Third generation of the Handheld Group's speedy 10-inch rugged tablet for those who need Windows out there on the job, wherever that may be and how challenging the job may. Now with hi-resolution screen, tech updates, and attractive new design. (by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer; Photography by Carol Cotton; for brief capsule review, see here)
In September 2016, Handheld Group announced a substantial update to the multinational Swedish company's Windows 10-based 10.1-inch Algiz 10X tablet computer designed for use in markets such as utility, military, logistics, forestry, transportation and field service. This third generation of the platform, originally announced late 2012, includes a tech refresh, a pleasing new design, and a stunning new 224ppi full-HD display that will be greatly appreciated by anyone relying on precise high-resolution visuals.
For a brief intro, the Handheld Group offers two primary product lines, those being the Nautiz branded rugged handhelds and the Algiz branded rugged tablets and notebooks. By now, most of the Nautiz handhelds are available with either Windows or Android. On the Algiz side, the Handheld Group also supports both Android (the Algiz RT7) and Windows, but with the 3rd generation Algiz 10X and the recently (February 2017) introduced Algiz 8X, Windows is now up 3:1.
The image on the right shows the company's older Windows-based Algiz 7 on the left, the Algiz 10X on the right, and the 8-inch Algiz 8X in the middle.
Note right upfront that the Algiz 10X was never meant to be an iPad for the field. The Handheld Group believes that computers for the field must be designed for the job and built rugged from the ground up. With all the protection they might need, and all the functionality of a modern Windows PC.
The Algiz 10X measures 10.8 x 6.7 x 1.2 inches and weighs 2.9 pounds. That's larger and heavier than consumer market tablets, but still compact and light enough for today's mobile workforce that's surveying, building, patrolling or distributing out there in the field where it can get cold and wet and things get dropped or banged around.
What's changed with the 3rd generation Algiz 10X
The Algiz 10X is not a new product, although it certainly looks all new. The original Algiz 10X, introduced in 2012, had a resistive touch screen and a different display aspect ratio. There was an update in February 2015 that doubled performance with a switch from the original Intel Atom N2600 to a Celeron N2930 as well as faster wireless communication, but it still looked the same. That's now changed as is quite evident from the comparison between the old Algiz 10X on the left and the new one on the right:
And now here's what's changed with the latest version of the Algiz 10X:
Much higher resolution — While the display still measures 10.1 inches diagonally, resolution went from the old 1,366 x 768 to the new 1,920 x 1,200 pixel. That's well more than twice as many pixels, and pixel density rose from 155 ppi (pixel per inch) to 224 ppi, which is "retina" MacBook territory. The aspect ratio went from 16:9 to 16:10, which isn't as narrow and more pleasing to our eyes.
Capacitive multi-touch — Resistive single touch has been replaced with contemporary 10-point capacitive multi-touch that's much better suited to Windows 10 (and has also pretty much become what users expect). There used to be concern that procap doesn't work well with gloves on or in rain. The Handheld Group answered that with adding both a glove and a rain mode to the new Algiz 10X.
Optional active stylus — An optional active capacitive stylus is available. That still comes in handy when extra precision is needed (like mapping, legacy apps, etc., or when using ink-optimized software).
Concurrent GNSS — For positioning, the new Algiz 10X switched from a u-blox NEO-6T to a u-blox NEO-M8N with concurrent GPS and GLONASS support. This means that the receiver can not only use the satellites of the US GPS, but also those of other positioning systems. This means that the Algiz 10X has more satellites at its disposal for determining position, which improves positioning accuracy under adverse conditions or in areas with poor coverage.
Windows 10 LTSB — The new Algiz 10X comes standard with the Enterprise LTSB version of Windows 10. LTSB stands for Long Term Servicing Branch. In essence, LTSB means instead of the operating system constantly being updated (and often at the most inconvenient times), the LTSB version receives less frequent but more comprehensive updates.
