Feb/March 2007

A attractive new range of truck-mounted terminals from Psion Teklogix offers the potentially useful feature of being able to run warehouse management system software relatively unmodified on a mobile basis.

This is possible because the range runs the full Windows XP operating system, which can be either hard disk-based (Professional version) or in solid-state memory (Embedded version). The embedded option is considered appropriate where a hard disk might be damaged by shocks or vibration - though the 20GB disk offered is in any case built to automotive specification.

The two models in the range, the 8580 and 8590, are both based on the industrial XTX processor board standard, which is said to make them highly compatible with Psion Teklogix wireless backbone systems and rugged mobile devices, as well as with other wireless LAN solutions.

The 8590 has high-resolution 12.1-inch XGA (1024 by 768) screen, while the 8580 has a large 10.4 inch SVGA display that is said to be readable in all lighting conditions including direct sunlight. Resistive analogue touch-screen technology is used.

 

Both units are offered as standard with an 800MHz Intel Celeron processor, with a 1GHz version available as an option. Standard RAM is 512 MB, and CF card storage of up to 4GB is available on the embedded version. Connectivity is offered via PCI Express mini-card-based 802.11b/g wireless networking.

Temperatures between minus 10 and plus 50 deg C are supported, and cold-store options working down to minus 30 deg C are available.

Various keyboard, scanners and RFID readers are listed among optional extras.