Re: Modern PDAs not suitable for Real Apps...Discuss ?
- From: "Paul Kay" <pkay@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2006 14:57:41 -0000
PhilJ,
We have a current customer where we are running a Pilot System of some new
software we have developed, who's service provider (or more accurately
service provider reseller) was willing to offer the customer a Symbol rugged
PPC for 'free' on an 18 month contract. If only they could have got hold of
the device (delays due to RoHS regulations I believe). The customer has
gone for a consumer grade device from the same service provider for the
initial pilot, however, due to the destruction rate of the consumer devices,
we are back in tendering for the hardware along with our software for the
next phase of the Pilot.
I feel also that the availability of consumer devices needs to be
considered, the models available change throughout the year, and the 20
devices in the initial Pilot are no longer available for full roll-out of
the system next year, whereas the devices from rugged PPC manufacturers tend
to have a longer 'shelf-life' and will likely be available throughout an
extended roll-out.
So I guess we initially hit the same problem you are experiencing, but the
customer's subsequent experience has moved them back towards a rugged
device. I would say don't take on any responsibility for the device if the
customer is seduced by 'free' consumer grade devices from their service
provider, and get a rugged device in there as quickly as possible when the
customer starts to experience the inevitable problems with consumer devices
in a 'hard' environment.
Paul
"PhilJ" <philj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1164894099.844080.290310@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I hope some of you that frequent this group, especially MS people, can
offer their opinions and comments to my plight.
My Company has been supplying software on mobile devices for over 10
years, from the early Apple Newton / Amstrad Penpad through to CE and
now Mobile 5. The Apps are aimed at 'blue collar' workers, primarily
field engineers, who want to download work, enter details of jobs done
and send it back.
In the 'early days', clients accepted that the devices they used had to
be bought - for real money. Over the last few years, however, they have
been seduced by the Mobile networks into signing up long connection
contracts, in return for Free PDAs. This was fine a year or 2 ago, when
the devices were quite basic and left enough memory to run our
applications, but the current spate of units now contain all sorts of
wizardry, graphics, cameras, video capture, etc etc and therefore leave
very little memory for anything else. Add to this the expectations of
clients - who want want more and more functionality, including picture
grabbing, signatures, real time enquiries onto the host - and we are in
a ever downward spiral of not being able to supply on these 'Freebie'
devices.
There are very good Mobile 5 devices available from the likes of Psion
and others - but trying telling a client that they need to spend £700
- £1000 for each of 150 engineers, when they can get something for
nothing !!
What I need is one of 2 things;
a) A magic solution to the problem of fitting larger programs into
devices with decreasing free memory.
....or probably more realistically
b) Some supporting evidence from the Industry or others to show
prospective clients that 'This is Life" ! You get what you pay for -
and you need to spend some money if you want a device that is capable
of being used for professional feature rich applications.
All comments greatfully appreciated.
Phil
.
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