Fresh modern look — Handheld used the display and touch technology switch for a redesign. The flush glass surface of the capacitive screen extends past the LCD perimeter, giving the Algiz 10X a sleeker, more elegant, and more contemporary look. The directional diamond is gone as it is not needed with procap. This also allowed a clean and elegant redesign of the physical button area.
Also note that the Algiz 10X has the latest version of Handheld's MaxView display technology that uses a combination of optical treatments to make Handheld displays vibrant and readable under virtually all viewing conditions. A special bonding process "melts" LCD, anti-glare filter and touchscreen together, minimizing reflections and making the screen stronger. MaxView technology also increases contrast ratio, eliminates the "parallax" effect and condensation between layers, and provides extra durability and impact absorption.
The third generation Algiz 10X does feature any changes in the engine compartment as none were needed. The quad-core Celeron N2930, which initially made its appearance in the 2015 update of the tablet, is a competent system-on-chip solution that runs at 1.83GHz, has a burst frequency of 2.16GHz, and supports fast but efficient DDR3L RAM. The hot-swappable 7.4V, 5,300mAH 38.5 watt-hour Li-Ion battery pack remains unchanged, as is the optional extended 77 watt-hour battery.
The hardware
Below you can see what the Algiz 10X looks like from the front and from all four sides. Note that all ports are sealed with rubber plugs that are attached to the computer with small Philips screws so that they can easily be replaced should they ever break or rip off. The very sturdy corner bumpers, on the other hand, are part of the housing, attached during an injection molding process. The overall design is clean and modern, using the Handheld Group's traditional design language and light-gray and black color scheme. The tablet is ergonomic, too. When holding the tablet with both hands, all hardware buttons are easily within reach of the thumb.
I/O ports are on the left and right side of the tablet, protected under tight-fitting hinged rubber/plastic doors. Those get the job done, but can be a bit difficult to open. We also suggest labels or icons on them, so users won't have to memorize what ports are where.
Taking a closer look at the sides of the unit which include most of the built-in connectivity (see details in the pictures below, with some of the protective rubber plugs opened and photoshopped out of the pictures):
Along the left side (top picture) are power, a standard VGA video port, a standard USB 2.0 port, and a standard legacy DB9 RS232 serial port. There are also two metal loops that can be used with a carry strap.
Along the right side (bottom picture) is an expansion slot area that contains a SIM Card slot and an SDHC Card slot. Both sit underneath a protective cover that is screwed down. To the right of it is another I/O block with a headphone/microphone jack, a high-speed USB 3.0 port, and an RJ45 Gigabit LAN jack.
Construction and components
As far as construction goes, the Handheld Algiz 10X housing consists of two polycarbonate plastic halves, secured together via ten T-9 Torx head screws. A tongue-and-groove rubber seal design keeps dust and moisture from penetrating. The tongue is hard plastic and part of the bottom half of the housing; the groove is part of the protective rubber moulding that goes around the perimeter of of the top half of the tablet. For color, the front half is light-gray, the back side a very dark gray, almost black. It's the same colors used in all Handheld brand products.
The picture below shows the backside of the Algix 10X with the expansion compartment access door and the battery removed. The screw holes around the battery compartment are for vehicle or stationary mounting.
The expansion bay compartment in our review unit contained a Sierra Wireless AirPrime MC7354 mini-PCIe card that provides LTE, DC-HSPA+, HSPA+, HSDPA, HSUPA, WCDMA, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, CDMA, and GNSS connectivity.
Underneath the card is a SIM card slot. A second mini-PCIe slot is next to it, sitting on top of the unit's externally accessible micro-SD card slot.
The Algiz 10X 39.2 watt-hour rechargeable Li-Ion battery fits flush into a compartment in the back of the tablet. The battery is part of the design and there is no battery compartment cover. Sealing towards the interior of the tablet is via a rubber pressure seal around the battery power connectors. The battery has two strong snaps that very securely lock the battery into place. There is no chance that they will open by mistake. And the coverless approach means you can use the optional extended battery without needing a different battery cover.
