Wifi and Barcode Scanning at the same time

RiscIt · 05-04-06, 07:00 PM

Hello all,

I apologize in advance if this is a silly question. Some preliminary research has yeilded no obvious answers, and I figured instead of banging my head against the wall or listening to some idiot in abu dabi give me a sales pitch, I would just ask you nice folks who are "in the know".

I have an e-commerce web application which will offer inventory management when it's finished. Some of my clients which will be using this system have their inventory spread out over a large area, and running back and forth to a computer to update inventory numbers would be tedious.

I would like for them to be able to purchase an inexpensive handheld, like the Axim series, connect to a WiFi network in their warehouse, and use an attached bar code scanner as they walk around the area taking inventory.

My questions are:

1) Does Pocket IE support https?

2) Does Pocket IE support javascript?

3) Does Pocket IE support AJAX via the xmlHTTP object?

( none of those are deal breakers but would be handy to know going in )

4) Is there (and this is what I can't find a straight answer on) a combination of Axim model and add on hardware that will let you use a wifi connection and a bar code scanner at the same time? (My concern is that a wifi card would use the only slot available and you couldn't use a bar code scanner at the same time). Perhaps there is an axim with wifi "built in" and doesn't occupy the only slot? I really don't know.

5) Am I missing anything else which might make this plan unfeasible?

6) If not... Please feel free to suggest axim models, wifi cards, and bar code scanner attachments which would work well together. Particularly if you've worked with them before. Price is an issue... would very much like to keep the total cost for each unit under $500.

Thank you in advance, and I apologize once again if this is an inappropriate question. New to this whole thing and I'm trying to feel things out before I ask a client to invest cash in a trial system.

Pocketbrain · 05-05-06, 01:34 PM

The "top two" of the current Axim series have built-in WiFi, as have the last couple Axim series (X3i, X30, X50). On Aximsite's home page, click Resources, then Model Comparison. This gives you more information on the various Axim models (although it needs to be updated to include the X51 series). I would suggest the latest mid model (X51, 520 MHz). I don't know much about barcode scanners, but this series supports both SDIO and CFIO, so look for SD and CF barcode scanner cards.
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w3iner · 05-05-06, 05:55 PM

Why not buy barcode scanners? It might seem low tech but it will work as good if not better.

RiscIt · 05-08-06, 01:08 PM

thanks PocketBrain, I'll take that to mean that "built in" wifi does not simply mean it comes with an SD or CF wifi card, and that the slot is still free for a scanner.

> Why not buy barcode scanners? It might seem low tech but it will work as good if not better.

That's the plan (?) Either I am confused or you are... barcode scanners need to be attached to something, otherwise they are useless. In this case, they will be attached to an Axim and used to enter SKU numbers and query a database via a website through Pocket IE.