Rugged GPS-equipped PDA sports full VGA LCD

location based services

Jul. 17, 2007Trimble has introduced a new GPS-equipped handheld PDA series running Windows Mobile embedded software. The Nomad comes standard with Windows Mobile 6 Classic Edition and a full VGA-resolution display, plus options for built-in GPS, barcode scanner, digital camera, and 802.11g WiFi, according to the company.(Click here for larger image)Touted as the company's "most versatile and feature-packed rugged mobile devices to date," the Nomad is based on an 806 MHz Marvel PXA320 XScale processor, and includes 128 MB of SDRAM and either 512 MB or 1 GB of flash memory. Other standard features include a touchscreen, integrated speaker and microphone, Bluetooth 2.0, USB host and client ports, and an audio jack. Expansion features include both a Type II CompactFlash slot and an SDIO slot.Trimble says the following options are available for the Nomad:
802.11b/g WiFi
SiRFStar III GPS receiver, WAAS capable
9-pin RS-232 serial connector
PDA or numeric style keypad
2 Mpixel color digital camera
1D laser barcode scannerThe Nomad series meets the MIL-STD-810F standard for drops, vibration and temperature extremes, according to Trimble. It also has an IP67 rating, meaning it is completely sealed against dust and can survive immersion in up to a meter of water for approximately 30 minutes.Two versions of the Nomad are available now: a entry-level version that is equipped with 512 MB of flash, and a higher-end version that includes 1 GB of flash along with GPS and WiFi. Other versions are expected in August, Trimble said. Suggested retail prices range from $1,699 to $2,499.