Once the Torx T9 screws holding the two parts of the housing together have been removed, you can carefully lift up the bottom part. Carefully, because there are four wires and ribbons between the two halves. Two are antenna wires, one the camera cable, and then there's the flat docking ribbon. Caution is advised on reassembly, so as not to crush or compromise the seal between the hosuing halves.
Once the halves are apart, you see a very sturdy aluminum plate fastened to the front half of the housing. It cradles and secures the LCD assembly on the one side, and the motherboard and subsidiary boards on the other. The picture below shows what it looks like inside the tablet.
Our Algiz 10X came with a Solid State Disk (see upper left corner). It is a Phison-labeled SSE128GTMC0-S8110C mSATA 6GB/s SSD, securely held in place via a small Torx screw. mSATA (which stands for mini-SATA) is a space-saving, lower voltage SATA standard that uses the same 51 x 30 mm form factor as Mini PCIe. The connector is the same as well, with 52 pins, but its data signals talk to the SATA host controller and not the PCIe controller.
As has been the case since the tablet's 2015 update, Algiz 10X models come with fast Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160 802.11ac WiFi and dual mode integrated Bluetooth v4.0.
There did not appear to be a user-accessible RAM module slot. Our device came with 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and that seems the only available configuration.
As far as cooling goes, the Algiz 10X does not have or need a fan; instead, a copper heat spreader plate distributes the heat from the processor to the internal metal LCD frame of the device. It's an elegant thermal management solution that keeps heat from building up beyond design parameters.
To provide onboard connectivity, Handheld used edge connectors on the motherboard for audio, RJ45 LAN, and USB 3.0. These interface ports are sealed with a single rubber hinged friction plug that has a little metal D-ring on it to pull it open.
I/O on the other side of the 10X is via two separate I/O modules. One of them provides serial and USB, and the other VGA and power. Both are easily replaceable, which means a) easy repairs should they ever become necessarily, and b) easy device customization.
The image above shows the I/O blocks on the left side of the tablet. Both are discrete boards, and both use elaborate rubber boots that provide additional protection, on top of what the protective hinged plugs already provide. That's superior to standard designs that often have gaps around I/O ports where liquids can enter should the operator forget to tightly close a protective plug.
The Algiz 10X includes an integrated 5-megapixel documentation camera with LED illuminator light.
For positioning and navigation, the Algiz 10X includes, as stated in the introduction, a u-blox NEO-M8N GNSS module that uses the company's miniature 16.0 x 12.2 x 2.4 mm NEO form factor. The NEO-M8N (see product page) is a stand-alone GPS receiver that allows concurrent reception of up to three GNSS systems (GPS/Galileo together with BeiDou or GLONASS) which makes for excellent positioning accuracy in challenging geography or when only weak signals are available.
In essence, Handheld packed an entire conventional (read highly expandable and configurable) Windows PC into the compact Algiz 10X tablet. That's different from hyper-integrated consumer tablets that allow neither customization nor repair or re-configuration.
Performance by quad-core Intel "Bay Trail" Celeron N2930
The initial Algiz 10X was powered by what at the time of its creation arguably was Intel's best available low-power processor ("low-power" as in energy-efficient and very low power draw). The 1.86GHz N2800 provided the kind of performance Atoms should have provided all along, but initially couldn't because that would have meant they'd have been faster than Intel's mobile Core 2 Duo offerings at the time.
Core Duos are long gone now, and with Intel's Core CPUs ascending into the speed and feature stratosphere, the company's Atom architecture was given a very major performance overhaul in the form of "Bay Trail." Bay Trail consists of a lineup of vastly improved CPUs that are powerful enough to not only be sold under the Atom brand, but also the Celeron and Pentium brands.
