Compact Intel Bay Trail-powered rugged Windows Tablet PC with extensive data collection capabilities
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

On July 7, 2015 , ARBOR Technology — a Taiwan-based ISO-9001 certified embedded and networking manufacturer founded in 1993 — announced the Gladius G1052C mobile tablet computer as an update to its prior Gladius G1050. The new tablet will complement ARBOR's growing lineup of mPOS, warehousing and logistics tablet PCs.

The ARBOR Gladius G1052C is designed as a compact mobile point-of-sale and data collection 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 G1052C 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 AFFS+ display offers about 340 nit brightness (a standard notebook has 200 nits) and it has a virtually perfect viewing angle from all directions. If more is needed, the G1052CS version's display has an 800 nit backlight.

Unlike the older Gladius G0720 with its thumb-type keyboard, the G1052C 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 1.86GHz quad-core Intel Celeron N2930 processor that's part of Intel's impressive Bay Trail processor lineup. This should provide the new G1052C with much higher performance than the original Intel Atom Z530-based Gladius G1050 could manage. On the memory side, there's 2GB of DDR3L RAM, upgradeable to 8GB, and a 32GB MLC mSATA solid state disk. Storage can be complemented via the unit's SDXC card slot.

The data collection nature of the Gladius G1052C is emphasized by a variety of data acquisition modules. The device has an integrated 1D/2D barcode scanner, an ISO 15693/14443A/14443B RFID/NFC reader, and a 5-megapixel auto-focus documentation camera. On the communications side, users get integrated 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Class 2 Bluetooth version 4.0 LE, and optional HSUPA / HSPA+/ LTE mobile broadband (there's a SIM slot). There isn't much onboard connectivity (just a USB 3.0 port) but the optional dock can add three USB ports as well as an RJ45 LAN jack. For expansion, there's, in addition to the SD card slot, either an USB 2.0 Type-A or USB Sensor Hub.

Thanks to the low-power Bay Trail chip, the Gladius G1052C appears to be a fanless design. Its dual Li-Ion battery packs (one in the back, one snapping in on the side) provide up to eight hours of running time.

Though designed primarily for ePOS and data collection applications, the G1052C 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 ePOS deployment.

With the Gladius G1052C, ARBOR focuses not only on ePOS, but also warehousing and similar applications with more complex processing and display requirements than a handheld can offer. With its large capacitive touch display, powerful processor, configurability, and excellent data capture functionality, the ARBOR Gladius G1052C, which is available with various Windows 7 and 8 and 8.1 OS platforms, seems a very promising platform for a wide variety of commercial and industrial applications.