[Geowanking] Advice for developing apps for the Windows CE.net OS for rugged field computers ?

[Julia Harrell]

Greetings Geowankers,

I'm looking for advice from anyone who has experience developing apps 
for the Windows CE.net OS on a rugged field computer, the TDS RECON 
platfom, to be specific.

Our NC Geodetic Survey will have an intern from the National Geodetic 
Survey (NGS) this summer whose task is to develop a data collection 
software that checks the data as it is collected to make sure the 
surveyor is not cutting any corners.  This would allow NCGS to submit 
geodetic leveling data to NGS via the web and have the results in the 
National Spatial Reference System within days.  It currently takes 6-12 
months for the data to get into the system.  They currently use an old 
program that runs on a HP48, which is now out of production.

I don't have any mobile development experience myself, hence the need 
for advice. Apparently the NGS intern has some java programming 
experience, which is why they were considering a java system. If the 
software is going to need to inteface in real time with Trimble, TopCon 
or other modern surveying sofware, I am wondering if perhaps they should 
choose a C# / Microsoft Windows Mobile development environment instead - 
for compatibility. The RECONS will definitely be running Windows CE.net 
as an OS, not Linux.

Some very quick research on the web turned up these non-Micro$soft 
options as being possible candidates. Suggestions, caveats, opinions, 
links to better information, would all be greatly appreciated.

commercial
-----------
CrE-ME 4.1 http://www.nsicom.com/
IBM Websphere WSDD http://www-306.ibm.com/software/wireless/wsdd/

free
--------
SuperWaba http://www.superwaba.com.br/en/default.asp
EWE http://www.ewesoft.com/EweInfo.htm


Thanks,

Julia Harrell
GIS Coordinator, NC DENR
julia.harrell at ncmail.net
919-715-0363