Bay Trail processors use up to four cores and, unlike earlier Intel Atom microprocessor architectures, are paired with Intel's own HD graphics. In fact, the graphics cores integrated into Bay Trail processors are of the same HD 4000 architecture and variety as those used in Intel's powerful, high-end 3rd generation "Ivy Bridge" Core processors, albeit with fewer execution units (four instead of several times that number) and lower clock speeds. There's also turbo boost (called "burst frequency") in some Bay Trail processors, and a number of clever power-saving features from the Core architecture are there as well.
As a result, for the second generation of the Algiz 10X (2015) Handheld chose the quad-core Celeron N2930 as a replacement of the Atom N2800 in the first gen version. The N2930 is a system-on-chip solution that runs at 1.83GHz, has a burst frequency of 2.16GHz, and supports fast but efficient DDR3L RAM. The N2930 turned out to be a good match for the Algiz 10X, and so Handheld stayed with it in the new third generation Algiz 10X.
To provide an idea of the relative performance of the 3rd gen and original Handheld Algiz 10X as well as couple of older Handheld Algiz products we've run through our benchmark lab tests, we used our two standard benchmark suites (Passmark Software's PerformanceTest and CrystalMark). Here are the results:
Handheld Algiz 10X Benchmarks and Comparisons (PassMark 6.1, 32-bit version)
PERFORMANCE COMPARISON
Algiz 10x (2017)
Algiz 10x (2013)
Algiz XRW (2013)
Algiz 7 (2013)
Processor Type:
Intel Celeron
Intel Atom
Intel Atom
Intel Atom
Processor Model
N2930
N2800
N2600
N2600
CPU cores/threads
4/4
2/2
2/2
2/2
CPU base speed
1.83GHz
1.86GHz
1.60GHz
1.60GHz
CPU burst speed
2.16GHz
NA
NA
NA
Thermal Design Power (TDP)
7.5 watts
6.5 watts
3.5 watts
3.5 watts
Disk
128GB SATA SSD
128GB SATA SSD
128GB SATA SSD
128GB SATA SSD
CPU Mark
1,844.2
538.4
469.6
461.8
2D Graphics Mark
129.0
38.8
NA
NA
Memory Mark
340.9
264.2
221.8
217.6
Disk Mark
2,497.3
1,732.8
1,631.4
1,654.5
3D Graphics Mark
119.0
80.3
55.5
64.9
Overall PassMark
1,091.1
554.5
499.7
502.5
CrystalMark ALU
24,630
12,191
9.941
10,528
CrystalMark FPU
20,521
9,374
7,939
7,681
CrystalMark MEM
18,623
8,654
7,407
7,274
CrystalMark HDD
36,434
27,789
26,656
26,860
CrystalMark GDI
4,319
1,683
1,366
1,451
CrystalMark D2D
3,276
689
507
798
CrystalMark OGL
2,863
8,841
6,192
7,404
Overall CrystalMark
110,666
69,221
60,008
61,996
When we first benchmarked the original Algiz 10X, its speed was quite impressive. Handheld had been one of the few to use the more potent Intel Atom N2800 chip instead of the standard N2600 version, and that gave the first Algiz 10X an noticeable edge over competitors using the slower chip, especially in graphics where the N2800 processor graphics ran at a 60% higher clock speed.
But that was then (2013) and this is now. The current third gen Algiz 10X is twice as fast as the original. Each of the cores of the N2930 chip is more than twice as powerful as the cores in the older N2800, and there are now four cores instead of just two. Memory, graphics, disk are all faster, and so are graphics.
You could, of course, argue that the 3rd gen version deserved a new chip, just as the second gen model got a new chip. The Intel "Braswell" Pentium N3710 comes to mind. That's the chip Handheld uses in its new Algiz 8X. That, however, would have required a deeper and costlier overhaul of the Algiz 10X platform. So, given the good performance of the N2930 (which is widely used in vertical market mobile and rugged devices), staying with it made sense.
Keypad and utilities
As a pure tablet, the Algiz 10X does not have a physical keyboard or keypad. Instead, data is entered via on-screen keyboard and numeric keypad.
