Rugged devices running CE.NET 4.2 or Pocket PC 2002/3

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jared Miniman [MVP]
  • Start date Start date
J

Jared Miniman [MVP]

Hey all,

I'm looking to purchase a rugged device (price is no object) that has:

1. Built in Bluetooth
2. Multiple expansion options (CF + PCMCIA)
3. Integrated GPS receiver

Does such a device exist that runs a CF.NET-friendly OS? Any help would be
much appreciated.

--
_________________________________
Jared Miniman, MS-MVP Mobile Devices
Mobile Computer Consultant

ActiveSync problems?
http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/support/help/activesync.asp
Connection Mngr Q's?
http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/tutorials/connectionmanager
 
Price is no object? We can make a custom device for you with whatever
hardware components you'd like and whatever CE 4.x features you desire.

Chris Tacke
Windows CE Product Manager
Applied Data Systems
www.applieddata.net
 
We're working since about six months on Gotive H41 (http://www.gotive.com)
Windows CE 4.2, Bluetooth, Wifi, GPS, barcode, Irda a CF card place.
Moreover, they can build a personnalized machine (if you buy a great
quantity of course)...

Thomas
 
We already have a Bluetooth machine, only for a printing use but it works
fine.
What do you mean by "SKU" ? (sorry but my english is not as good as I want)

Thomas
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the screen resolution on this device (640x240)
would not be supported by PPC 2003 and hence any CF development would either
not work or would not utilise the full screen. Maybe I'm getting my
technologies mixed up here but can someone confirm / correct me on this?

It's a nice looking unit and we'd probably be interested in it if I'm wrong
about the above. Or do you have something smaller as well?
 
if you want really rugged look at the Recon from www.tdsway.com

Could do bluetooth and GPS but would leave no further slots for expansion.

Note - using expansion slots can negate the rugged rating on some devices /
depending on the card used

you could always try a standard PPC with armour - e.g. www.otterbox.com

Simon Thomas

Data Mobility Limited
 
No, that's not true. Our devices uses 640x240 and, when you target Windows
CE.NET with Smart Device Applications, the default form size is large for
that display, but it's no big deal to resize it.

It's the application that decides how big the form is, so...

Paul T.
 
I am currently using Intermec 700 Colour devices.

They have 3 radio bays available which can be used with any combination of
GPRS, GPS, 802.11 and Bluetooth - you simply choose what you want. I believe
that the IP rating is 64 (though you should check this, I am writing this
from memory) there are slots for SIM, CF card and SD card and they have
built in laser barcode scanners or imagers.

I have kicked these units all over the place for the last year (and I have
had drivers doing it for the last couple of months) and they have withstood
heavy usage well.

They are currently supplied with PPC2002, but I have a beta of the PPC2003
(WinCE.NET 4.2) and it is due for release at the end of February.

Martin.
 
We are currently evalutating the following three machines with full
alphanumeric keyboards, if anyone has good or bad experiences with these
please post a reply :)

Intermec700C www.intermec.com
Dolphin 9500 by HHP www.hhp.com
Psion 7535 (soon to come Workabout XL/XS) www.psionteklogix.com

Intermec has shown great performance (using PPC 2003) and we are receiving
good support from them. Not all SDK parts are fully operational in .NET
environment. The screen is good and battery capacity acceptable. The biggest
problem is the ergonomic part. It seems Intermec used the handheld with
numeric keyboard and upgraded it with a full keyboard, this means the keys
are slightly too small and there is no available standard win keys such as
ctrl and alt causing the number of shortcut keyboard events to run out much
to fast in a larger application. The numeric and alpha parts of the keyboard
is "integrated"/not separated.

The Dolphin is a new experience to us. It came with PPC 2002 which is
definitely much slower than PPC2003. The computer fits into your hand like a
glove though! The keyboard has a separated numeric and alpha layout with all
standard win keys. The screen is slightly reflexive and visibilty in
daylight is not as good as the other devices. The touch screen isn't very
responding (dunno if that is because we got a trial version), you need to
press hard to get the click.

