Every field professional whether they are gathering field recordings,  swimming with the Dolphins, counting trees in the forest doing inventories, or updating their survival skills in the wilderness needs to have one of these all-purpose ruggedized mobile devices.

The problem is that many ruggedized handheld computers can cost up to $2200. Getting a new rugged device is exciting and also can be a nuisance. It's exciting because it means you can dunk it in water, drop it, expand memory, connect it to the Internet and run Windows mobile operating system. The nuisance comes with not knowing which rugged mobile device to buy. Ruggedized mobile devices afford us yet unseen possibilities. They'll withstand harsh weather conditions such as: shock, vibration, humidity, altitude and extreme temperatures. If you plan ahead by reading this article and the reviews below, you can avoid potential problems and save time. Make sure to write down a wish list of what features are important to you. We reveal what the pros and cons are of owning a ruggedized handheld computer.

Pros: The Ultimate in Protection and Wireless Connectivity

• Can withstand extreme temperature changes, rain, dust, moisture, altitude, drops, combustible dust, ignitable fiber and flammable gases.
• Since there are no moving parts such as hard drives in Ruggedized PDAs; it makes them more robust and able to withstand a drop that would ruin a hard drive on a laptop.
• Ruggedized devices tend to recover from the cold more rapidly
• Built-in keyboards and numeric keypads are provided to let you enter data easily and effortlessly
• Ruggedized PDAs featured in this article are based on windows mobile operating system, have pen based data entry as well, just like a tablet PC. The handwriting recognition capability is incredible as it recognize otherwise illegible scribble.
• Can run all day without a recharge due to higher capacity batteries especially designed for military standard rugged mobile devices.
• Integrated Bluetooth and wireless connectivity
• High performance barcode card readers to scan and data easily.
• Portability: a ruggedized PDA can easily fit in your shirt pocket, you could not wear your laptop, and it would ruin your shirt.

Cons: a ruggedized mobile devices tend to

• Be More costly than regular consumer mobile devices or PDAs. Units can range from $750 to $2,500.00.
• Be Heavier than regular consumer handheld computers.
• Compared to a laptop or tablet where hard drives can be 100 gigabytes, rugged PDAs have up to 256 megabytes of on-board memory. The fastest ruggedized processor is 624 MHz making ruggedized devices significantly slower in processing speed compared to laptops and tablets.
• Run a limited subset of Windows mobile PC applications
• Run older versions of Pocket PC software.
• Evolution of computer handheld hardware and software require upgrading every few years, this can be expensive.

The Windows mobile 5.0 ruggedized handhelds featured in this article comes with everything you need.

In The Field - Ecom X20 EXi.roc series

If you're going to be working with explosives or unlucky enough to be doing fieldwork in a land mine, you'll definitely want buy an Ecom X20 EXi.roc 620 model. The Ecom X20 EXi.roc ruggedized device will not detect where a line mine is if you happen to be standing close to it. As long as you will not be standing beside a bomb and it happens to explode while you have the Ecom X20 EXi.roc in your hand, the x20 roc PDA will withstand and survive an explosion if it occurs. The high performance industrial PDA from Ecom comes in three models: 420, 520 and 620. The Ecom X20 EXi PDA will also stand up to dust and moisture. The first thing you'll notice about to the Ecom X20 EXi PDA is that it is powerful for its compact size which is 19.4 ounces for the 420 and 520 model; 24.6 ounces for the 620 model. All Ecom X20 EXi.roc series runs on the Windows MobileTM operating system has 64 megabytes of RAM, a 128 MB of flash ROM storage, and Intel Xscale 520 megahertz processor. Another practical feature about the high performance industrial PDA from Ecom is that you won't become fatigued with continuous use of the ruggedized device. A fully charged battery will give you 15 hours of use. An integrated WLAN, USB, Bluetooth TM and an IrDA port is available for you to connect wirelessly to the Internet.

Intermec CK60 & CN30

Intermec hit a bullet in the chamber by introducing the CK 60 and CN30 model recently. The CK 60 model is to your left shown in the diagram courtesy of Intermec.com. You'll notice shown in the diagram there are two rubberized bumpers on each corner of the Intermec CK 60 redeye's device. Intermec's new baby, the CK 60 model very simply has permanently redefine ruggedized devices with the next generation processor technologies; an Intel XScale 520 MHz processor, 64 MB of RAM, 128 MB flash ROM storage and 32 key or 50 key keypad, Bluetooth and WiFi, a 5232 port, host for/client USB port, Microsoft. Windows. CE or Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system, QVGA display with touch screen enables both text-based and graphical interface applications. The Intermec CK 60 case is sealed against water and dust to IP64 standards and can withstand repeated 6' drops.

