Eurotech, a supplier of embedded technologies, products, and systems, announced their family of rugged handheld mobile computers in November of 2010. Initial products include the HRC-3100 and the HRC-4200 described here.
The HRC-4200 is designed to be an enterprise-class handheld communicator and mobile computer. With measurements of 9.1 x 3.7 x 1.35 inches and weighing about a pound and a half, the HRC-4200 is a fairly large device, and accommodates a large 6.2-inch display with the by now rare half-VGA 640 x 240 pixel resolution that can switch between landscape and portrait.
The HRC-4200 is based on mature field-tested technology, running the highly configurable and versatile Windows CE 5.0 on the 520MHz version of the Marvell PXA270 application processor. There's 128MB of RAM, a gigabyte of non-volatile Flash, and a user-accessible SDHC card slot for up to 32GB of additional storage.
The HRC-4200 has a touch screen and is designed to be operated via stylus or touch. There aren't any physical controls except for side scanner buttons to operate the integrated 1D laser scanner, and an additional triangular button next to the display. All are programmable.
Wired connectivity includes host and client USB and RS232 serial, both via either a smart cap or the unit's docking station. Wireless communications capabilities include Bluetooth Class I, 802.11b/g WiFi, and integrated GSM/GPRS in international (900/1800/1800MHz) or US (850/1800/1900MHz) tribands. The device also include IR and an integrated 50-channel GPS receiver with SBAS and A-GPS support. There is also an integrated Smart Card reader.
The HRC-4200 has an unusually powerful 37.5 watt-hour battery for a device in this class. Eurotech doesn't specify battery life, but the unit should easily run a full shift between charges.
Eurotech targets the HRC-4200 to transportation & logistics, warehousing, field service and maintenance, courier & postal services, homeland security applications, and similar.
As far as ruggedness goes, the HRC-4200 carries IP54 sealing, which means it is protected against dust and can handle water spray from all directions. It can also handle 4-foot drops onto concrete and operate within a very wide temperature range of 14 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Eurotech is a designer and manufacturer of a range of cost-effective embedded single board computers, application-ready platforms and configurable systems for customers within the digital signage, multimedia, communications, wireless, medical, point of sale and industrial engineering industries. Eurotech USA, with corporate headquarters in Columbia, MD, is a subsidiary of Italian Eurotech Group S.p.A.
