April/May 2007

Despite the ubiquity of Windows CE as the base operating system for ruggedised PDAs, the Palm system still has its adherents, and you can now buy a very modern and capable-looking Palm-based handheld from US-based Janam through UK distributor Varlink.

The cheekily-named XP range is based round a 366MHz Freescale processor, backed by 32MB of SDRAM and 64MB of NAND memory. It comes in monochrome or colour versions with a quarter-VGA backlit screen, and can have either cut-down or extended keyboard.

Connectivity features include infra-red and Bluetooth and 802.11b wireless networking. There is also a mini-SD card slot capable of taking cards up to 2GB.

The imaging system is the popular Adaptus, as developed by Hand Held Products, which supports a wide range of 1D and 2D symbologies.

The unit is rated at IP54 for water and dust ingress, and has been subjected to multiple drops on to concrete from 4ft.

Janam points out that the Palm operating system (currently at version 5.4.9) is nowadays developed and supported by Japanese software house Access, and that the company holds a licence with Access for the system until 2011, with the prospect of renewal after that.

One of the key selling points is the low weight - just 280g in standard form. Another is the price - just £538 retail from Varlink.