The Intermec 730B runs on Microsoft. Windows. Mobile software for Pocket PC and can be upgraded to include a high-speed linear image scanner to read bar codes. The 750 be model runs on a Lithium-Ion, 3.6V (1 x 2400 mAh cell) battery. The charge time is only four hours and can give you six to 10 hours of use. The Intermec 730B PDA can withstand: 5 foot drop, temperatures between -100 to 550 C (+140 to 1310 F), Relative Humidity of between 5% to 95%. The 730B Mobile Computer has a microprocessor: Intel. Xscale PXA255 Applications Processor 400 MHz, internal memory of 64 MB RAM and 64 MB Flash ROM; also includes ROM folder for application storage. It features 802.11b WLAN (Wi-Fi. certified) radio and integrated Bluetooth capability. Not only will this 730B Mobile Computer with stand falls, moisture and drops but also come with the following accessories: portable and vehicle-mounted printers, vehicle dock, desktop connectivity dock, desktop dock with integrated modem, charge-only Multi-dock, battery pack chargers and scanning handles. There's another model called the Intermec 730 I-safe model which will also withstand an environment where there are flammable gases, combustible dust or ignitable fibers.

Juniper Systems Archer Field PC - Winner of the 2006 Intel TIA Mobility Award

Tds Ranger Series - What A Smart Buy

The real ground breaker, as far as the field professional marketplace is concerned, is stunning TDS Ranger 300x, 500x, 400x, 200x, and nx series. The 200x Recon TDS model starts at $1,234.05. For the TDS ranger 300x model, prices start and $2300. The cat is out of the bag. The TDS ranger 300x, 500x, NX runs on the Windows mobile 5.0 operating system with an Intel XScale 5.2 MHz processor or 312 MHz for the (300x & NX series). The TDS ranger 500x comes with 128 MB of RAM, 512 MB of flash ROM storage. The 300x TDS ranger on the other hand comes with 64 MB of RAM, 256 MB of flash ROM storage. Bluetooth comes standard on the 500x series. It's an optional upgrade for 300x series and currently not available for the TD ranger NX model. Wi-Fi is optional on both the 500x and 300x and not available for the NX model. All TD ranger: 300x, 500x and NX organize devices comes with 53 key integrated keyboard and 30 hour battery life under normal conditions.

Source: Images Courtesy of: Ruggedpcreview.com, www.ecom-ex.com, intermec.com, junipersys.com. SmartPhone & Pocket PC 2007 Buyers Guide

Company: Magellan (http://pro.magellangps.com)

Magellan's most recent (and popular) contribution to the ruggedized, mobile device list is the MobileMapper CE. the device boasts low cost,ease of use, and features an open platform design with embedded Microsoft® Windows® CE for maximum flexibility, supporting off-the-shelf Windows CE software for GIS and mobile mapping applications.

Feature-packed, the Mobile Mapper CE offers an impressive specification and feature list, including:

• Real-time sub-meter and sub-foot post-processed GPS accuracy
• Bluetooth® wireless technology
• Field replaceable all-day battery
• Removable SD card memory
• Easy touch screen and built-in alphanumeric keypad
• channel GPS receiver
• GPS / GIS system integration
• Operating Temp Min (°C)       -10
• Operating Temp Max (°C)       60
• Storage Temp Min (°C)       -20
• Storage Temp Max (°C)       70
• 128 MB SDRAM
•  Waterproof to 1-meter depth for 30 minutes
• Expandable SD card up to 1GB
• Development Kit

Built to withstand a drop to concrete and remain waterproof even when immersed, the MobileMapper CE is perfect for use in public safety, civilian and federal agencies, utilities, environmental monitoring, natural resources and a host of other industries where management and mapping of field assets is critical and otherwise difficult. The Mobile Mapper CE is a must-see if you're shopping for a rugged, affordable field mapping solution.

Company: Trimble (http://www.trimble.com/mgis_mobilegis.shtml)

Trimble Recon GPS XB Edition

The Trimble® Recon® GPS XB edition is an ultra-rugged 200 MHz Trimble Recon handheld with a Bluetooth®-enabled GPS Pathfinder® XB receiver. The solution is cable-free and boasts Microsoft® Windows Mobile® version 5.0 software, as well as built-in Bluetooth wireless technology. this device is targetted at mobile GIS, emergency workers, inspectors, maintenance teams, utility crews, and many other field workers needing real-time access to their enterprise data

Key features:

a price point to equip your entire mobile workforce
Reliable 2-5 meter GPS accuracy
Microsoft Windows Mobile version 5.0 software on a rugged handheld
Built-in Bluetooth for a cable-free solution
Choice of field software to suit your workflow

Trimble's rugged mobile suite of products also include: GeoXH, GeoXT, and theGeoXM.

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