Is A Rugged Laptop The Best Option?
Your first look at a rugged laptop may make it hard to understand why you'd want to buy it instead of an ordinary commercial-type laptop. After all, the price tag is high, and the benefits aren't immediately obvious.
However, anyone who needs to be able to work in any environment and under and conditions should take a second look. Rugged laptops offer flexibility and durability that regular laptops just don't have.
If you work in an environment that may expose your laptop to liquids, falls, vibration, electromagnetic emissions or the elements, you're a good candidate for rugged laptop computers. The price tag may seem high at first, but once you realize that these computers can take anything the environment has to dish out, you'll see why they're the perfect choice.
A good rugged laptop will offer a strong casing with no gaps and a sealed keyboard. Liquids, dust and damp will be kept out of interior compartments, and won't be able to cause damage to delicate components. You can use your laptop in the dustiest, dampest conditions without fear that your information will be lost.
If your laptop is in a place where vibrations and falls are a worry, choose these rugged computers. The hard drive in a rugged laptop is made with protections against shock and vibration, as well as a reinforced case - something you can't expect out of an ordinary computer.
If you work near power transmission or radio equipment, you could have trouble with most electronic devices. Choose a laptop that has shielding from these kinds of emissions to protect your data and keep your workflow efficient.
Fragile laptop parts might seem like they're hard to protect, since LCDs and rotating hard drive platters are relatively delicate. However, rugged laptops use some pretty sophisticated methods.
Instead of an ordinary plastic case, these rugged laptops use high impact plastic or magnesium alloys. They may also have rubber bumpers on the corners to keep them in good shape, and you'll get a carrying handle with many models.
Slightly smaller screens are less susceptible to damage, though rugged laptops use screens that can be read more easily in bright light. Hard disks are mounted on shock absorbing devices to keep the shock of a fall from being transmitted to them.
There are even a few newer rugged laptops using smaller capacity solid state drives instead of traditional mechanical ones, and devices with motion sensors to stop a hard drive platter before the computer reaches the ground.
These computers are made waterproof using gaskets around case joints, rubber membranes under the keyboards to reduce dirt, dust, and liquid absorption and rubber casing around all connectors.
Some rugged laptops meant for outdoor use in all seasons even have tiny heaters to keep components at the right temperature, and large keys that can be used by someone with gloves on. There are even models that glow in the dark for night use.
Who should use a rugged laptop? The answer is simple - anyone who works in a rough environment. Traditionally, these tough pieces of electronic equipment were used by surveyors, civil engineers, emergency services and the military, but if you have to work in a tough environment, these machines may be right for you.
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