Psion shoehorns full feature set into compact package
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

In March of 2007, Psion Teklogix introduced a compact vehicle-mount tablet with integrated keyboard that is meant to provide a virtually full feature set in a small and lightweight frame with great functionality, good ergonomics, and the communications interfaces required of a modern mobile computer. The 8515, geared primarily towards warehouse and distribution centers as well as containers yards and such, uses a 312MHz XScale 270 processor to run embedded WIndows CE 5.0. It has a micro-SD slot to accommodate 128MB of Flash and also has 128MG of SDRAM. The 6.4-inch transmissive LCD has 640 x 480 resolution and uses a 5-wire resistive touch screen with anti-reflective coating.

For easy data entry there is a integrated 58-key alphanumeric keyboard with ten function keys. The device has a compact 8.25 x 8 inch footprint, is less than two inches thick, and weighs under three pounds.

Connectivity is provided via three USB ports (2 host, 1 client), a full function UART DE9 port for external devices, a CF Card slot, and the aforementioned non user-accessible micro-SD slot. For wireless, there is integrated 802.11b/g wireless LAN and Bluetooth.

The device has a very wide 14 to 122 degree Fahrenheit operating range, is sealed to IP65 standards, and passed the requisite shock, vibration, salt spray, humidity and other tests. It is RoHS compliant an can be optionally equipped with a cradle, USB to Ethernet adapter, a rugged push-to-talk speaker/microphone and an external bar code scanner. External RFID scanners and printers can, of course, also be added. On top of the standard WInMo software, optional offerings include terminal emulation, a browser, PTX Conect, remote device and network management, and a Psion Teklogix Mobile Devices SDK.