TDS tops every category, including best value, best technical support, easiest to learn and most useful features
CORVALLIS, Ore. — October 26, 2004 — Tripod Data Systems (TDS) today announced that a recent study shows that more professional surveyors use both TDS hardware and software for data collection than that of any other manufacturer.
In addition, when asked to evaluate both hardware and software on seven different criteria each, more survey respondents chose TDS as best in all 14 categories. The study mirrors the results of a 2002 study in which surveyors chose TDS software over other manufacturers by a three-to-one ratio. TDS placed first in all seven software categories in the 2002 survey as well. In this year’s study, for the first time TDS replaced Hewlett-Packard as the most used data collection hardware manufacturer.
“While surveyors can choose from a number of products, this latest study confirms why more of them choose TDS,” said Eric Hall, survey products manager. “It’s particularly gratifying to see that we’ve moved to the top in the hardware categories. We appreciate the confidence surveyors have in our products, and we will continue working to build on our technical support, reliability, value and all the criteria that are important to our customers.”
The questionnaire asked respondents to name the manufacturers of their primary data collection hardware and software. It then asked respondents to identify the best surveying hardware and software manufacturers in seven different categories. TDS placed first in every category for both hardware and software: best value; best technical support; easiest to learn; most durable (hardware)/dependable (software); most innovative; most respected; and most useful features.
The direct-mail survey was conducted in June 2004. Questionnaires were mailed to 1,000 active, qualified magazine subscribers chosen on an Nth-name basis from domestic circulation. The magazine’s market research staff assisted in the design of the survey and handled all printing, mailing, returns and analysis.
About TDS software and hardware
TDS Survey Pro™ surveying software is a complete data collection and field computation package for surveyors and other field professionals. In addition to traverse and sideshot routines and a full suite of COGO tools, Survey Pro features advanced routines for road layout, coordinate geometry, staking, adjustment, attribute collection and DTM. The latest version, Survey Pro 4.0, includes multiple workflow enhancements, an Instrument Manager, editable favorites and GPS cell phone support.
TDS rugged data collectors—the Recon™ and the Ranger™—meet stringent military standards for drops, vibration and temperature extremes. Both also come with an IP67 rating, meaning they’re impermeable to water and dust.
The Recon runs Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PCs and includes a color touchscreen display. The Ranger runs the Windows CE .NET operating system and features a 57-key tactile keypad and color touchscreen.
About Tripod Data Systems
Tripod Data Systems (TDS) develops hardware and software for mobile computing applications. TDS produces rugged handheld computers for extreme outdoor and industrial environments, software for land surveying and construction applications, and GIS systems for field data collection and automation. TDS is also the U.S. distributor for Nikon® survey products.
TDS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Trimble. The company is headquartered in Corvallis, Ore., and was founded in 1987. For more information about TDS, visit www.tdsway.com, e-mail survey@tdsway.com or call 541-753-9322.
