Its open architecture allows future upgrades without buying a new computer, and it meets military standards for resistance to vibration, shock, temperature, altitude and moisture. Another advantage that the laptops have is the ability to make the transition from office to field and back again more easily than pen computers. This makes their purchase easier to justify, as they are truly multiuse computers. That edge is being lost, though, as more pen computer manufacturers offer docking stations and port replicators to facilitate office connectivity and data transfer and analysis. For most field data collection projects, a pen computer provides significant advantages in portability and ease of use.
Prices range from hundreds of dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on the configuration.
Pen Computing also is a good source for information on cases, docking stations, software and other accessories. One solution is to wear, rather than carry, the computer. The core unit, belt and two batteries weigh about three pounds, and the display is a little more than a pound. It has all of the features of the standard ViA II, but is housed in a machined aluminum casing that is resistant to impact damage and temporary immersion. It also provides a solid-state IDC Flashdrive to reduce the risk of drive failure due to shock, impact or vibration.