Originating from Korea's Catchwell -- a new name to us, though the company is said to date back to 1999 -- the CW30 (pictured) is being sold by SDG Systems for an introductory price starting at just $700. As you'll realize if you've been in the market for this type of handheld lately, that's less than half of what many of them go for.

Of course, Catchwell can't boast the long-term-availability record of the more well-known names. But on the face of it, the CW30 has a lot to offer.

For a start, the CW30 is IP54-rated for resistance to liquids and dust, and it's also said to survive 12 1.5-meter drops onto concrete, just like the more expensive competition. Also, Catchwell specifies a faster-than-average, 806MHz Marvell PXA320 processor, running Windows CE 5.0 or Windows Mobile.

Catchwell says the CW30 has 256MB of built-in storage as well as a microSD slot. There's also a SIM slot, because a GSM/GPRS/WCMDA cellular modem is optional; 802.11b/g wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0 are standard.

The CW30 includes the 3.5-inch, 320 x 240 pixel resistive touchscreen that's typical for this type of device. Its keyboard, meanwhile, offers 26 keys in all, including a numeric keypad whose keys can double as function keys.

According to Catchwell, the CW30 also has USB host and client ports, a serial port, and a 24-pin connector. Accessories include a trigger handle, a one-device charging/communication cradle, and a vehicle cradle, the company adds.

Integral hardware options for the handheld itself include the cellular modem mentioned earlier, a 1D laser scanner, a 1D/2D imager, a three-megapixel camera, and a GPS receiver. A 4,400mAh battery is also cited, though neither SDG nor Catchwell specified how long it lasts.

Specifications listed by Catchwell for the CW30 include:

• Processor -- Marvell PXA320 clocked at 806MHz
• Memory -- 256MB of RAM and 256MB of flash storage
• Display -- 3.5-inch touchscreen with 320 x 240 pixel resolution
• Keyboard -- 26 keys including numeric keypad
• Expansion -- microSD slot
• Scanning/imaging:
  • 1D laser scanner (optional)
  • 1D/2D barcode scanner (optional)
  • 3.0 megapixel camera (optional)
• Networking:
  • WWAN -- GSM/GRPS/EDGE/CDMA cellular modem (optional)
  • WLAN -- 802.11b/g
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
• Other features:
  • GPS receiver (optional)
• Other I/O:
  • USB host and client ports
  • RS232 port
• Battery -- 4,400mAh
• Operating range -- -4 to 122 deg. F
• Dimensions -- 6.9 x 3 x 1.3 inches
• Weight (with battery and cellular modem) -- 0.77 pounds

Further information

According to SDG Systems, the CW30 costs $899 with the 1D scanner and camera options installed, with a $699 promotional price applying until the end of October 2011. The device costs $1099 with the camera, 1D/2D imager, and cellular options, with an $899 promotional price through the end of October.

More information on the device may be found on SDG Systems' Catchwell product page.

Jonathan Angel can be reached at jonathan.angel@ziffdavisenterprise.com and followed at www.twitter.com/gadgetsense.

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