Something like the 'ArcPad' solution - a slim version of ArcView running on
a Windows CE device? I also looked at that with some interest - a field
tool that was handy in size, ran for a whole day on one set of batteries
... sounds ideal.
But then reality set in: a competent WinCE machine is about $1,000 US when
you max the memory to 32mb, and that amount of memory probably won't allow
you to store and display high-resolution raster images such as 1m
orthophotography - not that the LCD screen resolution would be very
supportive of that. ESRI pricing is always a mystery but we figured we'd
probably pay about $650 even with government discounts for the ArcPad
software. And that assumes it all works as predicted.
For the same price you could purchase a Toshiba Libretto (Pentium 233,
4.3gb hd, 32mb RAM running Win98) for about $1,700 US and use your existing
MapInfo license. The Libretto is handily small but you still have a
touch-typable (barely) keyboard and all the functionality of Win98 (love it
or hate it) - and enough capacity to run 200mb orthophotos, nautical charts
and whatever else we need for data building or display out in the field.
When we get back to the office just pop out the X-jack on the 10/100 net
card, hook up the cable, boot up and you're on the network to pass along
the data that you were able to build completely, annotate easily,
quality-control and check all while in the field. We use the Blue Marble
GeoTracker application with a Magellan Pro MarkX and CSI/Magellan DBR for
in-field differentially-corrected GIS input.
Some things we don't like: the Li-Ion battery only lasts about 2-1/2 hours,
and a spare is $175 US. On battery power alone the screen chooses to be
less-backlit making it less-readable in bright light - we fitted a little
hood over it which helps but not enough to make it easy to see. Luckily
it's cloudy rather often here in the Pacific Northwest USA. But like any
laptop not built to be water resistant (and thus double the cost) the
Libretto is vulnerable to rain, mud - even pine needles getting into the
keyboard have been a problem. It has a reputation for being more rugged
than most, but in our opinion most laptops are distressingly frail. The
weird little thumb-mouse is also an irritant.
So that's what we've done, and it's worked well overall. You could cut your
costs somewhat by purchasing a larger but more easily damaged
last-generation closeout laptop for about $1,000 US from a computer discounter.
Tom
At 01:33 PM 09/11/2000 -0400, you wrote:
To the list
Has anyone heard of MapInfo products for hand held ( Palm, Pocket PC, etc)
computers.
Thank You
Stephen Wallace
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Tom Curley
Suquamish Tribe GIS Program Manager
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"Rules have their place, but reason makes a better argument."
-- Bill Thoen
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