Rugged environments warrant rugged products. And, electronic gadgets rarely survive in physically demanding environments such as manufacturing and warehousing plants. With the launch of the Everest (aptly named!) by Glacier Computer, though, industrial computing will witness a radical transformation. A dust/moisture rating of IP56 makes this product ideal for fixed and mobile applications in these areas. The Everest runs on Windows XP Embedded, and the entire computer range is powered by a 600 MHz Celeron or 1.4 GHz Pentium M processor. With 1GB of DDR SDRAM, an option of 10.4 or 12.1 inch sunlight-readable SVGA 800×600-pixel LCD display with 5-wire resistive touchscreen, and an optional display heater, this device is the most complete product available for the manufacturing industry. The display heater ensures that the screen is clear even when the gadget is wheeled in and out of a freezer.
The Everest also features a built-in 10-60 VDC power supply with an intelligent UPS function. Data storage options include a 2.5 inch hard drive that comes with capacities of 40GB and above. Additionally, the Everest includes three USB 2.0 ports, 2 serial ports, an Ethernet LAN port, audio I/O, as well as PS/2 keyboard/mouse ports. With the gadget’s PCMCIA and mini PCI expansion slots, one can also use Bluetooth, 802.11 a/b/g WiFi, WAN or GPS. The Everest also offers a custom diagnostic and configuration utility that helps users to monitor processor temperature and other vital system readings in real-time.
Reports suggest that the Everest will be priced between $2900-$4200, depending on the options selected.
