Are Rugged Laptops The Way To Go?
The first time you look at rugged laptops, it might seem hard to understand why you’d want to buy one over a regular commercial laptop. After all, the benefits aren’t apparent right away, and the price tag is pretty high.
However, if you need to be able to work anywhere and everywhere, under any conditions at all, a rugged laptop is the choice for you. It offers flexibility and the ability to deal with almost anything.
For instance, workers in environments that expose computers to vibration, falls, electromagnetic emissions, dust or liquids are all good candidates for these durable machines. While the high price tag puts some people off, the fact that these computers can take almost anything really does make it worth it.
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.
It may seem hard to protect the fragile equipment inside a laptop. After all, rotating hard drives and big LCDs are pretty delicate. However, there are lots of methods used in the toughest laptops.
For instance, instead of regular plastic cases, you’ll find high impact materials and even magnesium allows in a rugged laptop. These computers also come with rubber corner bumpers and carrying handles to help you get them around without damage.
The majority of rugged laptops also have smaller screens that won’t be damaged as easily, and are built to be read in bright light. Hard disks mounted on shock absorbers won’t be damaged by falls.
Some newer rugged laptops are also using solid state hard drives, but these have a much smaller capacity than traditional spinning types. There are even laptops that have motion sensors to stop the hard drive in the event of a fall.
To make these computers waterproof, gaskets and rubber membranes are placed anywhere there’s a joint in the case. Connectors are protected by rubber, and membrane keyboards are used to keep liquids and dust out.
There are also rugged laptops meant to be used outdoors in any weather. They have tiny heaters inside to keep components warm enough and large keys that can be used by gloved fingers. Some even glow in the dark to be used at night.
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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