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XPLORE INTRODUCES IX104 RENEGADE DUAL MODE TABLET PC.

PC Business Products • March 1, 2004 •

Xplore Technologies Corp. (TSX: XPL), an international developer, producer and distributor of rugged wireless Tablet PC computer systems, has introduced the industry's first rugged Dual Mode Tablet PC, the iX104RD Renegade Dual Mode, a durable mobile computer that offers users both active stylus and finger touch input in a single product offering.

The combination of both digitizers provides customers both the accuracy and digital inking capabilities of an active digitizer and the convenience of a true finger touch resistive input panel. Additionally, complementing Xplore's recently introduced iX104R Renegade Tablet PC, the iX104RD Renegade Dual Mode offers a new level of value based durability that matches the growing mobile computing needs of enterprise and industrial customers worldwide. With a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of US $3,145, the iX104RD offers enhanced dual mode functionality along with the optimal blend of durability, reliability, performance and value for Tablet PC customers. More challenging requirements for fully rugged Tablet PCs are met by Xplore's iX104TD All Terrain Dual Mode model which has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of US $4,145.

The iX104RD provides multiple benefits to enterprise and vertical market clients seeking to implement Tablet PC systems. As an increasing number of job functions and tasks are handled by mobile based personnel, the functionality of mobile computing tools needs to keep pace. The iX104RD provides users the ability to use either an active stylus for applications that require digital inking or greater accuracy and finger touch input for more utility-centric input requirements. As an example, many customers want the ability to use Finger Touch while the iX104RD is docked or vehicle based to assist with navigation and dispatch tasks and then be able to use the active Stylus/Pen once they leave the vehicle and carry out a mobile application such as data gathering, location mapping and information sharing requirements. The iX104RD provides both options thereby providing the best of both abilities to users extending the value equation for the Tablet PC.

The second advantage the iX104RD Dual Mode offers is its ability to be adapted to the needs of large companies that seek tablet PCs but are faced with multiple computing standards. The iX104RD Dual Mode system ships standard with the Windows Tablet PC XP operating system; however, it can be pre-configured with Windows 2000 Professional. This allows enterprise clients, whose current corporate standards mandate Windows 2000 as their operating system, to upgrade to the Windows Tablet PC operating system at some point in the future, without repurchasing or investing in additional hardware or software. Effectively, enterprise clients buy one piece of hardware that is compatible with both present day and future needs with a single investment.

In addition, many vertical market and enterprise clients with mission critical applications want to have the insurance of two digitizers so in the event of the loss or damage to the active digital pen, a user can easily convert to touch input and maintain operational status.

Andrew Dixon, director of marketing for Tablet PC at Microsoft, believes Xplore's rugged Dual Mode system will assist customers in advancing their adoption of Tablet PC as a company standard. "Many of our customers, specifically in the areas of manufacturing, law enforcement and the military, will see immediate benefits from being able to deploy rugged dual functionality Tablet PC systems. Effectively, they have the choice of their preferred input method while at the same time expanding the functionality of their systems as they deploy into varying sub-applications within their organization."

Brian Groh, president and chief executive officer of Xplore, noted that Xplore's introduction of the Dual Mode Tablet PC is in direct response to feedback from vertical market and enterprise customers seeking expanded functionality and insurance against the potential of misplaced active pens. "Users simply toggle between the active and resistive/touch digitizer via the onboard keypad for instant availability. This system is the first rugged Dual Mode available in the industry and we believe customers will derive immediate operational benefits. The introduction of the iX104RD Dual Mode continues our strategy to develop and deploy systems that allow 'Mobile Computing Warriors' to operate optimally in their work applications while at the same time being rugged matched to meet the durability demands, as these workers are typically mobile and/or expose their portable computing systems to a range of challenging environmental or application conditions."

The iX104RD Renegade Dual Mode product ships standard with Intel's Pentium M Ultra Low Voltage 866 MHz processor; an active and resistive digitizer, 256 MB of RAM; 20GB Hard Drive; 4500mAh battery; meets MIL-STD-810F; IP54 Rated; and a one-year warranty. MSRP on the iX104RD Renegade is US $3,145. Build-to-Order options such as wireless WAN, LAN and GPS options are individually priced and can be added to the basic iX104RD Renegade) Dual Mode at the time of order.

The iX104RD Renegade Dual Mode and iX104TD All Terrain models are currently available to order. In order to address the expanded customer set for Xplore's rugged Tablet PC systems, Xplore is currently growing its distribution relation ships and is evaluating qualifying distributors and systems integrators worldwide.

About Xplore Technologies

Xplore Technologies Corp, founded in 1996, is a provider of the rugged pen-based mobile wireless computer. Xplore, which is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TSX: XPL, has offices in Austin Texas, Toronto Canada and Helsinki Finland. Xplore's diverse customer base comes from the public safety, retail and wholesale warehousing, utility, military, field service, marine and transportation industries.

Xplore Technologies can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.xploretech.com.

For more information, call 312/943-1100.


COPYRIGHT 2004 Worldwide Videotex Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
Copyright 2004, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.
NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.


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