Rugged Notebooks

Built to withstand life's little bumps, moisture, sand, dust, vibration, temperature extremes, and three-foot drops onto concrete, rugged notebooks can take a beating and keep on booting. They're heavy, bulky, and expensive, but if you need a PC to work under extreme circumstances, this is the class of machine for you.

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What Are Rugged Notebooks?

Rugged notebooks are machines that have extra protection against a range of environmental and situational hazards. They are designed to work in harsh conditions: dusty construction sites and factories; outdoors in the heat, cold, and wet; and in moving vehicles where they are subjected to shock and vibration.

Who Are They For?

The military is the largest purchaser of rugged notebooks, followed closely by state and local governments for use by emergency-services and law-enforcement personnel. In the private sector, rugged notebooks are ideal for construction contractors, telco workers, and factory-floor managers, as well as professionals who find themselves in the field more than at a desk.

What Can You Expect From Rugged Notebooks?

• Magnesium-alloy or aluminum outer shell
• Inner skeleton protecting vital components
• Shock-mounted hard drive with active protection system
• Optional solid state drive
• Sealed keyboard and port covers
• Indoor/outdoor screen

Simple Buying Tips

• How rugged do you need? There are varying degrees of ruggedness, ranging from machines designed for road-going business pros (shock-mounted hard drive, mag-alloy shell, spill-resistant keyboard) all the way to those that meet military specifications.
  
  Some even offer optional heaters for the hard drive for use in frigid conditions. Of course, the more rugged the machine, the more you will pay.
  
  
• Get the extended warranty. If you are buying a rugged notebook, it's because you need it to take some abuse. So be sure to opt for a warranty that covers user mishaps (drops and other accidents) in addition to the standard "defects in materials and workmanship."
  
  
• Maximize your connectivity options. Don't let an open PC Card slot be the weak link in your otherwise element-proof machine. Look for integrated 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as WWAN and GPS if those suit your needs.
  
  
• Sleek they ain't. With their metal cladding, rubber bumpers, and molded-in handles, rugged laptops won't fit anyone's definition of "sleek." But done right, the design can at least attain "industrial chic" status.