Pioneering rugged flashlight-style handheld
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

Billed as a "commercial off-the-shelf mobile computing solution for the enterprise, the HC700-L is a rugged Pocket PC with an extended 40-key ABC thumb-keyboard with numeric overlay. The device is powered by the 416MHz version of Intel's PXA270 processor and can be ordered with 64-128MB of RAM and Flash each. Measuring 7.8 x 3.2 x 1.9 inches, and weighing 18 ounces, is significantly larger than a consumer-class Pocket PC, but it's still handy enough to carry around.

The initial version used Windows Mobile 2003 SE, but an upgrade to Windows Mobile 5.0 was promised to become available. The 3.5-inch transflective touchscreen is standard for this class of device. The presence of a protected Mini SD slot shows that the HC700-L is built around recent technology. Built-in is a 1D/2D HHP Adaptus 752x480 CMS imager. A ruggedized connector provides both USB and RS232. The HC700-L comes with Bluetooth and 802.11b WiFi. A 13 watt-hour Li-Ion battery pack lasts up to ten hours between charges.

IP64 sealing allows use under most harsh environmental conditions, and the device can survive multiple 6-foot drops.

Numerous accessories are available, including 4- and 8-slot comms cradles with Ethernet and RS232 ports, a car cradle, hand strap, and a belt/shoulder holder. At its introduction, Motorola said the HC700 was just the first of a whole line of upcoming enterprise PDAs.

As of August 2008, what with all of Motorola's reorganizations and restructuring, the HC700-G is no longer found on Motorola's byzantine website. However, it remains listed at the Motodev (Motorola Developer Network), including all sorts of developer info (see here).