03-08-2007, 03:00 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Socket Mobile Unveils the SoMo 650
"Socket Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCKT), dba Socket Mobile, Inc., an innovative provider of mobile productivity products, today unveiled its new handheld mobile computer specifically designed to make essential business mobile productivity solutions possible and affordable. The company�s extensive line of mobile data collection and networking connectivity peripherals combined with the new handheld make Socket a one-stop supplier of mobile computing hardware systems. The new Socket SoMo� 650 is built to address the market that exists between consumer-oriented PDAs and heavy duty industrial devices. The sleek, durable device uses a touch screen and is based on the Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system to ensure the highest level of mobile application compatibility and gives workers a familiar computing environment. The SoMo 650 handheld computer�s flexible design enables ease of customization and integration with Socket and third party peripherals and information systems � extending the lifecycle of the product and reducing total cost of ownership. The company will launch a new extended, multi-year service warranty on the device as well as on many of its higher-end peripheral products."
The wait is over. Socket Mobile has just revealed its first Windows Mobile 5.0-based rugged handheld, the SoMo 650. Inside, you'll find an Intel PXA270 624MHz CPU, 128MB RAM, 256MB ROM, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, CF and SDIO slots, and a 3.5" QVGA touch screen. Interested in picking one up? Expect it in the April/May timeframe at a MSRP of US$648.
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03-08-2007, 04:02 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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Very cool. I've often thought there was a market for devices that fell somewhere between super rugged devices built to military specs such as Recons, and Symbols, and our consumer grade devices. This devide is a nice small package and the price is very affordable, yet it is still rugged enough (multiple 3 foot drops) for everyday use in many work environments.
Dave
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03-08-2007, 05:58 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Decent specs for the price, though you do pay a premium for the rugged factor.
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03-08-2007, 11:21 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,043
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Nice equipment overall. Tough, probably really reliable. Price isn't too bad at all for a rugged device. But with no VGA screen... nope.
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03-09-2007, 12:01 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Gerard
But with no VGA screen... nope.
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Yeah, but I can see why - VGA = power drain + higher cost. Enterprise users don't really need a VGA screen for 99% of what they'll be using this for...
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03-09-2007, 12:31 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 55
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This is nice, I don't need the rugged factor but I'm still considering it, the only things I could see that it would have added to make it perfect would be xga out, gpu, vga screen, gps but those aren't necessary, at least for me just an improvement. Socket makes some great stuff that many devices can't use and seeing that most if not all will work with it makes it very versatile. wm6 would be nice, maybe the phone capability which is very arguable and I won't get into it. This reminds me of what devices were (and should be with modern updating)
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03-09-2007, 01:21 AM
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Mystic
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,639
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I like it as well, although I think the Symbol MC35 is going to meet my personal needs better. I got to play with one today and it's basically the same specs as my HP 6940, but with much better keyboard and screen - more memory too as well as 802.11a/b/g.
Probably won't be a Vaja case for it, but at least it's designed for 4ft. drops to concrete.
It should be released in a few weeks and I'm hoping it is in Symbol's 70% demo unit discount plan for business partners.
__________________
Cheers!
David
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03-09-2007, 04:38 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 63
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If you guys are screaming about the price, my Symbol MC70 with GSM/EDGE, Bluetooth, 802.11g, and 2D barcode scanner set me back $2000 back in June 2006. I was slightly miffed when I loaded SlingPlayer last week and they don't support this device. :bad-words: I can get video to stream, but no audio. I was hoping to scan barcodes and watch ESPN in the warehouse. :mrgreen: Anyhow, $700 is a relative bargain for a ruggedized device, even without GSM radio. The other low-budget option is using an Otterbox for your device, and I have done that with no problems with my Axim x51v. I even threw the whole thing in a swimming pool as a test and it floats just fine. Do not try this at home! :wink:
Gerald, gimme a break. No VGA? Whatever. This is not a toy, it's for business.
dh, no ruggedized devices come with Vaja cases.  The snap holster for my MC70 works just fine. The screen faces into your body when it is snapped in so it is not exposed while walking.
Remember guys, these are NOT toys! I have seen serious abuse to these devices in warehouse and construction scenarios, both deliberate and accidental. I can't find the link, but there was a video of a guy who literally threw his Symbol device with trigger across the warehouse and bounced it a few times off the concrete, and then zoomed in to show no damage to the screen. I dare anyone do that with their Windows Mobile device. :devilboy:
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Currently using: BlackBerry Bold 9700 (T-Mobile), iPhone 3G (AT&T), Dash 3G (T-Mobile), and HTC Pure (AT&T). Too many ex-phones to list, if I had to list them all we'd be here forever.
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03-09-2007, 05:12 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 118
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Gerard
Nice equipment overall. Tough, probably really reliable. Price isn't too bad at all for a rugged device. But with no VGA screen... nope.
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Oh if we could just get those QVGA screens extinct I'd be happy 
After you've had VGA you don't want anything else...
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03-09-2007, 06:12 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,043
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by nutzareus
If you guys are screaming about the price, my Symbol MC70 with GSM/EDGE, Bluetooth, 802.11g, and 2D barcode scanner set me back $2000 back in June 2006.
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Someone screamed about the price? Must've missed that. The price seems good enough, as I indicated.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by nutzareus
Gerald, gimme a break. No VGA? Whatever. This is not a toy, it's for business.
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Firstly, the name is 'Gerard' - there is no letter L in that.
Secondly, it is precisely for business that I want VGA, and do not want QVGA. There are no games installed on my Toshiba e800. There are programs like Textmaker, Planmaker, and Pocket Artist, which I use in my business extensively (well, Planmaker not as much), and all of which provide far better use in VGA. That's true VGA, not just the smoother appearance but with wasted screen space along top and bottom as is the default. And lots of other applications unrelated to entertainment work better in VGA. Netfront, Opera, and Pocket IE for example, all show more on a page with less or no side-scrolling. Working in any text editor (I use 5, depending on the features I'm needing) is more enjoyable when more of a document is viewable.
I used a Casio EG-800 (well, 5 of them actually) until the last one died. I know how good it is to have a toughened PPC, and miss that. My e800 has taken 3 or 4 falls from 1metre+ to ceramic tile over concrete (the floor in my house) and at worst forced restoring from the previous day's backup. I'm awkward sometimes and forgetful almost always; a PPC in a pocket sometimes jumps out when I'm busy chasing a kid around the house... It would be great to have a device again which was actually designed for such accidents, but only if I didn't have to lose functionality. The QVGA screen on this new device represents too much frustration and inefficiency, for my uses. Otherwise it seems a great device with a fair price. Maybe they'll offer a VGA versipn. Battery life isn't a worry: Mugen makes batteries for most devices, and the 15+ hours I get from my current 5800mAh model is ample.
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