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Selecting the right PDA / Mobile Terminal
We are experts at helping organisations select the best mobile terminal
for their needs. Here are a few pointers (not an exhaustive list), but please
call us for detailed advice:
Standard PDA
The modern day standard PDA really is a fantastic piece of equipment. We
use HP Ipaq 2210s ourselves (for pocket organisers) and we are delighted with
them. They can be used for certain types of commercial application where the
environment is friendly (unit is unlikely to be dropped, exposed to dust /
moisture). Typical applications include Financial Service and Sales Force
Automation - office based.
Unfortunately some organisations have tried to deploy standard PDAs into environments they were not designed for, e.g. Warehouse, Outdoor Usage etc. If you think that staff will drop the units frequently or that they will be exposed to rain, condensation or dust, we suggest that you consider a rugged PDA.
Rugged PDA / Mobile Computer
There are a small set of manufacturers that produce rugged PDAs (also known as
Mobile Data Terminals) that are designed to survive industrial environments.
Many of the units we sell are designed to withstand 50 drops in a row from 1.2m
(5 feet) to concrete.
If you are likely to use the device in the rain or in a dusty environment, you
will need a sealed device. These have a “IP rating” which determines the level
of sealing. Our most common devices are IP54 rated (wind blown dust and rain).
Barcode and Wireless Connection
If you need to read barcodes, you will need a barcode reader - most of which are
built in these days.
There are many technologies used to read barcodes, please phone us for advice.
If you are looking to connect the device via a Wireless LAN or WAN (GSM / GPRS)
then these will also be factors. Many terminals now offer Bluetooth for short
distance communications to say a waist mounted printer.
Ergonomics
If the device is likely to be carried most of the time, you will probably be
best served by a slim unit which can be placed in your pocket. On the other hand
if you are likely to be scanning barcodes for periods of 30 minutes or more, a
gun style (pistol grip) device will be far more comfortable. Repetitive use
injuries can be prevented by carefully selecting the right unit.
Different ergonomic designs for barcode scanning:
top shooter, rotating scan head, pistol grip.
Keyboard
Many applications are well suited to touch screen terminals. However if you
are likely to use the keyboard a lot, then a proper keyboard is the best bet.
Many terminals offer several different keypad options (numeric only,
alphanumeric, ABCD, Qwerty).
These are all available on the same unit, the
more keys the smaller they get (or the terminal has to get bigger).
Battery Life
Standard PDA’s are fine for applications where you don’t need to use them for
long periods. If you are using them for over an hour at a time, it is sensible
to consider battery life issues. It is also worth noting that barcode scanners
and wireless cards will place a significant additional strain on batteries.
We have a range of units that are designed to cope with an 8 hour shift and feature batteries that are designed for quick changes. The terminals all have options for integrated Wireless LAN cards and Barcode Scanners.
More Information
We have been selling mobile terminals / PDAs for over 18 years. We know the
market inside out, so if you need help please phone (01202 888079) or request
information.