Datasound Laboratories has announced four open-frame panel PCs intended for incorporation into kiosks. With screens from 6.4 to 15 inches, the LX800-LCD systems feature fanless operation, AMD Geode LX800 processors, up to 1GB of RAM, 10/100 Ethernet, four USB ports, and optional PCI-104 expansion, says Datasound.

(Click here for a larger view of the LX800-LCD)

As our photo suggests, the LX800-LCD systems are built into a metal frame that holds the display, ports, and 12VDC power input socket. At the back, the main board and cables leading to and from it are securely mounted, but otherwise unprotected. Therefore, any sort of permanent use would require the devices to be installed in a kiosk or other type of cabinet.

Datasound offers the LX800-LCD with a choice of four different touchscreen displays, as follows:

• A 6.4-inch screen with 300:1 contrast ratio and 640 x 480 resolution
  
• An 8.4-inch screen with a 350:1 contrast ratio and 800 x 800 resolution
  
• A 10.4-inch screen with a 500:1 contrast ratio and 800 x 600 resolution
  
• A 15-inch screen with a 400:1 contrast radio and 1024 x 768 resolution

Apart from these screen sizes and the overall dimensions that result, the devices otherwise differ little. They all use AMD's Geode LX800 processor clocked at 500MHz. Datasound touts the part as offering fanless operation, requiring as little as seven Watts of power, while being able to run Windows CE or Windows XP Embedded (XPe) “comfortably.”

The systems accept a maximum of 1GB of DDR RAM and have a 44-pin (laptop) IDE interface. The IDE port supports flash-based DOMs (disk-on-modules), which are offered in sizes from 64MB to 4GB, and can be fixed securely into place on the CPU board. A PCI-104 expansion port is optionally available as well, according to Datasound.

The LX800-LCD computers have four USB ports, two serial ports, a 10/100 Ethernet port, plus line-in and line-out audio ports. They also include a VGA connector for an external monitor, though Datasound did not specify whether this can be used to extend the Windows desktop or merely mirrors the internal display.

Features and specifications cited by Datasound for the LX-800LCD include:

• Processor — AMD Geode LX800 clocked at 500MHz
  
• Memory — up to 1GB of socketed DDR memory
  
• Display:
  • 6.4-inch screen with 640 x 480 resolution
    
  • 8.4-inch screen with 800 x 800 resolution
    
  • 10.4-inch screen with 800 x 600 resolution
    
  • 15-inch screen with 1024 x 768 resolution
• Networking — 10/100 Ethernet
• Other I/O:
  • 1 x IDE
    
  • 4 x USB
    
  • 2 x RS232
    
  • 1 x VGA
    
  • Audio line in and line out

• Expansion — PCI-104 interface (optional)
  
• Dimensions — n/a
  
• Operating temperature — 0 to 50 deg. C
  
• Power requirements — 12VDC

The LX800-LCD computers run Linux, Windows CE 5.0 and 6.0, Windows XPe, and Windows XP Professional.

Prices start at 465 UK pounds (approximately $915) for 6.4- or 8.4-inch systems with 256MB of RAM. The RoHS-compliant devices are available now.

 
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