TDS Recon Rugged Pocket PC Reviewed - Again

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=reviews&id=345' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?...=reviews&id=345</a><br /><br /></div>"I don't know about you - but there are days that I live in fear that I'm going to drop and destroy my Pocket PC. Too often, it seems, your device will scream "Viva la France!" and jump, like a lemming, to it's potential doom. While a good case may protect you in day-to-day use, nothing works quite as well as a ruggedized unit. But is the cost worth the benefit ($1499 for the 200 mhz model)? Were Pocket PCs meant to be outside pets too? Tripod Data Systems (noted as TDS from here on out) sent us their Recon ruggedized unit recently." Thus begins the Pocketnow review of the TDS Recon PPC, the second such review we've seen recently. (The first review by PDA Buyer's Guide can be seen <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24944&amp;">here</a>) As usual, Pocketnow have done a great in-depth review of features etc.<br /><br />"The TDS Recon is no wilting violet. Weighing in at 17 ouces (including the rechargable power boot), and at a size almost unheard of for a PPC, the Recon is a force to be reckoned with. There are 2 types of Recons available, a 200Mhz 64Mb RAM + 64Mb built-in Flash storage, and the unit we received, a 400Mhz 64Mb RAM + 128Mb built-in Flash storage. The extra Flash storage is best used as a backup location - for those times that you run out of power in the field, or have to hard reset and restore - TDS included a very quick and easy to use Backup/Restore application for this process." Good idea, and when you see what they did to the unit, you can understand why you'd want Flash storage and your data backed up before handing a unit to Pocketnow to review. 8O <br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/mud1_sm (Custom).jpg" /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/running_water_sm (Custom).jpg" /> <br /><br />There's a couple of hilarious video in the review of the "damn good thrashing" they dished out to that poor unit. :bangin: <span>(Well, you can't say they haven't warned it!) </span> I'm telling you – they were having *way* too much fun reviewing it. :lol: However, video's should not have to be viewed sideways guys! (DMT would be a good place to ask about video rotation tools.) :wink: <br /><br />To sum up, "the TDS Recon really took a beating from us and kept right on ticking". Which is impressive considering it passed the stair and spade test. (You'll see). What is it about these units that encouraged people to go the extra mile reviewing them? 8) Good job.

[freitasm]

I've been using an i-mate Pocket PC Phone Edition for testing... charged it directly from the cable, and ActiveSync over Bluetooth. Then I decided to leave my fears behind and instead of having two devices (an iPAQ and a P800) use only one (the i-mate).

I decided this, and five minutes later installed the cradle. When I was placing the i-mate in its cradle for the first time I let it slip and it reached the floor at a speed more than adequate.

At first it seemed ok, no problems with screen, nothing wrong with the case. Only when I tried charging it in the cradle I noticed it wasn't doing its thing: of course, the tiny connector was broken. Of all things, some "semi" internal thing was broken. Arghhh :roll: ...

[gohtor]

I've been using an i-mate Pocket PC Phone Edition for testing... charged it directly from the cable, and ActiveSync over Bluetooth. Then I decided to leave my fears behind and instead of having two devices (an iPAQ and a P800) use only one (the i-mate).

I decided this, and five minutes later installed the cradle. When I was placing the i-mate in its cradle for the first time I let it slip and it reached the floor at a speed more than adequate.

At first it seemed ok, no problems with screen, nothing wrong with the case. Only when I tried charging it in the cradle I noticed it wasn't doing its thing: of course, the tiny connector was broken. Of all things, some "semi" internal thing was broken. Arghhh :roll: ...

lol well at least you can RMA the unit since it's a pin problem.

As for the review. that's pretty harsh conditions to be using a pocketpc =)

[tvalentin]

However, video's should not have to be viewed sideways guys!

I'm guessing that the video was meant to be viewed on a pocket pc screen and that's why it was that shape. Although wmp should automatically rotate the video for you anyway.

Tom

[arnage2]

thats a funny review. Beating the crap out of that ppc.

[Paul Martin]

The site seems to be have problems, but when I visited the other day, TDS was giving away a Recon : http://www.tdsway.com/win . I thought about entering, but have no idea how I would use this. Incredible toughness!

Paul

[Ken Mattern]

We're evaluating the TDS Recon right now for the Navy. In fact we will deploy one or two units for a field test next week. We like the ruggedness of the device and the fact that it can be used while wearing gloves.

The stylus can be tethered to the device, a good place is attaching it to the strap, but the sales rep said that there was no tether point because many people like to tether the stylus to their shirt/jacket. Tetherability is a big point for us because a lost stylus becomes FOD (Foreign Object Damage) and can damage an aircraft if it gets sucked into the wrong place or punctures a tire.

I'm looking forward to the results of the test. It will begin next Monday and run for a month.

[joshu]

Hello! :D

Just one question: Why "Viva la France!" and... jump ?

@ bientot ;) ,
Joshu.

[Deemo]

It's a British thing....you can always reply with "I fart in your general direction" :mrgreen:

[fishfuzz]

Actually, I did rotate, crop, and edit the videos. But I had submitted the originals for content approval and they were accidently posted by Derek. The originals were actually high-quality mpegs, the ones posted were converted to .wmv, which lowered the video/audio quality immensely, but also reduced the size of the file from 48Mb to a little over 6Mb. We provided TDS with the original files, so I imagine that you'll see them posted there soon enough.

The viva la france bit - I don't rightly recall the exact reference. It's just when I think of something jumping to it's death, I hear it scream that just before it goes...

Thanks for the crosslink!

Tim

[Jonathon Watkins]

No problem guys, keep up the good work! Just keep banging away at the wee beasties! "Reviewed so Hard it Hurts!" :helpme: :lol:

[ctmagnus]

A unit that big has a smaller screen than the iPaq 2210? :confused totally:

[Sheynk]

Who uses pocket Word, Exel, outlook, etc in those conditions anyway :?:

[theone3]

A unit that big has a smaller screen than the iPaq 2210? :confused totally:Nope. Same Size. 3.5"

Interesting device. The RS232 Port could come in handy.

[ctmagnus]

A unit that big has a smaller screen than the iPaq 2210? :confused totally:Nope. Same Size. 3.5"

Hmm... after a much closer inspection of this (http://www.pocketnow.com/html/portal/reviews/0000000345/review/compare1.jpg) and this (http://www.pocketnow.com/html/portal/reviews/0000000345/review/compare_backlight.jpg), I guess you're right. They've got some nifty perspective tricks going on, though!

[fishfuzz]

*chuckle* Yes, it does seem to be bigger in some pictures and smaller in others.

The problem with taking comparison images with the Recon is it's HUGE. And so, in some pictures I moved the camera slightly to get a better image (thus changing the perspective).