TDS Recon Rugged Pocket PC Review

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/TDS_Recon.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/TDS_Recon.htm</a><br /><br /></div>PDA Buyer's Guide have a solid, long lasting and feature packed review of the TDS Recon rugged Pocket PC, very much like the device itself. 8) <br /><br />"The TDS Recon isn't your average Pocket PC. It can withstand drops, bangs, dust and rain. The 17 ounce Recon is a rugged Pocket PC running Windows Mobile 2003 that's targeted at government, vertical market and military users who need a handheld computer that can survive the elements and take a beating." :bangin: <br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/TDS_recon_back.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/TDS_recon.jpg" /><br /><br />"While some vertical market PDAs lag behind in tech specs and horsepower, the Recon runs the latest Pocket PC operating system and has a 400 MHz XScale processor with 64 megs of RAM and 128 megs of non-volatile flash RAM. Pretty powerful stuff, in a very rugged design." Then there's the (not so) small matter of it's two Compact Flash slots, 3800 mAh NiMH replaceable battery pack and weight of 490 grams (17 oz). Nice, very nice &amp; not very nice at all!<br /><br />"We've provided the durability and environmental specs below, and I can tell you that I dropped the Recon 3 feet onto a hard floor several times and it was undamaged. TDS says it can withstand immersion up to 1 meter, and I in fact put the unit under running water while turned on and it didn't skip a beat.". I think we need to update our review techniques at PPCT in light of this! :wink: <br /><br />The TDS Recon also reverses the usual RAM\ROM ratio for good measure as well. "What good is a durable device if your data disappears when the battery runs out or is removed for periods of time? The Recon comes with 64 megs of SDRAM (same as most high end Pocket PCs) with ~ 58 megs available. More importantly, it has 128 megs of non-volatile flash RAM (think of the iPAQ File Store concept) that survives extended power loss and hard resets. If the Recon is left in a truck for 3 weeks, all data and applications stored in the flash RAM area will still be there when you finally charge and power up the unit." <br /><br />Oh yes, finally there's the small matter of the prices, which start at $1,499 for the 200 MHz version. 8O :shocked!: Presumably the weight of the device won't bother the people that buy it, as they are used to their wallets being that heavy all the time. :lol:

[dangerwit]

Random notes:

$1500 is a fair price for this unit, comparable to its competitors... though maybe a little high for 200 MHz, but for MIL spec it's not too bad.

Putting a device under running tap water is not a good 'environmental test'. Submerging it, on the other hand, would be a good test for a MIL-spec device. Almost any rugged CE device out there (Intermec, Symbol, HHP, etc) can withstand running water.

The NiMH is unfortunate -- you'll need a good reconditioning cycle put in place to get the most from the batteries. The weight is not so good either; being over a pound makes it a poor choice for extensive data entry, but that's the rugged trade-off.

The operating temperature range is excellent compared to others -- what you'd expect from a military device.

For our clients, we subject our CE candidates to BRUTAL environmental testing (non-military users). We bake 'em in an oven for a bit, then drop 'em in a freezer, then bake 'em again, then freeze 'em again. Then, we subject them to 11 or 12 in. of rain per minute then finally try submerging, testing the device in-between each transition. We've tested several 'rugged' PPCs, and only one survived all the tests, even after the vendor tried to fix the issues. :) The survivor also happened to be one of the cheapest.

Still, we have yet to try the TDS here. I doubt we can, since we need barcode capture, and we don't trust 'add-on modules'. But if you don't need scanning, this looks like a decent device.

*Phil

[powder2000]

C'mon, which one survived? The suspense is killing me! IMHO, I think these are at the top of the list for rugged field units.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Yes, go on Phil, which one took your punishment? :twak:

We want names! :lol:

[dangerwit]

Doh! Sorry, didn't mean to do the ol' bait-n-switch. :twisted:

Well, remember that we focus on barcode-gathering devices. The eventual device we liked that wasn't MIL spec ended up being the HHP Dolphin 9500 (http://www.hhp.com). It's a long device because of the keyboard, so it isn't a 'pocket' PPC. BUT, I did my own testing after our guys got a hold of one... I took the same one and ran battery tests (with graphs, etc) and screen response time tests at home... in my freezer. :)

I found:
With a 1000 byte ping every second over the WLAN card, color screen, screen and backlight always on, backlight at full, the battery lasted almost FOUR hours... in the freezer! At room temp it goes to about 7 hours. The screen had perfect response times for TWO full hours. I've never seen a device perform like that.

Oh, and the official testers sumberged it in a bucket of colder water and played solitaire on it, while under water, for five minutes. Just unbelievable.

We really like the device, with PPC2002 (2003 is avail too I think), color screen, up to 128MB space, upt to 128MB (I think) non-volatile, built in SD (don't know if its SDIO), and a 400 MHZ PXA255. Oh, and it weighs around 14 oz. or 12? Can't remember. FABULOUS device.

We also did tests on the latest Symbol scanner and it did very well too, but we opted for the MUCH lighter, MUCH thinner HHP Dolphin.

BTW, I work for one of the big airlines; this HHP unit is our choice, as well as yet another big airline's choice -- if you can guess, these devices take tremendous abuse from some employees, so that's why our tests are so 'violent'. :)

Definitely one of the best, lightest, thinnest corporate-use, non-MIL-spec devices I've ever had the pleasure of using.

*Phil

[dh]

We also did tests on the latest Symbol scanner and it did very well too, but we opted for the MUCH lighter, MUCH thinner HHP Dolphin.
I like the new HHP models as well. Our customers have found the screens to be tempremental however, and just try and get them to ship a four slot ethernet cradle - Mission Impossible.

Then again, it's hard to get hold of the WM2003 Symbol devices as well sometimes. Sometimes it's safer to stick with the PPC2002.

[dangerwit]

Screen issues? With the 9500? Would you mind elaborating, I'm interested to hear what you encountered.

*Phil

[fireman2850]

I looked into buying some Recons and was told that they run WindowsCE, not WM2003 or PPC2002. Not that this will stop me from buying them but was I misinformed? (by a TDS salesman no less)

[Stik]

I looked into buying some Recons and was told that they run WindowsCE, not WM2003 or PPC2002.

According to Tripod's site, one can get the Recon w/ either WM2003 or loaded w/ Windows CE.Net.

http://www.tdsway.com/?Sec1=products&grp=hdw&Sec2=tdsreconseries&Sec3=whatsnew

[Talon]

I looked into buying some Recons and was told that they run WindowsCE, not WM2003 or PPC2002.

According to Tripod's site, one can get the Recon w/ either WM2003 or loaded w/ Windows CE.Net.

http://www.tdsway.com/?Sec1=products&grp=hdw&Sec2=tdsreconseries&Sec3=whatsnew

Your information was correct at the time. The WM2003 version came out after the CE4 version.