by CHRIS L » Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:25 pm
STEVE
The Allegro is the porsche of data collector.....top of the line....completely waterproof...they show a picture of it submerged on the website, but I have yet the guts to try it with ours....We purchased a Allegro CX and a Tracker from our Microsurvey Dealer last April. Typically use the Tracker for day to day surveys and the allegro is used with the robotic....I used a Ipaq for around a year proir to getting the tracker and allegro and from a stand point on convience. I would go with a Keypaded unit. The pop up keypad screen keypad is ok, real thing is more convient. We got the membrane keypad with the tracker and kinda wish we had ended up with the other button pad that is available...Its just kinda stiff, but it does work and you very rarely push the wrong number/button. I love the Allegro keypad....big soft clicking buttons, lookes easier to use with gloves. Since we use it with our robotic it has the Extra radio built in and is a little heavier than the Tracker...thats why the tracker is used more....
I'm sure your MS sales rep can answer this, but I assume they are still sending out Tracker demos.....you get to use it for a week or so in your environment with no salesman hanging over you telling you what to do, how to do it....all you pay is shipping.. You get to see how it works with your equipment, see if your crew guys like it, ect. We loved the freedom from not having the salesman hangin over us...
I think the base Allegro CX (color screen is a must if you ask me) was around $3000-3500. The base tracker is what 1900...I would go up to the IP65 rated one....water resistant, dust proof....has the real buttons as opposed to the membrane.
All in all...we like the Tracker and the Allegro....either is a great Choice....especially matched with the Field Genius software.
Just my LONG 0.02 cents
Chris