Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Menu
Search
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • PC Hardware

    MPC Preps Laptops for Battle

    By
    Jeff Burt
    -
    December 1, 2003
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      MPC Computers LLC is extending its TransPort notebook line to include separate families of systems equipped with additional security and authentication features and targeted at government and commercial users.

      Two notebooks aimed at federal customers—which are due to be released before the federal buying season ramps up in the spring—will offer a hybrid of new technology and legacy support.On the legacy side, a thin-and-light notebook and a three-spindle desktop replacement computer will support serial and parallel ports and will offer two PCMCIA slots and integrated floppy drives, said officials at the Nampa, Idaho, company.

      New technology that will adorn the systems will include integrated smart-card readers. Smart cards carry biometric data about the user and are inserted into the notebook and then read by the software. If the smart-card reader, which is required under new Department of Defense regulations, does not recognize the data on the card, the computer will not turn on, officials said.

      U.S. Air Force consultant Katrina Willins said the goal of the DOD requirement regarding smart cards, which was issued last year and takes effect in April, is to enable users to digitally sign encrypted e-mail. Right now, Willins said, most smart-card readers are external devices, so having the device integrated would be a plus for users.

      “There are not many options to us right now,” said Willins, consultant at the Air Force PKI Systems Program Office, in San Antonio. “Most of those are stand-alones. It would be one less component that would need to be carried around if it was actually integrated into the laptop.”

      For added security, the notebooks will continue to offer integrated TouchChip fingerprint technology from STMicroelectronics N.V., of Geneva. In addition, the forthcoming notebooks will come with integrated Gigabit Ethernet support and toolless removable hard drives.

      Custom-fit notebooks

      MPC is tailoring its notebook offerings for federal and commercial customers

      Federal Notebooks Will Offer:

      • Legacy support Serial and parallel ports, PCMCIA slots, integrated floppy drives
      • New technology Integrated smart-card readers, Gigabit Ethernet support, toolless removable hard drive

      Commercial Notebook Will Offer:

      • Thin-and-light design, full Centrino package, advanced graphics capabilities

      The biometric fingerprinting technology and toolless configurability are important in situations on battlefields, where smart cards and screwdrivers may not be handy, MPC officials said.

      For commercial customers, MPC next quarter will roll out a separate thin-and-light notebook slated to replace its TransPort T2000 model. The unnamed notebook will offer the full Intel Corp. Centrino platform—which includes the Pentium M chip, accompanying chip set and Wi-Fi components—and advanced graphics capabilities via ATI Technologies Inc.s upcoming Mobility Radeon 9700 chip. Unlike MPCs two-spindle T2100, the system will offer support for such legacy technology as serial and parallel ports, a port replicator, and external graphics.

      Jeff Burt
      Jeffrey Burt has been with eWEEK since 2000, covering an array of areas that includes servers, networking, PCs, processors, converged infrastructure, unified communications and the Internet of things.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Android

      Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 5, 2020 0
      Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Why Data Security Will Face Even Harsher...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 1, 2020 0
      Who would know more about details of the hacking process than an actual former career hacker? And who wants to understand all they can...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      How Veritas Is Shining a Light Into...

      eWEEK EDITORS - September 25, 2020 0
      Protecting data has always been one of the most important tasks in all of IT, yet as more companies become data companies at the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      How NVIDIA A100 Station Brings Data Center...

      Zeus Kerravala - November 18, 2020 0
      There’s little debate that graphics processor unit manufacturer NVIDIA is the de facto standard when it comes to providing silicon to power machine learning...
      Read more
      Apple

      Why iPhone 12 Pro Makes Sense for...

      Wayne Rash - November 26, 2020 0
      If you’ve been watching the Apple commercials for the past three weeks, you already know what the company thinks will happen if you buy...
      Read more

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×