Advantech Introduces Unusual Sealed Panel PC; For Medical Imaging, Control, Customer Service and Other Touchscreen Applications.

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 5, 2000

In a departure from its other Panel PC and touchscreen PC products, Advantech Technologies Inc. has housed its new PPC-A84T Modularized Panel PC in a sealed cast aluminum enclosure.

In addition to allowing the new system to operate in factories and other less than perfect environments, the case acts as a huge heat sink. A "heat pipe" draws energy from the already efficient Cyrix GXM processor, and strategically placed louvers in the back of the case help dissipate whatever heat is generated.

The resulting design needs no fan if the PC can be kept in an open space, making it quieter as well as more reliable. (The sealed design will also be appreciated in hospital operating rooms and in integrated circuit production clean rooms.)

The PPC-A84T is approximately 8.5 by 11 inches, and 3 inches deep. The power supply, hard drive, and video capture card are all plug-in modules which fit within the case but can be easily replaced in the field. The standard unit's face holds an 8.4 inch touchscreen, making it ideal for point of sale terminals and public information kiosks, among other applications. A non-touchscreen model will also be available.

The Cyrix GXM processor can be supported with up to 64MB of RAM, a CompactFlash(TM) card, a floppy disk, hard drive, and PCMCIA adapter. The unit also has built-in 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, two COM ports, two USB ports, one parallel, audio in/out, a PCI/ISA expansion slot and a keyboard connector.

The standard touchscreen PPC-A84T is priced at $2,250, with 32MB SODIMM, 2.1GB hard drive and Windows 98, in 100-unit quantities. Evaluation units are available immediately; production units will be available very shortly. If desired, Windows CE can be pre-installed on production units and the appropriate licensing provided.

About Advantech

Advantech Technologies Inc. is a PC automation company with headquarters in Irvine. The firm is a part of Advantech Co. Ltd., which has operations in the United States, Taiwan, Germany, Italy, Benelux, Hungary, Japan, China and Singapore. Advantech Technologies produces embedded PCs and Panel PCs which are manufactured under ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 certified processes.

For more information about the company, its Panel PCs, or embedded computer products, contact Chris Locke at 15375 Barranca Pkwy., Suite A-106, Irvine, 92618, 949/789-7178 (ext. 127), fax [phone], or at www.advantech.com.

Note to Editors: Cyrix is a trademark of Cyrix Corp. Windows CE is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. Any other tradenames used are the property of their holders.