It's been a solid tick since we heard a peep from Motion Computing, but nearly a year after we first wrapped our paws around the firm's C5 medical tablet, the F5 has arrived. Granted, this bugger is more suited for service industries and field work than the ER, but its "semi-rugged" nature ensures that it'll get the job done almost anywhere. Packed within the IP54-compliant (read: dust, water, shock and temperature resistant) chassis is a 1.2GHz Intel Centrino U1400 processor, 10.4-inch XGA (1,024 x 768) View Anywhere display, 40GB HDD (optional 32GB SSD available), built-in 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth, WWAN (EV-DO) support and a 2-megapixel camera for good measure. Additionally, you'll spot an optional barcode reader, integrated RFID reader / passive tag, a biometric scanner, three USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, VGA output and a battery good for about 3.5 hours of usage. Unfortunately, such a well-spec'd Slate PC won't come cheap, as this creature will set you back a stiff $2,699 to $4,000 depending on configuration.

Update: Check out videos of the F5 surviving a brutal drop test and enjoying the rain after the jump.

You don't have to look far outside of the Eastern District of Texas to find yourself a fresh patent infringement case, and sure enough, that's precisely where this one was filed. Getting dinged up today is none other than the Round Rock powerhouse and Motion Computing, both of which are being sued for so-called willful infringement on Typhoon Touch Technologies / Nova Mobility Systems touch panel patents. Apparently, the two defendants are being accused of profiting off of two particular patents without paying the plaintiffs their respective royalties, and the lawsuit is seeking to "enjoin Dell and Motion Computing from the continued violation of [the] patents" while also extracting a presumably hefty sum of cash. No specific products are blamed, but we're told that the patents cover technology used in tablet PCs, slate PCs, handheld PCs, UMPCs, PDAs and a host of other gear.

It was only a pre-production model, but we managed to get hands-on with the C5, that medical-centric Tablet PC that Motion Computing announced about a month ago. Obviously meant for healthcare professionals rather than regular consumers, but the C5 is definitely one fine-looking machine. Click on the gallery for a handful of hands-on shots.

Sure, we pretty much had it all from the FCC's mouth, but now Motion Computing has come clean about its new LE1700 slate tablet, along with pretty pictures and a couple new deets. First off, prices start at $2200 for 1.5GHz Core 2 Duo and $2000 for 1.2GHz ULV Core Solo versions of the tablet. Options for built-in EV-DO and view anywhere or WriteTouch (finger touchable) 12.1-inch SXGA+ displays will jack the price, and the standard 512MB of RAM will need a considerable boost to handle pre-loaded Vista. Potential accessories include the pictured convertible keyboard and a USB keyboard with a touchpad built-in. If you're not ready for Vista, or not ready to spring for a RAM upgrade, Windows XP Tablet PC is also an option. Luckily, a/b/g WiFi comes standard, as do plenty of other laptop frills, and there's a good amount of room to grow here -- up to 4GB of RAM and an optional 7 hour extended battery.

[Via Laptop Mag; thanks Rob B]

Thanks to GottaBeMobile, we've just learned of a pretty high end Tablet PC from Motion Computing called the LE1700, which features, among other goodies, a 1.5GHz Core 2 Duo processor and 12.1-inch SXGA+ display. These specs alone would make the unannounced slate pretty exciting, but Motion's also throwing in a fingerprint reader, built-in accelerometer, dual-mode digitizer, and three wireless radios: a/b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, and hottest of all, HSDPA mobile broadband. We'd love to drop a price and release date on you too, but seeing how all this info is courtesy of the FCC, that just ain't gonna be possible. Stay tuned, though -- we're sure this tablet will be popping up again.

Update: For the nigglers out there, this model can also be configured with a Core Solo processor, and both low-power CPU's should provide you with satisfactory battery life.

[Via GottaBeMobile]

Although we sincerely hope your only encounter with a clinical assistant tablet PC comes by way of your occupation, it looks like Motion Computing is busting out a medically-focused device to help the dear LPNs keep things in order for the high-falutin' doctors. The C5 touts a vertically centered design, top-mounted carry handle, handwriting recognition, built-in digital camera for documenting wounds, time-stamp / voice-tag capabilities, and even an optional RFID reader to easily check patients in by scanning their wrist straps. Claiming to be the world's first device in the new mobile clinical assistant (MCA) category of PCs, it packs a 1.2GHz Intel Core Solo U1400 processor, Windows Vista Business or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, a 10.4-inch XGA touchscreen, up to 1.5GB of DDR2 RAM, 30 / 60GB 1.8-inch hard drive options, 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, and a rechargeable Li-ion to boot. Furthermore, it weighs in at just 3.1-pounds, so toting this bad boy around the office shouldn't be too much of a burden, and the "durable, semi-sealed enclosure" shouldn't have any issues handling the daily mishaps of your average doctor's lounge. So if you've been looking for a way to digitize your office and get far, far away from those paper-filled drawers, we're sure your IT rep will be hitting you up soon to sneak a peek at this $2,199 tablet.

[Via GottaBeMobile]

Intel took the wraps off some of its latest handiwork yesterday, showing off plans for a new mobile computing platform for healthcare professionals at its Developers Forum in San Francisco. The platform, dubbed the mobile clinical assistant, is designed to streamline the work-flow of doctors and nurses, letting them digitally record patient's vital signs, progress charts, and prescription information on specially-designed tablet PCs, and wirelessly transfer that information to pharmacists or anyone else that needs to check up on your vitals. Anything in the way of specific details are still pretty vague at the moment, but the first devices based on the platform are set to be developed by Motion Computing and introduced in the first half of 2007. Among the possibilities for the devices are RFID-scanning to identify patients (better pack that tinfoil hat for your next hospital visit), barcode scanning for prescriptions, and integrated digital cameras. We're all for improving healthcare through technology but, to be honest, we'd kinda like to have a couple of these around Engadget HQ for ourselves -- especially given the spill-proof, drop-tolerant casing.

[Via Geekzone]