Research Pad

There should exist something like a netbook or iPad, but specifically defined for field work.

Criteria

The Field Pad should:

• Have advanced power-saving features, such as peripheral power-down (audio, USB, ethernet, wifi, 3G, bluetooth, hard drives, whatever),
• Be able to interface with many different devices, especially audio and display devices,
• Be able to run and charge off of a variety of power sources, including a 12V line (e.g., straight from a car's cigarette lighter),
• Have a rugged design (can withstand falls, scratches, dirt, etc., at least to a certain extent)

Design

interface

• touch-screen pad-style
• no larger than 12", probably around 10"

storage

• ≥16GB SSD for the OS
• ≥320GB hard drive for data storage (only turned on and mounted when needed)
• multi-card reader? or maybe leave this as an external USB option? then maybe an SD card slot at least?

peripherals

• on-board mic (+port) and speakers
• GPS

output

• S-Video out, with RCA adapter

peripheral kit

• S-Video > RCA adapter (+cables)
• headphone > RCA adapter (+cables)
• small external keyboard and mouse (bluetooth?)
• desk stand to use as "monitor"
• hand scanner?

software modifications

• There should be some ramfs (or even something on the SSD) which pretends to be a partition from the hard drive and lets you mark files from the hard drive to have "working copies" of in the ramfs / on the SSD. This way you can work with the hard drive unmounted and turned off, and expect all your work to be synched correctly the next time the hard drive powers back on.