Compact Atom-powered rugged Tablet PC with extensive data collection capabilities
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

On July 25, 2011, ARBOR Technology—a Taiwan-based ISO-9001 certified embedded and networking manufacturer founded in 1993—announced the Gladius G1050 mobile POS tablet computer to complement its growing lineup of industrial, military, and healthcare market tablet PCs.

The ARBOR Gladius G1050 was designed as a compact point-of-sale tablet that's light enough to carry around all day (about 2.4 pounds), but has a large enough display to be useful for a variety of Windows-based applications (10.4-inch with 1024 x 768 XGA resolution). The G1050 tablet measures 11.6 x 8.1 inches and is just an inch thick—remarkably slender for a ruggedized tablet. While not specifically listed as outdoor-viewable, the display offers about 350 nit brightness (a standard notebook has 200 nits) and it has a very wide viewing angle. If more is needed, the G1050S version's display has an 800 nit backlight.

Unlike the Gladius G0720 with its thumb-type keyboard, the G1050 is a true tablet designed for operation via its larger touch screen. There is, however, a full numeric keypad for rapid data entry as well as four programmable function buttons that can be assigned to fit intended applications.

The Gladius is based on the Intel Atom Z530P processor with its accompanying Intel System Controller Hub US15WP. Note that the "P" means this is the "large form factor version that uses the 22x22 mm package of the chip that is often preferred in industrial applications. There's 2GB of DDR2 RAM and a 32GB solid state disk.

The data collection nature of the Gladius G1050 is emphasized by a variety of data acquisition modules. The device has an integrated 1D/2D barcode scanner, an ISO 15693/14443A/14443B RFID reader, and a 2-megapixel auto-focus camera. On the communications side, you get integrated 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth version 2.1 with EDR (extended data range), and optional Gobi3000 3.75G HSUPA WWAN (there's a SIM slot). There isn't much onboard connectivity (just a USB 2.0 port) but the optional dock can add three USB ports as well as an RJ45 LAN jack. For expansion, there's an SDHC card slot, and either an ExpressCard 34 or 54 slot.

Thanks to the low-power Atom chip, the Gladius G1050 appears to be a fanless design. Its dual Li-Ion battery packs (one in the back, one snapping in on the side) provide about nine hours of running time.

Though designed primarily for POS applications, the G1050 is a rather rugged device. It is sealed to IP54 specifications, where the "5" means it is mostly dustproof and the "4" that it is protected against water sprayed from all directions. The device can handle a four foot drop to wood, and the temperature range is a remarkably wide -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. With its solid rubber bumpers, extended range chip and elegant, purposeful look and feel, the Gladius looks like it can easily handle the daily abuse in just about any POS deployment.

With the Gladius G1050, ARBOR focuses not only on POS, but also warehousing and similar applications with more complex processing and display requirements than a handheld can offer. Weighing less than a netbook, but equipped with a large touch display, good expansion potential, and excellent data capture functionality, the ARBOR Gladius G1050 seems a very promising platform for a wide variety of commercial/industrial applications.