14 DAY TRIAL // There haven't been many, if any, x86-based tablets powered by quad-core processors yet, none that actually succeeded, sales-wise, but Winmate seeks to change that with the new M101B.
The M101B is a 10.1-inch tablet which is not tough enough to meet the Class 1 Division 2 ruggedness rating (C1D2 for short).
It means that the M101B cannot produce heat or spark strong enough to set off explosives, or even explosive atmospheres.
That's a common hazard in places with concentrated hydrogen, esters, hydrocarbons and acetylene, like after chemical/gas spills.
We can definitely say that this is a totally different ruggedness standard than the type we normally encounter on the tablet market.
“Rugged” usually means that it's the environment that the tablet is trying to protect itself from, not that it's the environment that needs protecting. Granted, “environment” can only loosely describe atmospheres filled with flammable gas, but still.
Anyway, an Intel Bay Trail 1.83 GHz quad-core N2930 processor acts as both the heart and the brain of the Winmate M101B.
There are 64 GB of NAND Flash storage inside, as well as 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technologies.
Moreover, Winmate has included a 2-megapixel camera on the front and a 5 MP one on the back, plus 1D/2D barcode and RFID readers.
Add to that a 700-nits IPS LCD of 10.1 inches (and resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels) and you have a pretty well rounded spec sheet.
And while we did say that the primary concern was protecting the environment from potential explosions, that doesn't mean that the M101B isn't tough. It's sealed to IP65 and meets MIL-STD-810G standards in fact, meaning that it can shrug off 4-foot drops, vibration and most shocks (hits, bumps, being accidentally bashed with a crowbar, that sort of thing).
All in all, the Winmate M101B weighs 2.6 pounds / 1.2 kilos. Sadly, the price isn't known, though customers from the HazLoc market (hazardous locations) probably won't be too skittish around a large figure as normal consumers. The tablet runs Windows 8.1 and features 3G or 4G LTE (you get to choose, and it works on any carrier, or should).
"With its C1D2 certification, the M101B is the ideal solution for the HazLoc market as it combines the best features of our popular M970D with an advanced processor and graphics for unmatchable performance," said Khalid Kidari, vice president of Winmate.
"This is the first rugged tablet to combine such an advanced processor, operating system and long-term support. It was developed as a mobile, enterprise-ready solution for industries ranging from transportation and logistics, supply chain, field service, warehouse, retail, and healthcare applications."