Jan/Feb 2005

An advanced and attractive-looking new PDA-style handheld terminal, the Datalogic Jet, has been unveiled by the European data capture leader.

The model is being given a high profile on a smart new Web site that has just been rolled out by the company, and was the talking point on the stand of DataScan Systems, the DataLogic reseller and RFID specialist, at the Logistics Link exhibition in February. Users viewing early examples were reportedly impressed by the smart colour-coordinated grey-blue casing of the unit - a change from the pervasive black used for most other such devices.

Key features of the Datalogic Jet include the latest Windows CE 4.2 .Net operating system, a 400MHz Intel XScale processor, 64MB of system memory and 32MB of Flash memory, and the ability to handle Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GSM/GPRS communications simultaneously.

The Jet has a full range of integrated automatic data capture capabilities. It can cope with one- and two-dimensional barcodes and RFID tags, and also offers digital image capture. Its dust and water resistance rating is IP64.

 

There is a bright, daylight-readable colour touch screen, whose 3.5in TFT backlit display has a resolution of 240 by 320 pixels. The keyboard has 27 rubber keys.

For its size and features, the Jet weighs a modest 424g to 463g (depending on specification). The company is pitching the unit at all the classic applications for this type of product, including transport, production and warehouse operations.

• Datalogic's cool-looking new Web site has been designed to convey a recent change in the company's structure. There are now two distinct divisions - one concentrating on mobile systems (a reflection of the growing importance of this sector to the company), while the other focuses on automation systems.