Dec 06/Jan 07

If you're looking for an in-cab computer suitable for both on-board functions and operational use outside the vehicle, the new Raven TouchPC from TouchStar (now part of the UK's Belgravium group) could be just what you want.

The range has been designed primarily for in-cab mounting, yet has a quick-release cradle that allows it to be lifted out easily and used in stand-alone portable mode. At 750g, it's heavier than a handheld terminal, but is still perfectly usable on its own.

With the launch of this unit the company has moved from monochrome to a colour display for the first time in this sector. The Raven has an 800 by 480 pixel colour TFT touch screen, mounted in a case measuring 190mm by 135mm by 40mm. Dust and water resistance is to IP54 standard.

The main processor is an Intel XScale unit running at 400MHz, and the operating system is Windows CE.Net 5.0. Memory comes as 32 or 64Mb of SDRAM.

 

Connectivity can include almost any options you can think of, including a CANbus port in the vehicle cradle for interfacing with on-vehicle data systems. You get SD and CF memory card slots as standard, as well as a serial port (on the cradle) and USB ports. You can also specify GPS and GPRS wireless, and there is a slot for a Wi-Fi wireless network card.

Did we mention that the unit looks good too? It's easy to imagine it displaying easy-to-read satnav or operational data to the driver.