Motion introduces the CL900, a tablet built for the outdoors

January 4, 2011 By Jeffrey Van Camp

Motion is introducing the CL900, a tablet built to be dust, water, and splash resistant for outdoor business use.

Tablets are invading CES. Almost every major manufacturer seems to have its own iPad competitor in the works and Motion is no different. The company has unveiled its own finger-touch tablet with a twist: it’s built for the outdoors. With a thick, rubber-bumpered exterior and a tough Gorilla Glass screen, Motion CL900 is designed to be a tablet for the outdoors.

The device clocks in at about 8 hours of battery life and is powered by the upcoming Intel Atom “Oak Trail” 1.5GHz processor. It has 30GB and 60GB models (SSD), built-in Wi-Fi, 1-2 GB of RAM, an aluminum-alloy frame, and a 10.1-inch widescreen LED display designed to be visible even in the sun. While it can’t take a trip into the pool, it is water, dust, and splash resistant, according to representatives at CES. Its Gorilla Glass screen can also take a beating.

While Android is the hot operating system for many new tablets, Motion has chosen to stick with a modified version of Windows 7, a desktop operating system, on the CL900. Representatives at CES defended this decision, pointing out that the device’s main intention is to easily integrate with existing businesses that primarily run Windows 7 software and PCs. Stylus support and a number of peripherals and docks will also be available.

“Motion’s new CL900 will enable users to take advantage of connected applications, while also supporting uninterrupted productivity in remote or disconnected areas,” said David Altounian, Motion CEO, in a press release. “We’ve combined our trademark rugged design and robust solution set with the connectivity and portability of a tablet that is designed and built for business.”

At a CES press event, the tablet ran smoothly and appeared as rugged as described, but we couldn’t help but wish the operating system was a bit more intuitive.. It remains to be seen if Motion’s decision to stick with Windows 7 over touch operating systems like Android will pay off. The CL900 will run businesses about $1000, about twice the price of the iPad.

Showing 6 comments

Deano at 10:08pm 10th January 2011 I have been researching suitable tablets etc for my business for along time (stupidly got caught up in the hype and bought an ipad. Took it back two days later for a refund). I think that most people seem to be missing the obvious point when it comes to this particular manufacturer (Motion Computing, who have been producing tablets for over 10 years). This tablet, as with all of their tablets, is targeted at the business market. Consumption type tablets are great for their intended purpose, but try to use these in a business environment, and they are hopeless. I would say in all the ones i have looked at and tried, this brand of tablet is the only one that would be compatible with true business usage, especially if they have SharePoint environments etc. These also have the added bonus of running Windows 7 Pro, so it can be truly networked to join corporate domains etc. I wouldn't be stupid enough to rubbish the consumption type tablets as they are what they are. And so are these. Fun is fun and business is business.
1. Timmmmy at 6:26pm 12th January 2011 Is that you Jeremy?
Ian Bell at 11:43pm 4th January 2011 Why didn't they decide to go with Android on this one?
Mick at 7:19pm 4th January 2011 hmmm I was wondering what windows 7 is like for mobile devices. I had assumed that they would have built in all the functionality iOS and android have?? I'd love to go android, but I have to know that I can work with word & excel files etc.
1. alfasierra at 4:29am 5th January 2011 android has more programs that can read/edit word & excel files than MS does
2. @JeffreyVC at 7:41am 5th January 2011 It runs exactly how you'd expect a tablet version of Windows 7 to run. If you remember what Tablet PCs used to be like about 10 years ago, it's still a lot like that. I felt like a stylus would have been easier.