Motion Computing LE1600 review

Below the pen on the right-hand side, there's an SD card slot, a Type II PC Card slot, infrared and the power socket. The opposite side has Gigabit Ethernet, VGA, DVI-D (this requires a £28 breakout adaptor), two USB ports, a Wi-Fi switch and 3.5mm audio jacks. That leaves only the docking port and a powered accessory port at the bottom.

Although the £160 Flex Dock is optional, it's worth considering for anyone who wants to use the LE1600 regularly at a desk. It positions the tablet like a TFT screen with tilt adjustment and portrait/landscape rotation, charges both batteries and supplies connections for audio, Ethernet and USB. A cheaper (and portable) alternative is a neat keyboard/stand/mini-dock, which also clips on as a screen cover (£94). A notebook-size Bluetooth keyboard (£80) and a USB CD-RW drive (£115) are further options.

Motion's LE1600 is incredibly well thought out, packing a great range of features into a solidly built 1.5kg slate tablet. The extended battery, security features and wide range of optional accessories are particularly welcome. Had the performance been better, it would take this tablet PC into full notebook-replacement territory and improved value for money, but battery performance is paramount, and here it excels. Overall, it's a brilliant design, and if you're looking for a fully loaded, long-lasting slate tablet, the LE1600 will impress.

Author: Roger Kirkwood