatibility or an upgrade path.

Motion sees the CL920 as an ideal tool for mobile professionals who are out in the field collecting and analyzing data. "It is the perfect technology partner for a commercial inspector, technician at an aviation plant, or a warehouse manager," said Peter Poulin, VP of marketing for Motion.

The Motion Computing CL920 will ship in the fourth quarter. Pricing wasn't immediately disclosed.

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