PocketPC: Difference between revisions
Brian Wilson (talk | contribs) mNo edit summary |
Brian Wilson (talk | contribs) |
||
| (7 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
= Hardware = | == Software development == | ||
I am sort of admitting that I need MS PPC software because I want to run ArcPad. | |||
Or at least be able to. So converting to Linux is a low priority, especially if I can get a decent software development environment going. | |||
Still and all, I am not interested in jumping on the MS developer bandwagon. I did that for awhile and got very tired of having to send them money once a year for upgrades. So I am looking elsewhere... | |||
=== GNU development system for PPC === | |||
There is a GNU development system for PPC. Need to check that out. | |||
=== Python CE === | |||
Also (as referenced above), there is Python CE. | |||
=== Remote access === | |||
Allows using a PC screen to develop apps, also allows doing demos. | |||
==== VNC Server ==== | |||
I just read (on the [http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/pythonce Python CE mailing list]) that there is a VNC server that runs on the PPC. VNC allows remote control, a display of the screen appears on a VNC client. This means you can do development work on a desktop system without having to touch the device itself. See http://www.pocketvnc.com/pocketvnc.aspx | |||
====Microsoft powertoys=== | |||
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/wce/downloads/ppctoys.mspx | |||
== Hardware == | |||
The lesson I learned using a 3900 series iPaq was that a '''daylight visible display with as big a screen as possible''' is really important. I just went out and got myself a Dell Axim X50V which has a small but high res screen. I wanted a pocket sized device. | |||
<pre> | |||
Model : Dell Axim X50v | |||
CPU : Intel® PXA270 624 MHz Stepping | |||
RAM Size : 64 MB | |||
ROM Size : 128 MB | |||
OS Version : 4.21.1088 (Build 14260) | |||
Storage Card : In Use | |||
Built-in Storage : Total:91.43 MB, In Use:3.65 MB, Free:87.78 MB | |||
SD Card : Total:968.25 MB, In Use:407.55 MB, Free:560.70 MB | |||
Memory(Program) : Allocated : 36.26 MB, In Use : 21.03 MB, Free : 15.23 MB | |||
Memory(Storage) : Allocated : 25.41 MB, In Use : 5.43 MB, Free : 19.98 MB | |||
Power Status : Battery ( Main : 89% / Backup : 100% ) | |||
Battery : 01.14.05.00 | |||
Backlight : 12.31.04.00 | |||
Display1 : 03.22.05.00 | |||
Display2 : 02.22.05.00 | |||
Touch : 12.15.04.00 | |||
Audio : 09.15.04.00 | |||
Keyboard : 10.05.04.00 | |||
USB : 10.11.04.00 | |||
SD : 12.27.04.00 | |||
SD Memory : 12.27.04.00 | |||
SD Bus : 12.27.04.00 | |||
IPSM : 07.21.04.00 | |||
PCMCIA : 03.18.05.00 | |||
Serial : 02.17.05.00 | |||
Power : 01.27.05.00 | |||
Brightness : 09.22.04.00 | |||
MicGain : 09.22.04.00 | |||
SysInfo : 12.07.04.00 | |||
WirelessPower : 02.14.05.00 | |||
BTPower : 07.14.04.00 | |||
WlanAskDiog : 08.18.04.00 | |||
</pre> | |||
'''Interfaces''' -- If you are using a specific GPS receiver, make sure your PDA can talk to it! Some have RS232, some don't. My Axim has USB and Bluetooth; my plan is to try out Bluetooth. The tangle of cables on a GPS backpack system can be really annoying. | |||
I am looking for a cheap RS-232 to Bluetooth converter. "Cheap" means around $50. The ones I have seem are $150 and up, which strike me as being out of control. | |||
'''Slots''' (SD/MMC, CF, PCMCIA) -- CF is nice because 1GB cards are coming down in price, and you can get other accessories such as network and serial port adapters in this form factor. SD/MMC memory cards are slightly higher than CF. | |||
'''Batteries''' -- The Dell has an oversized battery available. Some units like the 3900 iPaq have a non-removeable low capacity battery, limiting field work to about 2 hours. This is bad. Make sure the PDA has a removable, high capacity battery. | |||
'''Optional extras'''- keyboard, ruggedized case. | |||
The rugged versus lightweight debate | |||
Ruggedized PDA's like the TDS Recon are very cool but so expensive that you could get three or four Axim's and carry the extras as spares! Unless you are doing field work that really absolutely requires it, I'd say get a cheap one and a good case. Don't get the 'rugged case' that HP sells! It's overpriced and full of holes that will let water in. | |||
It really depends on your style. If you are going on long field trips to remote locations a ruggedized unit with extra battery life and weatherproof case is probably worth it. If you can't stop work if it starts to rain, it's probably worth it. But for clear weather use around town, the extra cost is not justifiable. | |||
=== PDA manufacturers === | |||
[http://www.daptech.com DAP] uses a turtle on their web page so it must be good!<br> | [http://www.daptech.com DAP] uses a turtle on their web page so it must be good!<br> | ||
| Line 8: | Line 90: | ||
[http://www.tdsway.com TDS] (Recon, Ranger(formerly from At Work Computers)) <br> | [http://www.tdsway.com TDS] (Recon, Ranger(formerly from At Work Computers)) <br> | ||
[http://www.trimble.com Trimble] (rebadged Recon, GeoExplorer XT) <br> | [http://www.trimble.com Trimble] (rebadged Recon, GeoExplorer XT) <br> | ||
=== Rugged cases === | |||
[http://otterbox.com/ Otterbox.com] Rugged cases<br> | |||
[http://www.boxwave.com/ Boxwave.com] Lighter weight cases<br> | |||
Latest revision as of 23:22, 29 July 2006
Software development
I am sort of admitting that I need MS PPC software because I want to run ArcPad. Or at least be able to. So converting to Linux is a low priority, especially if I can get a decent software development environment going.
