Now we all know that speed is very relative in computers. Operating systems and systems configurations can have a greater impact on perceived performance than processors. But benchmarks are still a good way to test performance. So we ran Passmark Software's PerformanceTest 6.1 on the F5 to objectively measure performance. Passmark's benchmark suite runs about 30 tests covering CPU, 2D graphics, 3D graphics, memory, and disk and then computes scores for each category and an overall PassMark score. For comparison, we're showing the numbers of the first generation F5 with its Core Solo processor. We're also including the figures of two popular Intel Atom configurations (run on Advantech embedded modules). The Intel N270 can be found in millions of netbooks and also some vertical market tablets. The Atom Z530 is used in some direct competitors of the Motion F5. The results are as follows:

PERFORMANCE COMPARISON	Motion F5 2009	Motion F5 original	Atom Z530 reference	Atom N270 reference
Processor	Intel Core 2 Duo U7500	Intel Core Solo U1400	Intel Atom Z530	Intel Atom N270
OS	Windows 7	Windows XP	XP Embedded	XP Embedded
Clock Speed	1.06GHz	1.20GHz	1.60GHz	1.60GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	10.0 watts	5.5 watts	2.5 watts	2.5 watts
CPU Mark	389.8	324.9	315.6	321.1
2D Graphics Mark	86.9	153.8	207.2	192.5
Memory Mark	202.7	235.1	191.6	199.1
Disk Mark	435.5	168.8	70.7	74.6
3D Graphics Mark	85.6	75.6	19.6	71.5
Overall PassMark	251.3	194.4	137.3	190.7
CrystalMark ALU	8141	4565	5376	5413
CrystalMark FPU	8080	5343	4667	4726
CrystalMark MEM	6222	4989	3667	4172
CrystalMark HDD	15444	3252	2702	2676
CrystalMark GDI	1388	4239	2427	2239
CrystalMark D2D	1542	4221	1009	2180
CrystalMark OGL	861	1151	505	704
Overall CrystalMark	41678	27760	20353	22110

While the original Hydis AFFS was not an outdoor display, AFFS+ adds reflective areas to what is essentially a transmissive design, and also adds special polarizers and cell design optimized to reduce surface reflectance. As a result, AFFS+ screens are bright and vibrant indoors while being amazingly vibrant and readable outdoors, combining the best of both worlds better than any of the older transflective displays can.

One problem we faced when reviewing this latest version of the Motion F5 was that the original was already so good. The Hydis AFFS display with Motion's View Anywhere technology on our "old" F5 was already excellent, and so the difference between it and the latest AFFS+ with all the trimmings was not as large as it would have been comparing the new F5 with a standard display.

That said, below are some comparison shots. The first picture shows the new (black housing) and the older F5 (gray housing) side by side outdoors, facing away from the sun. The first thing you notice is that, at full brightness, the new display is considerably brighter. That can make a difference in readability.

The two comparison shots below show the machines in bright daylight, but in a shaded setting. The shots again show the brightness advantage of the new display. They also show that both displays control screen reflections fairly well, with the old one having more anti-glare treatment. Anti-glare is a mixed blessing as it often simply diffuses light, making the display milky and unreadable. The picture immediately below, taken from the left, shows almost no reflection and a bit of anti-glare muting on the older display.

A picture from the right shows considerably more reflection. Both displays remain readable, but while the older display mutes the reflections, they are more pronounced in the newer one. Both displays have a glossy surface, but the display treatment is clearly different. "Glossy" screens usually "pop" more, but their sharp reflections can mess with our brains that have a tendency to fill in missing detail so that it becomes more difficult to concentrate on what is actually on the display.

Below are the two systems outdoors in the shade, photographed from about a 30-degree angle. This is where a standard LCD would start showing color shifts. The Motion displays remain completely readable, with the new AFFS+ F5 once again being considerably brighter.

Below are the two displays facing directly into the sun. You can tell the reflective qualities of the LCDs by the fact that you can still see what is on the display (a regular transmissive display would wash out completely). You'd have to be an optical engineer to explain how and why the sun reflects in such different ways.

The picture below shows macro excerpts of each display. There is a surprisingly large difference in color, vibrancy and perceived resolution. Although both screens had XGA resolution, the new display looks much crisper and sharper. This probably accounts for the overall crisper and brighter appearance of the new AFFS+ display.

The unique design of the F5 makes it both easy to use and requires a bit of re-learning.

After having used a number of Tablet PCs that combined an active digitizer with a touch screen, I miss not having touch capability. On the other hand, Motion's experience shows in the way they mounted the display. The glass cover extends about 1/6th of an inch beyond the LCD, and even the glass isn't recessed deeply. Why is that important? Because it allows you to move the tip of the pen past the edge of the display. That is often necessary to manipulate objects near the edge of the display. It seems like a small thing, but it's very important for ease-of-use.

Even with the new U7500 processor the F5 is not a speed demon. It is, however, fast enough, even with Windows 7. The F5 does have a small fan neatly built into the upper left corner. It doesn't come on often and runs fairly quietly, but the F5 does heat up.

The battery is recessed into the backside of the F5 (see picture to the right). It is held in place with a simple springloaded lever that opens a bit too easily for my taste. The battery is not hot-replaceable.

To activate the 2-megapixel camera you push a small button on the right side. It takes about three seconds for the camera to be ready. Push the camera button again to take a picture. There is a small illuminator that can help in low light conditions. Unfortunately, the string tether for the pen is anchored within an inch of the lens. If you use the tether it'll get in the way unless you consciously keep it out of the way.

The fingerprint scanner is also located on the right side. It is small and innocuous, and its position on the side makes scans simple.

A small button on the top right of the F5 activates RFID and/or the bar code scanner.

The "Motion Dashboard" is one of those handy utilities fairly common to tablet computers where you don't have a keyboard to quickly do things. The Motion Dashboard handles display settings, audio settings, pen and tablet settings, wireless, power options, and security.

Like on a digital camera, almost all hardware buttons are combined in a small area that includes a navigation diamond and four buttons. Hitting "A" searches for RFID tags. Hitting the "B" button does a barcode scan.

Like the C5, the F5 does neither have any onboard connectors nor any expansion slots. This made sense in the C5's healthcare settings, but the lack of connectivity and card slots may be more of an issue in common field use where USB or moving/saving data is often a necessity. As is, you either use the dock or the F5's wireless capabilities to communicate.

The new Hydis AFFS+ display is simply stunning. The screen remains perfectly readable from any angle and any direction, without any color shifts whatsoever. Outdoor viewability is excellent, and the screen is noticeably brighter and more vibrant than the already good display used on earlier versions of the F5. The new display is also much less smudge- and fingerprint-prone.

The F5 is handy, competent and rugged enough to make you forget that the platform was originally conceived as a medical tablet to be used in clinical environments. A lot of the qualities that matter there (light weight, carry handle, scanner, RFID, easy to clean, no exposed ports, etc.) are also appreciated in a mobile field computer.

There are, however, a few things that would come in handy in the field, such as a dual-mode digitizer that includes a touch screen, longer battery life, and at least a USB port or SD card slot. As is, you cannot venture too far from a charging/connectivity dock.