Psion uses WinCE .NET 4.2. This means the UI is different from PocketPC and
our application was developed for PocketPC. Aside the UI problems the
computers shows very good performance. The Psion 7535 is very expensive
though and the Workabout XL/XS which is a scale-down version of 7535, is not
expected to be shipped until june 2004.

At the moment the Dolphin is the winner. It has the ergonomics and
keyboardlayout demanded by our customers. A backdraw is that HHP hasn't
released (and we haven't been informed of any coming release) of PPC2003 for
it. With PPC2002 it's just too slow, especially IO operations.

/ Peter
 
Indeed I will have a look at that one!

Thanks Ginny!


Ginny Caughey said:
Peter,

You might also want to look at the Symbol 8800 series, which is available
with an alphanumeric keyboard too:
http://www.symbol.com/products/mobile_computers/mobile_ppt8800_ppc2003.html
--
Ginny Caughey
.Net Compact Framework MVP

Peter B said:
We are currently evalutating the following three machines with full
alphanumeric keyboards, if anyone has good or bad experiences with these
please post a reply :)

Intermec700C www.intermec.com
Dolphin 9500 by HHP www.hhp.com
Psion 7535 (soon to come Workabout XL/XS) www.psionteklogix.com

Intermec has shown great performance (using PPC 2003) and we are receiving
good support from them. Not all SDK parts are fully operational in .NET
environment. The screen is good and battery capacity acceptable. The biggest
problem is the ergonomic part. It seems Intermec used the handheld with
numeric keyboard and upgraded it with a full keyboard, this means the keys
are slightly too small and there is no available standard win keys such as
ctrl and alt causing the number of shortcut keyboard events to run out much
to fast in a larger application. The numeric and alpha parts of the keyboard
is "integrated"/not separated.

The Dolphin is a new experience to us. It came with PPC 2002 which is
definitely much slower than PPC2003. The computer fits into your hand
Click to expand...
like
Click to expand...
 
I have been working with the Symbol 8800 for a few months. Their SDK is
really nice. You will have to register to get at it, but very complete.
Scanning and notification. We really like the vibrator on the device. Worked
with all of the Compact Framework SDKs.


On the down side, we have had real issues getting units. I think they are
having some manufacturing issues on this still relatively new design.

I have also worked with the Intermec 700 B&W. It seems like a dinosaur
compared with the Symbol. Lastly, the Symbol is available in either PPC2003
or WinCE4.x

http://devzone.symbol.com/

-Andrew


Ginny Caughey said:
Peter,

You might also want to look at the Symbol 8800 series, which is available
with an alphanumeric keyboard too:
http://www.symbol.com/products/mobile_computers/mobile_ppt8800_ppc2003.html
--
Ginny Caughey
.Net Compact Framework MVP

Peter B said:
We are currently evalutating the following three machines with full
alphanumeric keyboards, if anyone has good or bad experiences with these
please post a reply :)

Intermec700C www.intermec.com
Dolphin 9500 by HHP www.hhp.com
Psion 7535 (soon to come Workabout XL/XS) www.psionteklogix.com

Intermec has shown great performance (using PPC 2003) and we are receiving
good support from them. Not all SDK parts are fully operational in .NET
environment. The screen is good and battery capacity acceptable. The biggest
problem is the ergonomic part. It seems Intermec used the handheld with
numeric keyboard and upgraded it with a full keyboard, this means the keys
are slightly too small and there is no available standard win keys such as
ctrl and alt causing the number of shortcut keyboard events to run out much
to fast in a larger application. The numeric and alpha parts of the keyboard
is "integrated"/not separated.

The Dolphin is a new experience to us. It came with PPC 2002 which is
definitely much slower than PPC2003. The computer fits into your hand
Click to expand...
like
Click to expand...
 
You can't compare the Symbol 8800 with the Intermec 700 Mono (screen
characteristics/ processor); and I bet you when running .NET CF apps,
the ARM based 700 will beat the XScale based 8800 when is comes to
performance.
Apples and Oranges!

The Intermec .NET SDK is complete and works very well.

Ronald.
 
What about Dolphin 9500, has anyone any experience with this machine and HHP
as the manufacturer is called?

/ Peter
 
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