Still and all, I am not interested in jumping on the MS developer bandwagon. I did that for awhile and got very tired of having to send them money once a year for upgrades. So I am looking elsewhere...
GNU development system for PPC
There is a GNU development system for PPC. Need to check that out.
Python CE
Also (as referenced above), there is Python CE.
Remote access
Allows using a PC screen to develop apps, also allows doing demos.
VNC Server
I just read (on the Python CE mailing list) that there is a VNC server that runs on the PPC. VNC allows remote control, a display of the screen appears on a VNC client. This means you can do development work on a desktop system without having to touch the device itself. See http://www.pocketvnc.com/pocketvnc.aspx
=Microsoft powertoys
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/wce/downloads/ppctoys.mspx
Hardware
The lesson I learned using a 3900 series iPaq was that a daylight visible display with as big a screen as possible is really important. I just went out and got myself a Dell Axim X50V which has a small but high res screen. I wanted a pocket sized device.
Model : Dell Axim X50v CPU : Intel® PXA270 624 MHz Stepping RAM Size : 64 MB ROM Size : 128 MB OS Version : 4.21.1088 (Build 14260) Storage Card : In Use Built-in Storage : Total:91.43 MB, In Use:3.65 MB, Free:87.78 MB SD Card : Total:968.25 MB, In Use:407.55 MB, Free:560.70 MB Memory(Program) : Allocated : 36.26 MB, In Use : 21.03 MB, Free : 15.23 MB Memory(Storage) : Allocated : 25.41 MB, In Use : 5.43 MB, Free : 19.98 MB Power Status : Battery ( Main : 89% / Backup : 100% ) Battery : 01.14.05.00 Backlight : 12.31.04.00 Display1 : 03.22.05.00 Display2 : 02.22.05.00 Touch : 12.15.04.00 Audio : 09.15.04.00 Keyboard : 10.05.04.00 USB : 10.11.04.00 SD : 12.27.04.00 SD Memory : 12.27.04.00 SD Bus : 12.27.04.00 IPSM : 07.21.04.00 PCMCIA : 03.18.05.00 Serial : 02.17.05.00 Power : 01.27.05.00 Brightness : 09.22.04.00 MicGain : 09.22.04.00 SysInfo : 12.07.04.00 WirelessPower : 02.14.05.00 BTPower : 07.14.04.00 WlanAskDiog : 08.18.04.00
Interfaces -- If you are using a specific GPS receiver, make sure your PDA can talk to it! Some have RS232, some don't. My Axim has USB and Bluetooth; my plan is to try out Bluetooth. The tangle of cables on a GPS backpack system can be really annoying.
I am looking for a cheap RS-232 to Bluetooth converter. "Cheap" means around $50. The ones I have seem are $150 and up, which strike me as being out of control.
Slots (SD/MMC, CF, PCMCIA) -- CF is nice because 1GB cards are coming down in price, and you can get other accessories such as network and serial port adapters in this form factor. SD/MMC memory cards are slightly higher than CF.
Batteries -- The Dell has an oversized battery available. Some units like the 3900 iPaq have a non-removeable low capacity battery, limiting field work to about 2 hours. This is bad. Make sure the PDA has a removable, high capacity battery.
Optional extras- keyboard, ruggedized case.
The rugged versus lightweight debate
Ruggedized PDA's like the TDS Recon are very cool but so expensive that you could get three or four Axim's and carry the extras as spares! Unless you are doing field work that really absolutely requires it, I'd say get a cheap one and a good case. Don't get the 'rugged case' that HP sells! It's overpriced and full of holes that will let water in.
It really depends on your style. If you are going on long field trips to remote locations a ruggedized unit with extra battery life and weatherproof case is probably worth it. If you can't stop work if it starts to rain, it's probably worth it. But for clear weather use around town, the extra cost is not justifiable.
PDA manufacturers
DAP uses a turtle on their web page so it must be good!
Dell (Axim)
HP (iPaq formerly a Compaq product; and from before the merger, the Jornada)
NEC MobilePro
Symbol Technologies PDT 8100, PPT 2800
TDS (Recon, Ranger(formerly from At Work Computers))
Trimble (rebadged Recon, GeoExplorer XT)
Rugged cases
Otterbox.com Rugged cases
Boxwave.com Lighter weight cases