There is, however, what Handheld calls the OSD Control Keypad (see above) along the right side of the display. It includes power, a touch mode button, a Menu button, a Windows key, and two programmable function keys. There are also five indicator lights for power, battery status, disk activity, GPS status and wireless radio status. They are small and easy to see, without being too bright.
The Menu button brings up a "charm" bar docked to the right side of the display (see rightmost picture below). There you can perform screen rotations in 90 degree increments, launch the camera, turn radios and other devices on and off, bring up a settings/information bar, and launch the touch set selector (normal, rain mode, glove mode, and touch lock).
The F1 and F2 function keys as well as brightness and audio volume are programmed/set via the Settings charm on the menu (on the first two generations of the Algiz 10X, the Hot TAB utility was used to bring up the OSD Control Keypad for this).
The F1 and F2 function keys can each accommodate two functions, one via short press and one via long press. The menu shows half a dozen default selections (Internet Explorer, Media Player, Camera, Volume Mute, Calculator, and Notepad).
The function keys, however, are not limited to those. They can also be assigned to other tasks or apps.
That leaves one additional issue to be addressed: although Windows 10 is considerably more touch-optimized than Windows 7 and many users may spend most of their time in the Windows 10 "tablet mode," there are still many occasions that bring up the good old desktop or legacy applications and OS utilities. And all those were designed for use with a mouse, whose precise operation works great with all those tiny check boxes, pulldowns and scroll bars. That's a pesky Windows issue that's not likely to go away anytime soon. Fortunately, a bit of user interface customization goes a long way towards making Windows easier to operate.
Windows 7 tablet users could optimize their Algiz 10X display via the Personalization > Windows Color > Advanced Appearance Settings in the Windows Control Panel to re-size check boxes, scrollers, text, and various other Windows interface elements for best possible operation with a stylus or a finger. That's no longer the case in Windows 10, but the technically inclined can always launch the regedit utility, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Control Panel > Desktop > WindowMetric and change the size of those tiny user interface elements there. Start with the ScrollHeight and ScrollWidth settings and go from there.
Camera
The Handheld Algiz 10X has an integrated rear-facing documentation camera. It uses a 5mp imager, has an LED flash, and can do both still pictures and video. The camera can be used to visually document work status, progress, completion, etc. In many cases it's easier to collect all data with one device rather than using multiple devices.
Cameras integrated into vertical and industrial market tablet computers have historically underperformed compared to even low-end dedicated cameras and, more recently, the cameras available in almost every smartphone. Integrated cameras improved substantially over the past few years, to the point where they were often good enough to eliminate the need of taking along a dedicated camera or smartphone if photo or video documentation was needed on the job.
Over the past year or two we've been seeing a leveling off of integrated camera quality and ease of use, as if manufacturers had decided that smartphones have became so pervasive and their cameras so good as to render cameras integrated into rugged tablet irrelevant.
Another problem is Windows whose support of integrated cameras is minimal. That's understandable due to the very large number of different camera hardware that might be used with the OS. As a result, the generic Windows camera app is severely limited, lacking anything beyond the most basic controls, and often taking in no way full advantage of integrated camera hardware. Which means that users will have to rely on available third party camera software.
As is, the documentation camera in the Algiz 10 is quite decent and capable of taking much higher quality pictures up to 2592 x 1944 resolution than one might assume based on the image previews and the basic software. The camera does not compress images so much that they become useless.
Below are pictures shot with the Algiz 10X camera in its 2592 x 1944 pixel resolution (click for full size):
Given the camera software limitations, it's hard to assess the integrated camera's video capabilities. The software would only allow for 640 x 480 video, though a 5mp imager is well capable of much higher resolution video. The onscreen video preview lagged, but the video itself played back fine.
The bottomline for the Algiz 10X integrated camera is that is is good enough for many documentation tasks, but it requires some practice, and we do suggest downloading one of the many available camera apps for better control.
