Notebook Review News Flash - HP Unveils Rugged Notebook, Tablet PC

NotebookReview.com/NEWS UPDATE:

HP Drives Mobile Computing Into New Terrain
with Rugged Notebook and Tablet PCs

Productivity from remote field locations moves into mainstream

PALO ALTO, Calif., March 18, 2004 – HP today entered the rugged PC market with the introduction of the HP Rugged Notebook nr3600 and the HP Rugged Tablet PC tr3000. Designed to withstand long-term vibration, rain, dust and extreme operating temperatures, these mobile PCs are ideal tools for users who often work in remote and demanding environments.

"Continental Airlines is enthusiastic about HP’s entry into the rugged device arena as we have a need for highly reliable, durable mobile computing products in our operational environments on a daily basis," said Doug Stewart, Continental Airlines Technology. "HP’s high level of service and value provides Continental with confidence about making an investment into mobile rugged computing."

"HP’s decision to introduce mobile rugged computing products is very timely and indicates the increasing importance of the category," said Randy Giusto, vice president, Personal Technologies and Services, IDC. "HP can bring its full spectrum of service and support to the rugged computing marketplace, allowing customers to benefit from an entire mobile solution optimized for durable, mobile computing in extreme environments."

The products are backed by thousands of people in HP’s global services organization to help simplify and support customers’ IT needs. Through HP’s rigorous compliance testing and proven designs, the HP Rugged Notebook and the HP Rugged Tablet PC set the industry standard in rugged reliability while delivering performance and durability. These products comply with the standard military specification for rugged (MIL-STD-810F) and offer an Ingress Protection rating of IP54, which specifies the environmental protection a device provides against liquids and solid objects, like rain and dust.

"After listening to customers in industries such as the public sector, government and law enforcement, we’re responding to their needs by bringing rugged, mobile solutions into the mainstream," said Ted Clark, vice president for notebook marketing, Personal Systems Group, HP. "Field technicians, utility repair people, police officers and firefighters are just a few of our customers who need reliable, rugged mobile products that can withstand harsh physical conditions while staying wirelessly connected."

The HP Rugged Notebook and Tablet PCs both offer excellent wireless features, including high-performance simultaneous wireless wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN) and personal area network (PAN). This gives mobile users more ways to stay connected while operating in less than ideal field environments by operating with three integrated radios (PAN, WLAN, WAN) simultaneously.

Additionally, HP rugged products provide an investment-protected wireless architecture. As a result customers can easily migrate to wireless LAN and WAN technologies that best meet their business needs without the need for expensive product re-work at a manufacturing facility. When considering total cost of ownership, the HP rugged mobile series devices are an ideal choice for wide deployment of mobile users.

About the HP Rugged Notebook nr3600

At just 7.9 pounds, the HP Rugged Notebook nr3600 is a balance of performance, mobility, wireless features and versatility to meet demanding needs in physically demanding environments. The product offers field users an ergonomic design, productivity-enhancing Outdoor Transmissive 12.1-inch display with (Passive) Touchscreen and a versatile MediaBay drive. IT managers will value the large portfolio of integrated wireless connectivity choices, including software that allows for seamless roaming connectivity capabilities for maximum flexibility to the mobile user.

The nr3600 is ideal for mounting in a vehicle or for operating in remote locations due to solid durability features such as a shock-mounted 2.5-inch 40-gigabyte or 80-gigabyte removable hard disk drive, a magnesium design and an IP54 rating.

In addition to the latest wireless technology options mentioned above, wireless communications features include Common Radio Module Architecture (CRMA) with fully integrated, rugged, user-replaceable radio module design. Enhancing the benefits of mobility, the nr3600 offers vehicle mounting and docking capabilities. This means mobile users can plug directly into the vehicle for power and use the vehicle antenna to boost signal strength.

In bright sunlight, the nr3600 incorporates XGA Outdoor Transmissive ColorVue® technology to make it easier to use. Operating outdoors in dark and extreme conditions is made easier with the fully waterproof, NiteVue® glow-in-the-dark keyboard, constructed from phosphorescent plastic or a backlit keyboard.

The HP Rugged Notebook nr3600 delivers all the performance and features of a full-function notebook. It includes: up to a 1.7-gigahertz Intel® Pentium® 4 processor, up to one gigabyte of memory, ATI Mobility Radeon graphics controller with 32-bit color rendering and 3D graphics, built-in jacks for integrated fax/modem and Ethernet connections, up to a three-year warranty on case parts, electrical components and connectors and a Smart 6000 lithium-ion main battery pack and measures 2.36 inches thick.

The HP Rugged Notebook nr3600 can be ordered with a full range of options and is available now for purchase throught the Web at www.hp.com starting at an estimated U.S. list price of $4,099.

Barry J. Doyle