As software solution providers, we test a lot of equipment with our route accounting software, we see the good stuff and the not so good stuff, and we've decided to pass what we learn along to you.

We know there are many sources for consumer grade PDA reviews, but if you are an enterprise IT buyer trying to choose the ruggedized handheld device your company will use for the next five to seven years, there really is nowhere to get honest reviews of the available equipment. The few "review" sites out there seem to simply regurgite the manufacturer’s marketing material and datasheets.

MobileHarewareReviews.com is different. We will tell you the good and the bad about each piece of equipment from the perspective of software developers that test our software on this type of hardware every day. We will also do our best to make the reviews practical for you by evaluating equipment based on criteria such as:

• Survivability
• Usability
• Reliability
• Value

We will review handheld devices, printers, wearable computers, scanners, and tablet PCs. Our first reviews will cover the latest offerings from Motorola (formerly Symbol), Handheld Products, Intermec and PSC to name a few. We’ll take a look at what’s on the market currently, as well as what’s coming on the horizon.

Let's get a couple things straight from the start

1. Versatile Mobile Systems Inc. (the sponsors of this site) has a hardware division that sells this equipment.
We are a value added reseller of mobile devices for all of the companies I’ve just mentioned. We want this site to provide you with the knowledge to make an informed equipment selection. By providing a trustworthy source of insider information, we hope to become your go-to resource for rugged handheld computing, printing and scanning equipment.

2. We promise tell you what we honestly think about a unit.
So, why would we share some of the unflattering things about equipment we sell?  We think you’d rather buy from a company you can trust to tell you the truth. In addition, we provide support for the equipment you buy from us, so we'd rather see you get a reliable product that we won't have to worry about.

3. There is no perfect handheld device.
Each model has its advantages and disadvantages. Any time you try to squeeze so much computing power and technology into such a small package, you must make tough design and engineering choices. We know the process of choosing the right equipment for your needs can be difficult, so we want to help you make the best decision possible.

What can you expect from this site?
If all works out according to plan, we'll be releasing a new review just about once a week. We plan on starting with Symbol's, I mean Motorola's, MC70 (since I've got one sitting on my desk), and follow that up with the MC 9060 (also on my desk). I'm trying to get my hands on an MC35 (they're hard to get a hold of right now) as soon as possible. I did get to see one briefly last Friday, but it was boxed up, and I only got to look at it without the battery installed. So all I can say is it's a cute little thing that looks kind of like a Blackberry with an extra large screen. As soon as we get to put it to the test, we'll post the results.  In the mean time, sign up for the monthly newsletter, bookmark this page, and come back often.

Brett Birdsong
Sr. Editor