Only the PC program… then the PDA!
Men love toys! Modern Multimedia PDAs is outstanding toys! Consequence: It occurs again and again that the mad Multimedia PDA is bought hastily and thought afterwards only about whether it fits also existing or planned agricultural applications.
Since there are hardly manufacturer-spreading solutions or completely independent agricultural applications for the minicomputer (except within the range of the surface oversize ASS ASS/S. top agrarian 9/2001), by the existing agricultural PC program in principle the associated manufacturer-specific Palm and/or application of pocket PCs given. Thus consider: Only the PC program… then associated PDA application and the fitting PDA!
Does pocket thePC displace the Palm?
Two, to each other not compatible systems dominate the market:
| Palm (fig. left) with the associated operating system Palm OS (Palm organization system/current version 5.x) pocket PC (fig. right) with the special Windows operating system. The current version is Windows Mobile 5 | |
Within the agricultural software range solutions Palm based first controlled the market. In the past years Palm lost however its dominating the market position as a quasi-monopolist in the PDA market. The competitive pocket PCs won more and more market shares in addition. With rising spreading of the pocket PCs also within the agricultural range increasingly applications for this TypC are offered. Some software houses develop their mobile applications in the meantime even parallel for both operating systems. In each case it recommends to inquire itself before the purchase, which hardware and which operating system versions are supported by the respective management often commodity on the PC. This is valid in particular with the purchase used or more again particularly “exclusive PDAs”. If their hardware equipment of the standard PDA deviates - for example a particularly high screen resolution - can Inkompatibilitäten with agricultural software the consequence be. With the direct hardware comparison by Palm and pocket PC it is to be considered that the Palm operating system and also the Palm programs are usually substantially more compact, as “hardware-hungry” Windows applications. The Palm comes thus with clearly less memory and clock frequencies to appropriate operating speeds. Still Palms are on the average more inexpensive, somewhat more compact and run more stably than the pocket PCs, which caught up however clearly and by the numerous hard and software provider the Palm more and more market shares to decrease.
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Current Palm computers
Palm offers presently/immediately 5 different models: (Comparison of products under http://euro.palm.com)
1. Palm Z22 - inexpensive a riser model Palms Einsteiger PDA Z22 costs approx. 100 euros. It has a main memory of 32 MByte (20 MByte usable). That is enough for the installation of various programs. Memory cards, like with the other Palm PDAs, cannot be used. Thus also Multimedia applications or route planners are not meaningfully applicable. The clock frequency amounts to 200 MHz. That is more than enough. The screen represents max. 4,096 colors, has a dissolution of only 160x160 pixels and is smaller and not like that brilliant, as with the remaining Palm models. The software provided is limited to substantial Organizer functions. The period of operation is good with approx. 9 hours.
Addresses can result with the Z22 be administered and dates problem-free and used also agricultural applications. The small display and the absence of a memory card as well as of Multimedia functions and Bluetooth lead to a low price and limit the use to substantial PDA functions.
2. Palm Tungsten E2 - the standard Palm for farmers of the Tungsten E2 costs approx. 185 euros. The E2 has:
a processor 32 MByte main memory (30 MByte usable), clocked with 200 MHz, a well readable display with 320x320 pixels and 65,536 colors a card location for SD or Multimedia maps Bluetooth to the establishment of contact e.g. with the mobile phone or a GPS receiver comprehensive software equipment (display program for Office files, email, Internet browser, rendition program for music, pictures and videos) a maximum actual working time of scarcely 8 hours.
Result
Price and equipment make the Tungsten E2 the “standard Palm” for agricultural applications. The possibilities for Sprachaufnahmen and for the binding to radio nets (WLAN), which are missing opposite the TX, might be renounceable for the majority of the agricultural users.
3. Palm TX - large display, much memory and net binding of the Palm TX is a very well equipped PDA, which remains payable with a price by approx. 260 euros. It offers:
high operating speeds by a CCU with 312 MHz clock frequency sumptuous 128 MByte main memory (of it 100 MByte usable, non volatile memory prevents overrun with empty accumulator) a Slot for SD or Multimedia memory cards an excellent highly dissolving display with 65.536 colors and 320x480 pixels (in the high or landscape format usable) wireless communication over integrated WiFi (802.11b WLAN standard) and Bluetooth technology comprehensive Multimediafunktionen (however no language recording) comprehensive software equipment a maximum actual working time of approx. 5.5 hours.
Result
With the TX all tasks of a Organizers can be settled exemplary. Who is ready to spend opposite a Palm E3 approx. 80-100 euros more should seize to this PDA.
4. Palm LifeDrive - first Multimedia PDA with non removable disk first impression, if one takes the Palm Lifedrive into the hand: “Oh, which for a block!” With 193 gram it is already clearly heavier, than a Palm TX (149 gram), however quite still fits in the shirt or suit bag. Also as “mobile manager” designated equipment differs from all other PDAs by its 4 GByte large non removable disk, which predestines the equipment for Multimedia lovers. The sumptuous storage location (e.g. for MP3-Musikstücke or even video files) can be extended by SD or Multimediaspeicherkarten additionally. The other equipment of the Life drive:
Processor with 416 MHz clock frequency approx. 65 MByte main memory (plus 4 GByte non removable disk) excellent highly dissolving display with 65.536 colors and 320x480 pixels (in the high or landscape format usable) wireless communication over integrated WiFi (802.11b WLAN standard) and Bluetooth technology comprehensive Multimediafunktionen, language recording, headphone comprehensive software equipment maximum actual working time of approx. 5.5 hours.
