March/April 2005

An upgraded version of the eye-catching Gotive handheld computer has been announced by its Czech developers, and is being launched by Spirit Data Capture, its UK and Ireland distributor.

The new version, the H42, follows on closely in design and concept from the existing H41, with its distinctive half-sized landscape-format VGA screen, but speed is increased by the use of Intel's recently-released Bulverde processor running at 520MHz (nearly 30 per cent faster than the 400MHz Xscale unit).

Memory capacity has also been upped, and now amounts to 128MB of RAM and 246MB of ROM.

The H42 picks up on the current trend towards offering advanced data capture options, having the options of a biometric fingerprint reader and a smartcard reader. A touch screen, a barcode reader and a digital imager are also available.

 

The new model offers a choice of wireless options including WPAN (Bluetooth); WLAN (802.11b); and WWAN (GSM/GPRS). It comes with an IP54 rating for weather and dust resistance.

As before, Spirit is aiming the new Gotive at applications in logistics, field service, utilities, construction and healthcare.

• Spirit Data Capture has extended its reach into the world of logistics software. It is offering a warehouse management system called Optimiser, which it describes as quick to install and easy to use. Functions it can handle include goods receipt and despatch, stock maintenance, and reporting. It also has a full audit log. Spirit says it can be used on a stand-alone basis, or be integrated with the user's existing business systems; and it can also of course be used with the company's range of data capture solutions.