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How To Choose A Handheld - The Best Options For
Pre-Sale and Delivery Roles
Because RouteRider LE is based on an open
architecture, you can run the application on almost every popular
handheld computer that supports a Microsoft Pocket PC or Windows
Mobile or operating platform. This allows great flexibility in selecting
a handheld to use in your route applications. You can either select
your own hardware or NDI can put together a complete hardware and
software package for you – you decide. In choosing a handheld
computer, we have put together some suggestions to follow.
Choosing a Handheld computer for your operation is
a critical decision that has many options to consider. The options
you choose will not only determine how much you pay for these mobile
computer products but also how they will be used. These options
include ruggedness, wireless communications, scanners, memory, keypads
and accessories.
National Datacomputer is proud to offer handheld products from Intermec
and Symbol. Additionally our software will run on HP, Dell and any
product that provides a Microsoft operating platform. Additionally
with our software you can mix the hardware products within your
system potentially saving you considerable investment resources.
Talk to us and we can show you ways in which you can save on hardware
while choosing the products that are right for your particular needs
and operation. We will give you straight talk and advice based on
20 years of experience.
This is one of the biggest decisions that you will face. In order
to build a rugged handheld computer significant design engineering
elements need to be incorporated into the product increasing the
cost because the handheld computers need to be able to withstand
countless drops and environmentally unfriendly conditions. The manufacturers
from Symbol and Intermec both provide a durable rugged set of mobile
handheld computers.
PDA devices can be purchased with accessories that 'armor' the non-rugged
PDA device but this is not built in and does not have the same rugged
characteristics that you would expect from a built in handheld computer.
Furthermore if you add scanners to a PDA device the best bet in
our opinion is to go rugged.
There are several kinds of wireless communications available today
in any handheld computer device. These include cellular, 802.11b
and bluetooth. We can and do discuss these options with all of our
clients.
Cellular radios include GPRS and CDMA that can be built in to just
about any handheld computer today as an option. These radios are
usually carried by all the major cellular providers. You will need
a 'data service' from your carrier of choice. For more information
on cellular options please consider reviewing the PowerPoint presentation
we have in our presentation section of our website. Additionally
we are available to consult with our customers and prospects on
this exciting technology.
Besides the communication of orders, this capability provides additional
application features including e-mail and Web access by the handheld
computer user. Your sales department will now be enabled with current
developments in the company or on the account that they are currently
visiting or about to visit. Cellular communication is being adopted
in many leading companies around the globe and this will become
ubiquitous in the near future.
Bluetooth communication is typically used for peripheral communications.
The distance that it provides is technically about 100 feet without
obstruction. Use is normally within a 30 foot radius however. The
two primary uses are handheld computer communicating, without a
cable, to a printer. This is a great convenience to the driver.
Printers can be mounted in a cab or can be carried in a bag or worn
on a belt. The other use of bluetooth communication is with an existing
cellular phone. We can use this technology to help protect an investment
that you may have already deployed. Cellular phones can bluetooth
(either built in or with the use of an adapter) to the handheld
computer to send orders, receive pricing updates, send or receive
e-mail and access the Web. NDI can show you how to do this and save
money at the same time.
Another wireless communications method includes 802.11b or also
known as Wi-Fi (short for "wireless fidelity"). This now
common method allows handheld computers to communicate using a TCP/IP
address to the router in your operation. The drawback is distance.
This typically can be deployed in a warehouse that has not been
wired or for operations or for uses close to a router that requires
mobility but does not need a cellular connection.
There are many kinds of scanners available from rugged handheld
manufacturers and as accessories to a PDA. We have in our presentation
section of our web site a PowerPoint presentation on some aspects
of scanning that you may need to consider. Scanning can be mixed
into all your units or just some of your units depending on need.
Consult with NDI and we can help you with your choices in this area.
Built in scanners in rugged units will be, in our opinion, more
reliable and easier to use.
Memory is becoming cheaper and cheaper. The applications we use
today run well on 64MB of memory. The newer units now on the market
contain or can be ordered with 128MB of RAM. Because memory is relatively
inexpensive in handheld devices we do like to see more rather than
less whenever possible. Additionally you may want to run other applications
on the handheld computer like a GPS application. When all considerations
are added up and the timeframes considered we will be in a better
position to consult with your team in this area.
For high reliability and communication speed we recommend the use
of industrial 150X SD cards. They provide a low cost, reliable method
to insure field operation when a unit needs a replacement swap.
Keypads can be a physical addition or option to your handheld computer
or a virtual keyboard utilizing the touch screen capability of the
device can be used. Physical keyboards typically can be primarily
numeric or alpha numeric. Additionally some PDA's can have a built-in
keyboard or an adaptor keyboard can be inserted into one of the
slots. What you need is typically a function of how the route will
be serviced.
There are so many options available from the manufacturers of rugged
handheld computers and PDA devices and they change so frequently
that it would be limiting to list them here. These range from SDIO
and CF card additions, to keyboards and scanners. All types of cases
and armor for products are available. Auto chargers and various
cables to attach the handheld computer to printers and PC's exist.
We typically suggest that you look in one of the many publications
from TigerDirect or Mobile Planet to get an idea on the many options
that are available. Again it all comes down to what the needs are
of the route business.
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- Intermec 700 Series – power and speed plus
rugged design. Very easily upgraded, available with integrated
imaging or laser scanning. Large effective color display with
a crisp vivid screen for high contrast indoors and out. Scaleable,
rugged, equipped for cross functional deployments.
- Intermec CN3– Windows Mobile, power, strength
and speed in a rugged package. Bluetooth and WiFi compatible with
a touchscreen to run both text and graphics.
- Symbol MC 9000 Series – Speedy response with
access to critical data and easy deployment.
- Symbol MC70 - Windows Mobile latest advances, GPS,
Bluetooth and WiFi in a convenient size
- HP iPAQ models – transmit wirelessly to other
Bluetooth devices, offer expanded memory, Wi-Fi and more.
For more information on these or any other handhelds,
please contact the NDI sales force by clicking
here.
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