Result for agricultural applications might be oversized the sumptuously equipped Palm Lifedrive. It is rather equipment for Multimedia lovers. Based on the equipment the price of approx. 380 euros is not too high.
5. Palm Treo 650 - mobile phone and Internet integrates the Treo 650 is a successful combination of PDA and mobile phone - also
Smartphone mentioned. Without telephone contract the Treo costs 650 approx. 535 euros. Not straight cheaply. But one receives equipment with the following achievements:
faster 312 MHz processor straight sumptuous 32 MByte main memory (22 MByte usable), over SD or Multimedia maps well readable display with 320x320 pixels and 65,535 colors (somewhat smaller than with the Tungsten E2) is not however expandable the four-volume mobile phones (GSM of radio nets with 850, 900, 1,800 and 1,900 MHz) data communication by GPRS (class 10) approx. 5 hours of consulting hour and 300 hours of readiness (of replaceable accumulator) Bluetooth 640x480 pixel camera (also video with clay/tone) good software equipment (among other things email program, Web browser, SMS and MMS program, document ton of Go for the use of Office documents of the PC).
The “thumb keyboard” is surely something for Feinmotoriker, but always better operably, than a Handy keyboard. One selects telephone numbers over large numbers faded in on the Touchscreen. The language quality is well, also a simple Headset is provided. The Handyteil can keep up with current mobile phones, as for example Nokia a 6230i, however not completely. The missing language choice can be completed over auxiliary software. During the Internet use the Treo strikes however each mobile phone - in particular emails (alternatively also with appendices) can be processed on the Treo very well.
Result a pfiffiges functional Smartphone with satisfying mobile phone and very good PDA functions.
6. Min IQUE 3600 - PDA with GPS antenna Garmins IQUE 3600 possesses inserted 12 a channel GPS receiver with EGNOS correction and within the agricultural range therefore frequently in combination with surface investigation programs is sold. The Austattung:
200 MHz processor 32 MByte main memory (23 MByte usable), Slot for SD and Multimedia maps screen with 320x480 pixels and 65,536 colors language recording, MP3-Player navigation program with language instructions (over 20 countries of Europe and basis maps for the whole world), external auxiliary antenna connectablly actual working time without GPS receivers approx. 3 hours list price 639 euros, in the Bundle with KFZ mounting plate, cigarette lighter cable and active loudspeaker 679 euros.
Result high-quality of finished PDA with integrated GPS receiver, somewhat few main memories and rel. short actual working time. For approx. 100 euros there is the IQUE of 3200 with 320x320 pixels less display, without language recording and MP3-Player, but however with approx. 4.5 hours of actual working time.
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Two operating system versions for pocket PCs
The mobile Windows platform caught up opposite Palm. That one marks also to the current offer at pocket PCs. A multiplicity of manufacturers offers the minicomputers in completely different price, achievement and equipment variants. The prices are enough from for instance from 220 to 500 euros. As consequence of the boom with passenger car navigation equipment the pocket PC is sold for example even over food Discounter regularly and finds always new groups of buyers. With the stronger spreading of the devices the agricultural software houses began to program their mobile applications also for the pocket PC to even only offer and/or new developments for the Windows PDAs. Current pocket PCs are offered with one of the following operating systems (an update is mostly not possible): Windows Mobile 2003 Second edition since March 2004 is Windows Mobile 2003 Second edition (Windows Mobile 2003SE) with the following improvements in relation to the previous version in the market:
Possibility the screen around 90° to turn improved pockets Internet Explorer (einspaltige representation) additionally to the usual 320_240 screen resolution, VGA with 640_480 and 240_240 and/or 480_480, for pocket PCs with keyboard support for Wi-Fi Protected ACCESS.
Current Windows Mobile 5,0 gives it since May 2005 with:
a new version of “Office mobile” a) PowerPoint mobile added b) Excel mobile got graphic abilities c) Word mobile could tables and graphics represent Windows Media Player 10 mobile picture and video package, which combine the administration of pictures and videos Bluetooth support with fewer abilities than the previous Broadcom/Widcom alternatives global Positioning system (GPS) interface into installed navigation programs QWERTY keyboard support ActiveSync 4,0 (10-15% faster with the synchronisation) use of the non volatile memory pocket of the PC also for volatile data (life span of the battery is to increase).
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Current pocket PCs
A current pocket PC for the employment in the agriculture should be as follows equipped:
Operating system Windows Mobile 5 processor starting from approx. 400 MHz clock frequency at least 64 MByte main memory (RAM) and 128 MT ROM SD and/or CF-Slot for memory card (n) standard display with 320x240 pixels Bluetooth
, There are already devices with this equipment, as for example on the right of shown Dell Axim X51 standard for approx. 270 euros. For approx. 45 euros more offers the model X51 Wireless additionally the binding to radio nets (WLAN 802.11b) and instead of a processor to 520 a MHz CCU clocked with 416 MHz.
Pocket PC for the employment in the agriculture
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