It’s a fact of modern life that if you drop your laptop, that’s probably its endgame. That’s not the case with a rugged laptop, however. From its magnesium-aluminum cases that are 20-times stronger than the plastic to reinforced glass screens, sealed ports and shock-mounted components, a modern-day rugged notebook is designed to handle the worst kind of abuse and still thrive.
Rugged laptops are perfect for soldiers, technicians and adventurers. The gold standard for rugged computing is the Army’s Mil-Std 810G, which involves 29 of the cruelest tests you could imagine. They range from repeatedly dropping shaking the system to dunking, spraying, freezing and baking it. In other words, every possible failure mode – short of a nuclear blast – is tried.
There’s one more spec that you should particularly look for in a rugged computer: its two-number IP (Ingress Protection) rating. On a zero-to-six scale, the first number stands for protection against dust, dirt and sand getting inside, while the second number represents the waterproof-ness. Most rugged computers get an IP65 or higher rating. If the design passes these tests, it should survive even the clumsiest among us.
The overengineering of these rugged notebooks adds up, however, and they end up weighing between five and nearly 10 pounds – roughly twice the heft of conventional systems. Most rugged systems include the clever bonus of a pull-out handle that can make carrying the system easier. Expect price tags that range from $1,300 to over $5,000, although there are semi-rugged designs that have a smaller premium over conventional systems.
For those who are hard on their gear, an armor-plated rugged machine is more than worth it because when the going gets tough, these rugged computers keep working.
Panasonic Toughbook 31
Panasonic’s sixth generation Toughbook 31 MK6 shows that beauty can be more than skin deep. It has a hardened magnesium-aluminum alloy case that has an IP65 rating, which is good for dunks and heavy-duty water sprays. Inside, the Toughbook 31 is a little behind the times with Intel’s seventh-generation processors (configurable with Core i5 or i7). The Toughbook 31’s 13.1-inch XGA touch display is more than bright enough to use in direct sunlight. For those contemplating arctic exploration, the optional drive heater can keep your data warm and accessible during the worst cold snap.