Bright, excellent 10.1-inch full HD display
The Algiz 10X tablet's 10.1-inch display offers full 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, making for 16:10 aspect ratio and a sharp 224 pixels per inch. That's the same pixel density as Apple's retina iMacs and MacBooks. The display surface is of the glossy variety seen today on virtually all tablets and smartphones. The display is excellent and a pleasure to use.
The display of the 3rd gen Algiz 10X is also a great example of just how much the Handheld Group is in tune with their customers.
The original 10X back in 2013 came with a 1,366 x 768 pixel display, not even half as many pixel as the screen in the new 3rd gen version. 1,366 x 768 was quite adequate back then and the screen was good, but it suffered from a narrow vertical viewing angle, resulting in quite a bit of color shifting and aberrations.
Handheld listened, and the 2nd gen Algiz 10X in 2015 no longer had the vertical viewing angle problem. Users certainly appreciated that.
And now, with the 3rd generation, Handheld upped the ante once again, treating customers to a much higher resolution display. One gets used to everything, but anyone using the new Algiz 10X for mapping, positioning or any advanced graphics application will experience a huge difference. No longer seeing distracting individual pixels makes for a much more pleasant viewing experience.
That said, resolution alone isn't everything, especially not with displays that are often, or predominantly, used outdoors and in broad daylight. It's one thing for a display to shine indoors, and quite another doing so outdoors with its much higher brightness, the sun, and reflections everywhere.
Over the past decade, the industry has done a remarkable job addressing those issues. Reducing the display's internal reflection of ambient light via polarizers, filters, coatings and elimination of air spaces between the various layers of the LCD, in conjunction with a strong backlight, helped to make screens viewable outdoors.
However, even with the best currently available technology, outdoor viewability remains a challenge, one where numerous factors must be carefully optimized and balanced against each other. The pictures below illustrate that.
Almost all modern displays have a glossy surface. That's in part because gloss makes colors vibrant and pictures come to life, but that comes at the cost of external reflections. Gloss also is best for optimal implementation of capacitive multi-touch, where the surface must be as smooth and stiction-free as possible.
Starting with the image on the upper left, you can see that the 600-nits display of the Algiz 10X is plenty bright for outdoor use. But the picture next to it shows that, as is the case with all tablets, it must be held just right or else there will be reflections. The second row was taken with more intense sunlight. The display is still bright enough for easy use, but as the picture next to it shows, you have to avoid reflections.
Overall, Handheld's MaxView display treatment works very well, providing for enough contrast and brightness to use the tablet under almost all lighting conditions. We have seen display treatments with more muting of the reflections, but that usually comes with trade-offs. Like most glossy capacitive touch displays, the Algiz 10X is prone to fingerprints and other smudging. Overall, however, given the current state of display technology, this is an excellent screen.
Capacitive multi touch
The original Algiz 10X still used a resistive digitizer because at the time capacitive touch was not ready for use on Windows-based tablets designed for field deployment. Windows itself wasn't touch-friendly, and capacitive touch couldn't be used in the rain or while wearing gloves. However, the many advantages of capacitive multi touch quickly became obvious, aided by the massive success of smartphones and consumer tablets.
Capacitive touch did improve and the latest versions of Windows have become more touch-friendly, and so Handheld switched from a resistive digitizer to capacitive multi touch with the 3rd generation Algiz 10X.
The glove and wetness issues are handled via a touch mode settings utility that configure the Algiz 10X for normal use with finger and stylus (the default), rain mode, glove mode, or with touch locked.
Glove mode works with fairly thick gloves on, but the stylus does not work in that mode. In rain mode, finger touch continues to work quite well, something that's not the case with standard capacitive touch. Touch lock is for those situations where keyboard and mouse are attached.
Our review unit didn't come with the optional active digitizer. We consider that still a desirable option because active digitizer's "hovering" function is so well supported in Windows).
