Aaeon announced an 18.5-inch panel PC that looks and works like an overgrown tablet. The ACP-5815 has a capacitive touchscreen with two-point multitouch, a choice of Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, CompactFlash and hard disk storage, a Mini PCI expansion slot, plus an optional camera and RFID reader, according to the company.

The majority of panel PCs still have resistive touchscreens, and certainly don't look or behave like the iPad or other popular tablet computers. Aaeon's ACP-5185 (right), however, has a capacitive touchscreen with a hard surface and a relatively slim bezel.

If this concept sounds familiar, that's because Aaeon released an Intel Atom D510-powered version of the device as the ACP-5182 back in June. The ACP-5185 is instead offered with Core i5 or i7 processors, though the company doesn't detail which either on the device's data sheet or product page.

According to Aaeon, the 18.5-inch device again offers single-point touch when running Windows XP or the Fedora version of Linux, and two-point multitouch when running Windows 7. The ACP-5185's screen provides 1366 x 768 pixel resolution and a 300-nit brightness rating, the company adds.

Featuring a bezel that's sealed against liquids and dust to the IP65 standard, the APC-5185 also has a chassis that's IPX1-rated. "You can pour water over all six sides of the panel PC, and nothing will happen to it," product manager Alex Hsueh is quoted as saying.

The ACP-5185 also includes two gigabit Ethernet ports, two serial ports (one RS232, one RS232/422/485), and six USB 2.0 ports (two on the side, four on the rear), according to Aaeon. It's further said the device can drive an external VGA monitor and includes an audio line output.

Aaeon's ACP-5185

An optional RFID reader is located on the left side of the display, as pictured above. Also orderable is a 1.3 megapixel webcam and a magnetic stripe reader, says the company.

According to Aaeon, the ACP-5185 can withstand shocks of 15G (peak, 11ms duration). Operating range of the fanless device is spec'd from 32 to 104 deg. F.

Specifications listed by Aaeon for the ACP-5185 include:

• Processor — Intel Core i5 or Core i7 (models and clock speeds n/s)
• Chipset — Intel QM57 Express
• Memory — up to 8GB of DDR3 memory in dual SODIMM slots
• Storage — internal CompactFlash slot and 2.5-inch SATA hard disk drive
• Display:
  • 18.5-inch, with 1366 x 768 pixel resolution
  • capacitive touchscreen
  • 300-nit brightness rating
• Camera — 1.3 megapixel webcam (optional)
• Expansion — 1 x Mini PCI Express
• Networking — 2 x gigabit Ethernet
• Other I/O:
  • 1 x VGA
  • 2 x serial (1 x RS232/422/485, 1 x RS232)
  • 6 x USB 2.0 (2 on side, 4 rear)
  • audio — line out
• Power — 12VDC @ 70W via AC adapter
• Dimensions — 18.11 x 12.2 x 2.48 inches
• Weight — n/s

Further information

Aaeon did not cite pricing or availability information for the ACP-5185, but the device appears to be on sale now. More information may be found on the ACP-5185 product page.

Jonathan Angel can be reached at [email protected] and followed at www.twitter.com/gadgetsense.

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