Baracoda have a full range of barcode scanners

Ending our look at our bluetooth barcode scanner suppliers We turn to Baracoda. Like Socket, Baracoda are a focussed blu=etooth barcode scanner supplier but where others focus on the tablet wielding Samsung and Apple crew, Baracoda grew from more industrial roots meaning their products are tough.

Why we sell Baracoda bluetooth barcode scanners

Because they’re different, they’re a very good quality product with some nice features and above all they’re very rugged. If you need something for full indoor or outdoor use that’s fully rugged then Baracoda is the answer!

Pros

• Very full range, there’s a scanner to suit any level and any budget from the basic D-Fly to the 2D scanning, RFID tagging Orkan.
• Rugged, most of the models are IP54+ and have a drop spec and are clearly rugged.
• Big batteries = long staying power.

Cons

• Baracoda products aren’t cheap but they last and we think are definitely worth it for those needing a rugged bluetooth barcode scanner. They may be overkill for some though.
• Ingenico just bought Baracoda out. We don’t like buyouts here, it always means a period of settling down for a brand.
• No UK presence, although the French based support is very good and we see Baracoda’s account team more than some UK based brands!

If you’re looking for a bluetooth barcode scanner that’s rugged, has good RFID capabilities and will last with a good, full SDK then a Baracoda bluetooth barcode scanner is the answer!

http://www.ruggedandmobile.com

Cipherlab have some lovely bluetooth barcode scanners that suit the budget conscious

I didn’t realise how long this series was going to take so we’ll try to wrap it up this week and get moving onto some more interesting stuff!!

This week we’re looking at bluetooth barcode scanners and today we’ll take a look at Cipherlab / Ganedata.  Firstly whilst Cipherlab are a fairly well-known brand in data capture circles, Ganedata perhaps aren’t. To clear this up Ganedata are the importing arm of Cipherlab and where they bring in a lot of their newer WIndows Mobile based rugged handhelds. Cipherlab tend to take on the more traditional barcode scanner and CE based kit.  Both are the same company, based at the same Leeds base and are the same people!

Why we sell Cipherlab bluetooth barcode scanners

Great people, UK base with great service and good communication form an established supplier with a growing list of products.

Cipherlab Pros

• Own scanner technology and their bluetooth barcode scanners are really good.
• Nice range of features and options on all models.
• Very reasonable price, in fact they probably sell the least expensive bluetooth barcode scanner on the market right now with the Cipherlab 1660.

Cipherlab Cons

• The Rugged handheld PDA range is confusing and recent releases have been a little quirky.  We’d like to see a decent full range brought out.
• Product roadmaps aren’t as established as some.
• SDK and tools not so full as some and not so easy to navigate but are getting better all the time.

If you’re looking for bluetooth barcode scanners that have great features for a budget but are durable and some nice options like AA or Li-ION battery packs then Cipherlab bluetooth barcode scanners might be right for you!

http://www.ruggedandmobile.com

Socket bluetooth barcode scanners have an extensive range

Today we turn to bluetooth barcode scanners and look at the manufacturers we sell and why. First up is Socket bluetooth barcode scanners. We try to fit what we sell together so the brands we sell all have a USP and they work together giving great choice rather than just adding whatever there is and with Socket we’re able to plug a whole bunch of needs!

Why we sell Socket bluetooth barcode scanners

Because they’re a focussed barcode scanner business, growing, with great products and with a great SDK. They’re very active and very fresh working on all the major operating system platforms. I think they’re one to watch.

Pros

• Great range, from budget socket CHS 7Ci to antimicrobial, rugged, 2D versions of their CHS range. They’re even available in v
• Great SDK, probably the best out there and they have a great development community too.
• Socket Bluetooth Barcode scanners are extremely ergonomic, have some great unique features.

Cons

• No on device built in storage so they scan live to a table/PDA device only.
• Price is not the cheapest. We think they’re probably worth it?
• Not the most rugged scanner on the market, they’re durable but they lack full IP ratings for outdoor use.

