Ruggedized vertical market handheld computers and rugged PDAs are the unsung heroes of the mobile computing revolution. They are tough tools for the job, and their impact on productivity and the financial bottom line can be tremendous. (by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

Not too long ago it was unthinkable to expect computing power away from the desk, and then a time when it was unthinkable to have it where you need it most: out in the field and on the job. As a result, field force workers had to make do with pen and paper that often resulted in errors, delays, and an inability to access and forward data when it was needed most.

About 15 years ago, some companies began using pen computers for such field work, and some of those applications were quite successful. But full-fledged pen computers cost a lot, and thus computer penetration in field force applications remained low. That is now changing with the emergence of Tablet PCs and relatively low cost handhelds that benefit from the great advances in consumer market handheld technology.

Most of the devices you see in this section use the same electronic components you find in a Palm or a Pocket PC, but they are packaged in tough, rugged shells and designed for the job at hand. They come in several form factors. Some look just like slightly larger PDAs. Others carry on the convenient "flashlight" style of earlier generations of data terminals. Some have pistol grips for easy handling. Others are small-size tablets. Many have integrated bar code scanners or lasers. And they may use anything from minimal technology to state-of-the-art CPUs and displays.

There are also those that were designed from the ground up for use as rugged devices, with all of their components carefully selected to hold up in much more demanding environments in terms of sealing, vibration, shock, resistance to heat and cold, and other criteria.

The right display

Most rugged handheld devices will be used outdoors, and so an outdoor-viewable display is especially important. Unlike commercial notebooks where outdoor readbility was/is not considered important, PDAs and Pocket PCs have had sunlight viewable displays for many years, and so finding a device with a good display is generally less of an issue. However, technology moves on, and we're less and less inclined to accept low contrast displays or excessive reflection and glare.

Resolution can also be an issue. For years, Palm and Pocket PC devices used fairly low resolution displays (mostly 240 x 320 pixels), but as handhelds are being used for more sophisticated applications like mapping or browsing, many devices now have full 480 x 640 VGA displays.

Designed to take a beating

Handhelds are not immune to the laws of physics, but their generally smaller size and weight, and the absence of hard drives, makes them more able to take extreme punishment. We have tested devices that can survive drops from six feet and more, and they not only continued to work, they didn't even get scratched or dented. Some are so well sealed that they can be used in driving rain or even submerged in water. We have actually tested some underwater, in full Scuba gear. The image to the right is real. It was taken when we tested a TDS/Trimble Nomad handheld computer underwater. It continued to work.

As with all computers scheduled to be used in tough jobs out in the field, picking the right one is the difference between success and failure of your project. So do your homework carefully. Handheld computers are designed with deployment in certain types of environments in mind, so matching equipment to application is essential.

This page contains access to full reviews or capsule reviews/specs for dozens of rugged terminals, rugged PDAs, rugged Pocket PCs, and other rugged mobile handheld computing devices.

--Conrad H. Blickenstorfer