Rugged vehicle mount computer gets major technology and functionality upgrade
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

On February 1, 2012, Intermec announced the Intermec CV61 Fixed Vehicle Mount Computer, which represents a very significant technology update to the company's still available CV60. For quite some time, the CV60 had been one of Intermec's tried and true vehicle mount computers for deployment not only in vehicles, but also trailers, fork lifts, loading docks or warehouse floors. The emphasis for the product was on providing ready access to information via a reliable, touchscreen driven computer that could operate in a variety of adverse environments. The CV60 had a 12.1-inch SVGA (800 x 600 pixel) display that could be ordered, depending on its intended application, with a daylight-readable option or a heated display option. The housing was cast magnesium and the entire unit was sealed to IP65 specifications, which means it was totally protected against dust and also low pressure water jets from all directions.

The CV61 looks the same, but also moves the platform into a different direction and onto a different level. While the CV60 could run either Windows CE or Windows XP on an older 800MHz Intel P-III processor, the CV61 does away with Windows CE and runs either Windows XP Pro or Windows 7 Pro on a 1.8GHz Intel Atom D425 chip.

To provide the necessary resolution for these more comprehensive operating platforms and their more complex software applications, the CV61 offers full 1024 x 768 XGA resolution instead of just 800 x 600 SVGA on its large 12.1-inch display. Screen brightness has gone up, too, from 300 nits to 500 nits. And there's an optional screen defroster that extends the lower limit of the already very wide operating temperature range from -4 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tech advances extend into wireless where the CV61 has dual band 801.11a/b/g/n WiFi instead of just single band b/g. There's also Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR Class 1.5 with a 30 meter range, and an SDHC card slot for up to 32GB cards. As before, customers can collect data by using a tethered (serial or USB) or Bluetooth handheld scanner or an RFID reader.

On the ruggedness front, sealing has been improved from IP65 to IP66, which means that, as before, the device is completely sealed against dust, but it can now also handle strong water jets of water from all directions, so pressure-washing is now possible.

The CV61 has two serial ports for tethered/legacy peripherals as well as two USB ports, a CAN-BUS SAE J1939 port, a PS/2 port for an optional external keyboard and an RJ45 Ethernet port.

What all of this means is that anyone who liked the Intermec CV60 will love the faster, brighter and more versatile CV61. What's more, the new model is completely compatible with CV60 mounting, cabling, keyboards, trays, scanners and printers.