VERSION 1.3 AVAILABLE AS OF 7/1/02VERSION 1.3 AVAILABLE AS OF 7/1/02Perceptive Products presents the JV Inventory Manager, a bundled hardware and software system ready to go to work, right out of the box. Everything you need is included.
The JV Inventory Manager will enable you to capture your inventory on a state-of-the-art hand-held computer, and transmit the inventory file to your PC.
Click on the handheld computer image above, or the following link, for a live on-line JV Inventory Manager demo!
The hand-held computer is the new WorkAbout MX Scanner from Psion, and the software for the WorkAbout was written expressly for Perceptive Products by National Technology Services.
The JV Inventory Manager will prompt you to confirm the system clock date and time is correct, then enter your name or user ID, then enter a location. Once a location is entered, you may scan a bar code, or key enter product numbers and quantities. After entering all of the products and quantities for the current location, then you can easily change to a new location, and enter the products and quantities at the new location.
The number of locations and products are only limited by the amount of memory available. The WorkAbout hand-held computer comes with 2Mb of internal RAM memory. But, memory is unlimited because the WorkAbout accepts memory cards up to 8Mb. If 8Mb isn't enough, you can swap memory cards in the field.
In addition to enabling you to enter your inventory, the JV Inventory Manager will also allow you to scroll through all of your entries, optionally delete an entry, check battery status, set the real-time clock, transmit the inventory file to a PC, delete the inventory, and you can even undelete the last inventory file. It also has a password protected feature that allows you to set the hand-held computer number (good if you have more than one), change the communications port on the WorkAbout, and more.
If you are entering assets rather than inventory, where the quantity of each item is always 1, the JV Inventory Manager allows you to turn off the Quantity prompt. This way you'll only see the Location and Item prompts but not the Quantity prompt. By turning off the Quantity prompt you can just enter a location followed by all the items at that location one right after the other.
The inventory file transmitted to the PC is a simple ASCII file. It should be compatible with any spreadsheet or database program. The fields you'll find in the file include DATE, TIME, USER, LOCATION, ITEM, and QUANTITY.
The WorkAbout will run on 2 AA Alkaline batteries, or we have rechargeable battery packs and docking stations. It also has a Lithium battery for back up, if the main batteries become low.
The laser scanner bar code reader, built into the top of the WorkAbout, is on a swivel head that makes reading bar codes at any angle convenient.
Communications between the JV Inventory Manager and a PC can be accomplished with a simple cable, or a docking station. The docking station is required if you use rechargeable batteries. You have a choice of PC Communications software, either NTSCOM or PsiWin. PsiWin requires the PC user to drag and drop the inventory file from the handheld to the PC using a mouse. NTSCOM is much simpler, faster, and more convenient by allowing the handheld computer to transfer the inventory file to the PC.
| PRODUCT | PRICE | NOTES |
| JV Inventory Manager | $1,995 | The handheld computer system. |
| Cable Communications | $84 | Assumes AA batteries; PsiWin; One per PC. |
| Cable Communications | $215 | Assumes AA batteries; NTSCOM; One per PC. |
| Docking Communications | $634 | PsiWin; One per PC. |
| Docking Communications | $770 | NTSCOM; One per PC. |
| Rechargeable Batteries | $35 | Requires Dock; One per handheld. |
