Motion Computing J3400 Supplementary Manual
On March 16, 2009, Motion Computing introduced
the Motion J3400 Tablet PC. Unlike the sequence of
technology upgrades we’ve seen over the years to the
company’s LE platform, the J3400 is an entirely new
design. This is Motion's first machine with a “wide”
aspect ratio display. It is also significantly faster and
more power efficient, has longer battery life, more
integrated communications options, and shows an
increased emphasis on durable, rugged design. In
essence, the J3400 builds on the experience Motion
Computing has gained in building top-notch general
purpose tablet computers, but moves forward into
new form factors and technologies.
the Motion J3400 Tablet PC. Unlike the sequence of
technology upgrades we’ve seen over the years to the
company’s LE platform, the J3400 is an entirely new
design. This is Motion's first machine with a “wide”
aspect ratio display. It is also significantly faster and
more power efficient, has longer battery life, more
integrated communications options, and shows an
increased emphasis on durable, rugged design. In
essence, the J3400 builds on the experience Motion
Computing has gained in building top-notch general
purpose tablet computers, but moves forward into
new form factors and technologies.
The Motion J3400: Overview
Here are the highlights of Motion Computing’s new
J3400 Tablet PC:
J3400 Tablet PC:
I
The Motion J3400 is a brand-new design as of
early 2009.
I
It’s a sleek, elegant machine that measures 12.7 x
9.1 x 0.9 and weighs 4.2 pounds.
I
The machine runs Windows Vista Business and
there is a Windows XP downgrade option.
I
This is Motion’s first machine with a “wide” 12.1-
inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio.
I
The superb 1280 x 800 pixel Hydis display has
essentially a full 180 degree viewing angle from
all directions.
all directions.
I
Motion’s optional UltraView Anywhere option
provides very good sunlight viewability.
I
Intel Centrino 2 technology with ultra-low volt-
age SU9300/9400 processors provides significant-
ly higher performance than the predecessor
model.
ly higher performance than the predecessor
model.
I
The machine is almost totally silent and barely
heats up.
I
There is a SIM slot and optional GOBI WWAN
and GPS
I
Integrated 2-megapixel camera can take
time/date and GPS-stamped documentation
pictures.
pictures.
I
Battery capacity is 55% larger than in predecessor
LE1700 model, and battery life is significantly
longer.
longer.
I
The J3400 has IP52 sealing and can handle 3-foot
drops.
I
Pricing starts at US$2,299, with a maxed-out
configuration at US$3,146.
The big picture
While many companies try different things and
often lose focus in the process, Austin, Texas, based
Motion Computing does one thing, and one thing
only, and that is making Tablet PCs. They’ve done
that since 2002 when Motion was created to build
the best possible Tablet PC slate, taking on market
leader Fujitsu in the process. Few gave them much
of a chance to succeed, but succeed they did thanks
to a combination of business sense, laser-sharp
focus on what matters, and great products.
often lose focus in the process, Austin, Texas, based
Motion Computing does one thing, and one thing
only, and that is making Tablet PCs. They’ve done
that since 2002 when Motion was created to build
the best possible Tablet PC slate, taking on market
leader Fujitsu in the process. Few gave them much
of a chance to succeed, but succeed they did thanks
to a combination of business sense, laser-sharp
focus on what matters, and great products.
Motion’s new flagship computer is similar in
terms of size and weight to the existing LE1700
platform, though a bit longer and narrower due to
the switch to the wide aspect ratio screen. Weight
increased a bit, primarily due to more battery power.
It's a sleek, nicely designed piece of equipment that's
less than an inch thick.
platform, though a bit longer and narrower due to
the switch to the wide aspect ratio screen. Weight
increased a bit, primarily due to more battery power.
It's a sleek, nicely designed piece of equipment that's
less than an inch thick.
Switching to an ultra-low power version of Intel’s
Core 2 Duo processor allowed Motion to pack very
good performance. The machine runs silently
without ever heating up much and you’d swear it
runs without a fan (it does have a tiny one). The new
processors are part of Intel’s Centrino 2 platform
that also includes Intel’s GS45/ICH9M chipset, and
the WiFi Link 5300 802.11a/b/g/draft-n module.
good performance. The machine runs silently
without ever heating up much and you’d swear it
runs without a fan (it does have a tiny one). The new
processors are part of Intel’s Centrino 2 platform
that also includes Intel’s GS45/ICH9M chipset, and
the WiFi Link 5300 802.11a/b/g/draft-n module.
On the graphics side, the J3400 uses the Mobile
Intel GMA 4500MD with up to 256MB of dynamic
video memory. Our test machine ran Vista Business
and used a 64GB Solid State Disk. The base configu-
ration comes with 2GB of 800MHz DDR3 memory.
You can upgrade that to a maximum of 4GB via
video memory. Our test machine ran Vista Business
and used a 64GB Solid State Disk. The base configu-
ration comes with 2GB of 800MHz DDR3 memory.
You can upgrade that to a maximum of 4GB via
internal slots. Mass storage now comes in the form
of an 80 or 120GB 5400rpm 1.8-inch SATA hard disk
or the aforementioned optional Solid State Disk.
of an 80 or 120GB 5400rpm 1.8-inch SATA hard disk
or the aforementioned optional Solid State Disk.
On the power side, there are now two Lithium-
Ion batteries. They are hot-swappable and Motion
expects a maximum of over seven hours of battery
life between charges.
expects a maximum of over seven hours of battery
life between charges.
The display has a Wacom electromagnetic digi-
tizer made easier to use with a totally flush-mount-
ed display. Input and operation is via pen, direction-
al pad, onscreen keyboard or input panel, external
mouse and keyboard, or any combination thereof.
ed display. Input and operation is via pen, direction-
al pad, onscreen keyboard or input panel, external
mouse and keyboard, or any combination thereof.
Increased performance
Everyone wants as much speed and power as possi-
ble. In computers that means a machine that is
speedy and responsive and has enough punch to
crunch through the type of work we need for it to
do. Unfortunately, in mobile devices that is far more
difficult to accomplish than in desktops or big
notebooks that spend most of their lives plugged
into a power outlet. Since mobile computers run the
same operating systems and applications as desk-
tops, mobile computing designers have their work
cut out for them. They need to provide enough
power for the machine to run reasonably fast, but
without incurring penalties in the form of excessive
heat generation or unacceptably short battery life.
That is a very hard task.
ble. In computers that means a machine that is
speedy and responsive and has enough punch to
crunch through the type of work we need for it to
do. Unfortunately, in mobile devices that is far more
difficult to accomplish than in desktops or big
notebooks that spend most of their lives plugged
into a power outlet. Since mobile computers run the
same operating systems and applications as desk-
tops, mobile computing designers have their work
cut out for them. They need to provide enough
power for the machine to run reasonably fast, but
without incurring penalties in the form of excessive
heat generation or unacceptably short battery life.
That is a very hard task.
What Motion did is switching to Intel’s latest
ultra-low voltage Centrino 2 technology that in-
cludes either the 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo SU9400 or the
cludes either the 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo SU9400 or the
SPECIAL REVIEW
Motion J3400
TABLET PC PIONEER RELEASES A POWERFUL, VERSATILE NEW MACHINE
Rugged
PC
review.com
by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer; photography by Carol Cotton
Motion_J3400:Layout 1 4/1/09 3:34 PM Page 1