Compact rugged convertible offers power, versatility
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

On May 22, 2012, DRS Technologies, Inc. announced that its Tactical Systems division has expanded its product portfolio with two new, thin, lightweight tablets and also with a rugged convertible tablet, the X12kb. While DRS calls it a tablet, the "kb" in its name may stand for "keyboard" and the X12kb can indeed be used both as a notebook or as a tablet. To go from one to the other you simply rotate the screen and then fold it down flat onto the keyboard, LCD facing up.

What is the X12kb, and what audience does it play to? In essence a hybrid device that seeks to combine the advantages of a tablet and a notebook. It's a compromise, of course, but one that has had a modest but enduring fan base ever since the concept made its entrance at the 2002 introduction of the Microsoft championed Tablet PC.

Used as a notebook, the 5.4 pound X12kb is quite compact and handy. It has a high quality 12.1-inch 1280 x 800 pixel screen that is large enough for almost any kind of work, and it has Intel Core i5 performance that's up to almost any task. There is good onboard connectivity, a very good full-scale keyboard, a built-in carry handle, and battery life is adequate (it can be doubled to about eight hours with an optional secondary battery). About the only thing missing from your typical notebook experience is an optical drive.

Converted into a tablet, the X12kb offers a larger screen and higher resolution than most rugged tablets on the market. The transmissive display has a fairly strong backlight (400 nits) and uses optical treatments to offers very good outdoor viewability and reflection control. Since field use may require both precision control as well as the ability to operate the tablet with gloves on, DRS implemented an autosense dual-mode that has both a digitizer pen and resistive touch capability. This being a hybrid device, however, the X12kb is significantly heavier than iPads and the like.

On the ruggedness front, the X12kb can hold its own with a sturdy magnesium alloy case and chassis that provide good impact protection, including 4-foot drops. While all ports have protective plugs and covers, this device is designed to handle the minor spills and splashes that can happen on outdoor jobs, as opposed to offering full sealing. The wide operating temperature range means the X12kb can be used almost everywhere.

Customers can opt for either a rotating hard disk or solid state storage, both using a SATA interface and both offering quick release design. There's also a one button stealth mode that instantly shuts down all lights and sounds.