>Sounds like you guys know a bit about ruggedised handhelds with barcode readers.

These aren't Palms, but they're probably the industry standard cause its waht a large majority of our customers use.

http://www.markingsys.com/mmeq.htm
http://www.lltproducts.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/scstore/PDTs/topgun.html?E+scstore

Though, I have a feeling these things are a year or two behind the times as technology goes.