Note that the Algiz 10X comes standard with a nice narrow-tip metal stylus that's about five inches long. The narrow tip makes for much more precise stylus operation than those very broad-tipped early capacitive touch styli with their soft rubber tips. And those who love inking on their tablets will appreciate how smooth and easy ink goes on. No jaggies or jumps with this stylus. It can even be used for the input panel's handwriting recognition option.
Superior ruggedness
The Handheld Group describes the Algiz 10X as an ultra-rugged device designed for extreme field performance. According to its specs, the Algiz 10x can handle a very wide operating temperature range from -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 to 60 Celsius). It carries IP65 sealing where the "6" means the computer is totally protected from dust, and the "5" that it is protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions. The Algiz 10X also passed the MIL-STD-810G 516.6. Procedure IV test of 26 drops from a height of four feet to concrete. What does all this mean?
As far as operating temperature goes, the device can be used in most environments where someone would be expected to work with a computer. The folks at the Handheld Group's native Sweden know a thing or two about ice and snow and working in the cold, so we're sure they have low temperature suitability covered, and not having rotating media onboard sure helps.
Ample protection and cushioning (and not having a hard disk) make the unit immune to damage from drops from four feet, which is about the height it may fall while being used in a standing position. Here, the Algiz 10X's modest weight and the protective corner bumpers provide excellent shock resistance.
IP65 is decent sealing, but it's not IP67 which is increasingly expected in rugged outdoor gear, thanks to a growing number of IP67-rated active lifestyle consumer smartphones. So why not IP67, which protects a device even against immersion into water to a depth of about three feet? Probably because it's much more involved to seal a device with multiple standard-size ports and a quick-release battery to IP67 standard. So IP65 is okay, but we are a little concerned about potential leaks to the interior should the somewhat hard to manipulate plastic plugs not be seated properly. Our review tablet survived the waterfall test, but we would definitely recommend staying within the protection afforded by the official IP65 rating.
Vibration resistance was tested as described in MIL-STD-810G, Method 514.6, Procedures I & II, for general vibration in a fixed mounting and a loose cargo test, but there is no detailed description.
The Algiz 10X can handle operating altitudes up to 15,000 feet, and was tested according to MIL-STD-810G, Method 507.5 for humidity resistance.
While some customers will probably want to see actual lab reports with more specific detail, the overall impression of the Algiz 10X is that it's indeed a very rugged device that will likely be able to handle a good deal of abuse.
Summary: Handheld Algiz 10X
In the Handheld Group's media release, Johan Hed, director of product management, summed the new Algiz 10X up as follow: "The technology changes made in this version give our customers a whole new user experience." After having had extended hands-on with the new 3rd gen Algiz 10X, we couldn't agree more.
Between the clean, functional, attractive new look, effortless capacitive multi-touch, and the terrific "retina"-class high resolution display, the Algiz 10X feels and handles like a brand-new design. But Handheld did it with leaving the tried-and-true underpinnings in place. We'd call that one of the most impressive product updates we've seen.
With this third generation update, the Algiz 10X tablet carries on Handheld's tradition of offering interesting, versatile mobile computers covering every conceivable part of Handheld's target markets.
This tablet is for anyone who needs state-of-the-art Windows functionality out there in the field, and enough screen real estate for complex applications, even those that mandate maximum visual precision.
The quad-core Intel Celeron N2930 processor, while not new, is a reliable performer and easily offers twice the computing power of the original.
The 10.1-inch daylight-viewable capacitive multi-touch screen display with its full-HD 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution offers 2.3 times as many pixels as the prior version of the Algiz 10X, making for a bright, crisp, super-sharp display with near perfect viewing angles in all directions.
The Algiz 10X is rugged enough to be used in almost any environment, and its integrated bumpers protect against dents and scratches. It feels very solid and reliable, but do make sure the protective rubber plugs are always securely in place.
The unit provides very good onboard communication both for wired connections (USB 2.0 and 3.0, serial, gigabit LAN, audio, video) as well as wireless (fast WiFi, WWAN, Bluetooth 4.0, concurrent dedicated GNSS).