If you’re looking for a bluetooth barcode scanner that have great features, with choice of scanner, ruggedness and even colour and you want a nice easy SDK that is packed with features on multiple OS’s then a Socket bluetooth barcode scanner is the answer!

http://www.ruggedandmobile.com

Winmate have a growing army of rugged handhelds and tablets

continuing with our look at far eastern rugged handheld PDA suppliers, today we look to our only Taiwanese based manufacturer in Winmate.

Why we sell Winmate

Winmate have a pretty darn rugged background, making really tough Rugged handheld PDA’s and also LCD panels that have to withstand extreme conditions. More recently Winmate have not only ventured into the Rugged tablet market but have been quietly expanding their rugged handheld PDA range too.  We sell Winmate because we can repair them in the UK, because they’re innovative, growing and offer proper rugged business tools.

3 Winmate Pro’s

The range of PDA’s is growing and there’s something for everyone. Rugged 7″ and 10″ tablets, sub-£400 rugged handheld PDA’s that give you a proper alternative to the semi-rugged likes of Pidion’s BM170 and Motorola’s ES400.

Android is at the heart of what Winmate do. Many of their handhelds are built from the ground up to work with Android, unlike many rugged handheld PDA’s that install it as an afterthought.

Innovation! We love innovative, attentive products that have flexibility and can be configured highly for each customer.  Take the Winmate e430 for instance, you can spec this as a £400 fully rugged 4.3″ PDA with or without 3G, add a built in barcode scanner and RFID for those needing to scan regularly.

3 Winmate Drawbacks

They’re learning and they  have no UK presence right now.  They need good resellers who’ll commit so make sure you buy from someone knowledgeable and who has a direct relationship with Winmate.

Some models actually lag behind in their Windows Mobile development. This is changing but many models are Android and CE (who uses that OS any more!!) only.

Some models lack the deep accessories that a rugged solution sometimes needs.

We have talked about other brands in the same way but if Winmate keep on track and work closely with resellers then they have the potential to be a well-known UK brands of tomorrow.

www.ruggedandmobile.com

Pidion, are they all they’re cracked up to be?any longer

Ah, the good old days selling lots of Pidion rugged handheld PDA’s!! Up until a year ago we were by far the biggest Pidion supplier in the UK, we out sold even distributors.  We’re still the best in our humble opinion, based upon an uncompromising committment to service, knowledge and repair of their kit, and we still talk about them a lot but we did remove Pidion from our “adopted” brand list here at Rugged and Mobile, earlier this year, here’s why.

Why we sell Pidion

Despite the challenges with their hardware and them, we still sell Pidion, we sell it because they do have a nice broad range of PDA’s, but largely because they give the customer a cheap option and put a rugged PDA into the ands of people who can’t afford the like sof Motorola .

 3 Pidion Pro’s

Pidion are cheap, certainly if you need just a few. If you need a whole project then Motorola and Psion etc get far close, in fact very close these days, but if you need a bit of cheap hardware, up front and aren’t worried about support then they’re an option for that.

Pidion do have a broad range of PDA’s so you have a good chance of getting different types of PDA all under the same manufacturer which in theory makes support a little easier.

They have a small semi-rugged device called the BM170, it used to be unique and is a good port from older WM P6500′s or ipaqs.  Its not unique any more though!

3 Pidion Drawbacks

We had a thriving warranty service on Pidions for 2 years.  We stopped doing that though, unless you buy a service contract in which case we still repair them here…. draw your own conclusions from that!  You can no longer get < 3 day warranty repairs in the UK now though.

Pidion kit has its fair share of problems.  It used to be good, but not so much these days in our experience, especially with firmware.  This is fine when we’re doing warranty repairs in 3 days for you, but not when they now take a lot longer and cost more.

Pidion have no UK presence and when the top reseller in the UK is stepping back, you have to wonder what they’re doing?  They’re numbers focussed, numbers are down, communication is poor these days and they have become difficult to work with, probably due to the constant change of personnel.

Pidion need “remarkable” resellers with passion, who will bring opinion, take risks with their brand and bring brand advocacy; prioritising those over profits and we don’t see that happening in the UK any more. Without that and without a passion they’re just another far eastern supplier with all the same problems in our opinion.  Be careful where you buy from and you should still be OK.

www.ruggedandmobile.com