| A rugged notebook offers mobile professionals | | | | military specifications for ruggedness it doesn't |
| the ability to work in any environment and in any | | | | appear to be IP54 compliant and is probably best |
| location. Versatile and powerful, rugged notebook | | | | viewed as a more rugged than usual semi-rugged |
| computers are designed specifically for both | | | | notebook. It still provides the mobile professional |
| in-plant and outdoor industrial (and military) | | | | with a tough, durable notebook at a more |
| applications. Built to handle the toughest | | | | reasonable price than a fully rugged notebook. |
| environments, fully ruggedized notebooks should | | | | HP also has a rugged notebook series - the HP |
| have IP54 environmental protection, meet | | | | nr3610 Rugged Notebook. This model meets MIL |
| MIL-STD 810F and have heavy duty - generally | | | | STD for ruggedness in the areas of ESD |
| magnesium alloy - cases. Rugged notebook | | | | (Electrostatic Discharge), low pressure, humidity, |
| computers enable professionals to work smoothly | | | | sealing, temperature and vibration - and the |
| in adverse environments and are adequately | | | | Ingress IP-54 Protection rating for dust and |
| equipped to face almost any tough situation with | | | | water. However, it is very pricey for a notebook |
| ease. Naturally, these rugged notebook computers | | | | with a 12.1 LCD (over $4000) and nearly |
| are heavier than non-rugged models but offer | | | | impossible to find currently. |
| substantially more protection than standard | | | | Another rugged notebook, offering the choice of |
| laptops. offer a variety of semi-rugged and | | | | 14.1" and 15" Tflex displays - which work very |
| rugged notebooks, wireless tablets and even | | | | well both outdoors and indoors, is the Argonaut |
| rugged PDAs in their Recon series. They also | | | | Ranger. The hard drive and LCD are both shock |
| offer custom solutions. | | | | mounted and the case is constructed of |
| Arguably the most rugged and heavy-duty | | | | magnesium alloy. Both models of this rugged |
| notebook available is the Rough Rider III from | | | | notebook - Argonaut Ranger - meet military |
| Meeting IEC and MIL-STD 810F, temperature, | | | | specifications for ruggedness. The keyboard is |
| humidity, altitude, shock, vibration and drop | | | | spill-proof and the circuitry of this rugged |
| standards, the case also conforms to IEC 529 | | | | notebook makes use of anti-corrosive technology |
| and Ingress IP 54 requirements. It has extensive | | | | for extra protection. Designed particularly for |
| configuration options and a second bay available | | | | marine use the TFlex display works extremely |
| with internal PCI connector that supports a wide | | | | well under any lighting conditions - from full |
| variety of options including two additional COM | | | | darkness to direct sunlight. |
| ports (RS232, RS422, or RS 485), two additional | | | | Panasonic has its ToughBook line of semi-rugged |
| PCMCIA slots, a SCSI-2 port, DGPS or wireless | | | | and rugged notebook computers which are also |
| modules, an auxiliary battery, or fixed floppy | | | | worth looking into. The semi-rugged notebooks |
| drive. It can be configured with 1.4 or 1.6 GHz | | | | have a variety of features from the T2 with |
| Intel Pentium M processor, up to 2GB of DDR | | | | touchscreen weighing in at only 2.7 pounds to the |
| RAM, a 60GB HDD, and up to a 14.1 inch screen. | | | | Toughbook 51, available with a 2GHz Intel Pentium |
| It also provides extended wireless | | | | M 760, a shock-mounted 80 GB HDD and up to 2 |
| communications with 802.11b Wi-Fi, GSM/GPRS | | | | GB of DDR2 SDRAM, with a 15 inch TFT Active |
| and DataTAC connectivity. As you might expect, | | | | Matrix Color LCD and a standard Combo Drive of |
| all this ruggedness comes with a penalty and with | | | | a DVD multi-drive, weighing in at about 6.7 pounds. |
| the primary battery installed, the Rough Rider III | | | | Base pricing for the T51 seems to start around |
| rugged notebook weighs 12.7 pounds, definitely | | | | $1600. |
| not a light-weight. | | | | The Panasonic Toughbook-29 is a fully rugged |
| offers a variety of semi-rugged and rugged | | | | notebook tested to MIL STD 810F. The vibration |
| notebooks, wireless tablets and even rugged | | | | and drop-shock resistant design has Intel Centrino |
| PDAs in their Recon series. They also offer | | | | Mobile Tech and integrated 802.11 a/b/g wireless |
| custom solutions. As one of the premier providers | | | | LAN. It has a 13.3 inch outdoor-readable TFT |
| of notebook computers that meet and exceed | | | | Active Matrix Color LCD (optional touchscreen), a |
| military (810F and 461E) and industry standards | | | | shock-mounted removable HDD in a stainless steel |
| (IP54), anyone interested in a high quality semi- or | | | | case, sealed port and connector covers and a full |
| rugged notebook should make it a point to check | | | | magnesium alloy case with handle. With battery |
| them out. | | | | and floppy drive it weighs 7.9 pounds. Base |
| Sterling Computer Sales in Landenberg, PA, offers | | | | version pricing seems to be around $3500 |
| a series of rugged notebooks meeting MIL STD | | | | currently. |
| 810E (which primarily involves small drops and | | | | One thing you need to be aware of about rugged |
| rough transport). Their RB1500 has a rubber | | | | notebooks - particularly full MIL-STD ruggedized |
| mounted HDD, spill-proof keyboard and | | | | models - they can be a little hard to find at your |
| magnesium alloy case. It comes with a 15.1 inch | | | | local computer store - or even on some of the |
| TFT boasting sXGA+ resolution (1400X1050) and | | | | big internet sites. The substantial added costs of |
| a Pentium 4 Mobile 1.6Ghz processor. You can | | | | manufacture and testing - and sometimes, the |
| stuff it with up to 2GB of DDR ram and a 100GB | | | | performance compromises that are made, make |
| HD. For communications this rugged notebook | | | | them a questionable option for the usual notebook |
| includes modem, Ethernet and 802.11b/g Wireless. | | | | user. If you will be working under harsh conditions, |
| This might be better considered a semi-rugged, | | | | then they may be your only rational choice. |
| but the price with default options starts at only | | | | However, for a user who will simply be doing a lot |
| $1,595. | | | | of traveling, day in and day out, and wants a |
| The Durabook N15RI is a rugged notebook that | | | | notebook computer that can better tolerate the |
| has a magnesium alloy top and bottom case - | | | | inevitable shocks and bumps, a semi-rugged |
| which is 20 times stronger than plastic. This | | | | notebook could be a much more affordable |
| rugged notebook has anti-shock mounting and | | | | option, providing reasonable protection and better |
| spill-resistant keyboard, scroll buttons and | | | | performance at a lower price. |
| touch-pad. While it meets some (modified) 810F | | | | |