Like most specialized vertical market computing equipment, the cost is substantially higher than for consumer equivalents, but in terms of functionality on the job and total cost of ownership, the Algiz 10X is reasonably priced.
In summary, the third generation Handheld Algiz 10X addresses the needs of anyone who's been looking for a tough, rugged Windows 10 tablet for demanding work even under the most demanding environmental conditions, and one with a bright, sharp display large enough to comfortably work on. -- Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, April 2017
Handheld Group Algiz 10X Specs:
Status
Added 09/2016, full review April 2017
Type
Rugged Tablet PC
Processor
Quad-core Intel Celeron N2930 with 2MB L2 cache
Processor speed
1.83GHz base frequency, 2.16GHz maximum burst frequency
OS
Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB (64-bit)
Processor TDP/SDP
7.5 watts/4.5 watts
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics
Memory
4GB DDR3L 1600
Display type
Sunlight-readable 10.1-inch "MaxView" TFT with LED backlight and ambient light sensor
Display resolution
10.1" FHD (1,920 x 1,200 pixel, 224ppi), 600 nits
Digitizer/Pens
10-point capacitive multi-touch (incl. rain and glove modes), optional active pen
Keyboard
On-screen QWERTY soft kbd, power, menu key, 2 programmable
Storage
128GB SSD mSATA 6GB/s
Expansion
1 microSDXC
Housing
Polymer plastic over aluminum frame, protective rubber bumpers
Operating temperature
-4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 to 60 degrees centigrade)
Vibration/Drops
MIL-STD-810G, Method 514.6 Procedures I & II, General minimum integrity and the more rigorous loose cargo test
Handheld Group AB
Kinnegatan 17A
531 33 Lidköping, Sweden
Tel: +46 (0) 510 54 71 70
Fax: +46 (0) 510 282 05
Web: www.handheldgroup.com
Email: info at handheldgroup.com
HHCS Handheld USA Inc.
33870 SE Eastgate Circle
Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
Tel: (541) 752-0313
Fax: (541) 752-0338
Web: www.handheld-us.com
Email: info at handheld-us.com
On the Algiz side, the Handheld Group also supports both Android (the Algiz RT7) and Windows, but with the 3rd generation Algiz 10X and the recently (February 2017) introduced Algiz 8X, Windows is now up 3:1.
And now here's what's changed with the latest version of the Algiz 10X:
Underneath the card is a SIM card slot. A second mini-PCIe slot is next to it, sitting on top of the unit's externally accessible micro-SD card slot.
As has been the case since the tablet's 2015 update, Algiz 10X models come with fast Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160 802.11ac WiFi and dual mode integrated Bluetooth v4.0.
Bay Trail processors use up to four cores and, unlike earlier Intel Atom microprocessor architectures, are paired with Intel's own HD graphics. In fact, the graphics cores integrated into Bay Trail processors are of the same HD 4000 architecture and variety as those used in Intel's powerful, high-end 3rd generation "Ivy Bridge" Core processors, albeit with fewer execution units (four instead of several times that number) and lower clock speeds. There's also turbo boost (called "burst frequency") in some Bay Trail processors, and a number of clever power-saving features from the Core architecture are there as well.
The Menu button brings up a "charm" bar docked to the right side of the display (see rightmost picture below). There you can perform screen rotations in 90 degree increments, launch the camera, turn radios and other devices on and off, bring up a settings/information bar, and launch the touch set selector (normal, rain mode, glove mode, and touch lock).
The display of the 3rd gen Algiz 10X is also a great example of just how much the Handheld Group is in tune with their customers.
Capacitive touch did improve and the latest versions of Windows have become more touch-friendly, and so Handheld switched from a resistive digitizer to capacitive multi touch with the 3rd generation Algiz 10X.
With this third generation update, the Algiz 10X tablet carries on Handheld's tradition of offering interesting, versatile mobile computers covering every conceivable part of Handheld's target markets.
