September 2002

OUR IMPRESSION

Making its UK debut this month is Symbol's PDT 8000 which the company claims "raises the bar" for handheld data-capture computers. It is the first data-capture device to incorporate Intel's XScale technology, using a 32-bit 400MHz PXA 250 processor. Benefits include faster processing speeds (200MHz has been more typical for data-capture units in the past), lower battery power consumption and more memory: either 64MB RAM or 128MB RAM, plus 64MB ROM. It is also capable of supporting multimedia applications including voice and video.

Symbol is rolling out 5,000 of the units in the US to PepsiAmericas for use by its mobile sales force.

Symbol says the extra memory (there is also a flash-card slot for extra data storage) makes the unit much more capable of handling large databases. "Handheld data-capture units need more memory because companies are demanding more real-time integration between operations involving handheld computers and business IT systems," says Bob Schrieb, Symbol's product marketing director.

 

The operating system is Pocket PC 2002, the scaled-down version of Microsoft's Windows CE system. Schrieb says Pocket PC is better suited to data capture applications than CE itself. "Pocket PC has enough features, such as calendar, address book and email, to suit many industrial, commercial and field service applications. CE, which is more customisable, is preferable for data management."

Designed for indoor and outdoor use, the PDT 8000 has a 100mm VGA colour touch- screen display, said to be the largest available in a data capture device and usable for electronic signature-capture. Data input can be via the integrated barcode scanner, touch screen or 23-key keypad for data input. It has both 802.11b and Bluetooth wireless communications capability, so will operate on both a wireless local-area network (WLAN) and a wider wide area network (WWAN). There are infra-red and RS323 ports for data transfer to peripherals such as printers.

As you might expect from Symbol, the PDT 8000 is built to cope with abuse. It is sealed to IP54 standards, which means if it gets particularly dirty it can be rinsed down without water damaging the interior components. It's been tested to survive multiple 1.5 metre (5ft) drops on to concrete at various temperatures - equivalent, says Schrieb, to a force of 3,000 Gs at the point of impact.

Symbol also puts its computers through what it calls the tumble test to check mountings. A revolving drum simulates 2,600 drops from 0.5metres and 600 drops from 1metre to all parts of the unit. During development, Symbol designers use the tests to identify and eliminate any weak spots. So the PDT 8000's delicate VGA screen is held in a shock-absorbing cradle, and the battery access panel has positive clips holding it securely in place and ensuring power is not lost through "battery chatter" loosening connections. The recharge connection should last the life of the unit - it has been tested for 100,000 insertions.

OUR VERDICT

Although it lacks a QUERTY keyboard and the extra functionality of Windows CE, the PDT 8000 goes a long way towards bridging the gap between conventional handheld data capture units and mobile computers. It looks as reassuringly tough as any Symbol handheld, yet can match the speed of many a flimsy PDA, and the tempting combination of ruggedness and super-fast connections and processing will appeal to many warehouse and logistics managers.

MX4 Tough Windows CE mobile computer LXE

OUR IMPRESSION

Computers for data-capture applications such as stock control and proof-of-delivery are the Cinderellas of the handheld market. Functional, robust and ergonomic they may be, and capable of multi-tasking too, but there's no doubt that the hard plastic brick which many resemble can hardly be called stylish.

In the past this has not mattered much, but the functional shape and design have tended to give such hardware an old-technology image which companies no longer want to invest in - not helped by the fact that many scanners and barcode readers are still using terminal emulation systems with simple text fields.

LXE reckons its new MX4 mobile computer can change that perception and halt the spread of PDA-type devices into delivery vehicles, warehouses and manufacturing facilities, which it believes they are manifestly unsuitable for. Although the MX4 resembles a PDA or mobile telephone, it is manufactured to LXE's heavy-duty industrial computer specifications. "It has as much in common with a PDA as a fork-lift truck has with a car," a spokesman says.

The MX4 can cope with temperatures up to minus 30 deg C, and meets IP67 water and dust resistance standards, so you can get it wet without causing irreparable harm. (Many PDAs comply with the less arduous IP54 rating.) There is an integrated scanner and a pistol-grip option.

Because the MX4 is a data-capture device, it has a simple-to-use, mainly numeric keyboard with 22 keys that include a scroll button, Escape and Enter keys and two side-mounted scan buttons. The scanner has a range of 6ft - important in warehouse operations where workers often have to stretch to scan the barcodes. Wireless communication is handled by 2.4gGHz radio on the latest 802.11b WiFi standard.

Eventually, says LXE, touch-screen technology will be incorporated, although it's not predicting when this will happen.

The MX4 is one of the new generation of data capture devices that are switching from traditional DOS-based operating systems and the accompanying plain text screen to the Windows CE system. The main disadvantage with CE is that the device cannot be switched off, so companies used to DOS-based devices will need to implement a recharging regime to ensure batteries remain charged.

The good news, says LXE, is that because Windows CE was developed especially for mobile devices, it incorporates a clever battery power management system, and the MX4 uses the Intel SA-1110 processor, which is one of a new range of processors for mobile devices that have low power consumption. Application software is cheaper to develop because there are lots of programmers capable of working with Windows.

OUR VERDICT:

While you could not mistake the MX4 for a mobile telephone or a PDA, it is certainly more user-friendly than some older data capture devices, and lighter. The keys, especially the side buttons, are easy to use, but what will improve things most for people is the latest VGA LCD screen. It's much easier to read than the DOS-style screen, especially in a warehouse environment, where there are always dim corners no matter how good the overhead lighting is. And the IP67 rating ensures it will be well protected from the typical abuse it will get every day of its planned five-year life cycle.