The world of rugged devices?

By Anoop Verma

While travelling with laptops, we often get plagued by insecurity. An accidental bump or spill can damage the device, causing loss of valuable data. But if you can afford a rugged laptop, there is no such risk. A rugged laptop can handle extreme temperatures, harsh movements, and exposure liquid and dirt. You can drop it, bump it, stand on it, leave it out overnight in the rain, pour a glass of hot or cold water on the keyboard – chances are that the rugged laptop will survive.

Dell Latitude E6420 XFR

You can think of the E6420 XFR as the wrestling champ of laptops. Its sturdy body incorporates a range of cutting edge BallisticArmor rugged technologies and has been tested to high defence-grade standards; it can withstand dust, moisture, and accidental drops. According to some analysts, it can even take a bullet and keep working. The 14-inch WLED display, which features DirectVue technology, will let you enjoy a vibrant view of your work even in direct sunlight. Powered by Intel’s high-end quad-core Core i7-2620M, the device boasts of up to 8GB RAM. On a single charge the battery usually is good for 11 hours. Price: Rs. 175,000 to Rs. 200,000 (Depending on configuration)

Panasonic Toughbook 53

Weighing only 5.6 pounds, this laptop packed with mission-critical applications is targeted at people who prefer to take their machines along everywhere. You need a machine to get your work done, whether you sojourning through the deserts of Rajasthan or enjoying the beauty of snow clad Himalayas. The Toughbook 53 can survive drops and anything you might throw at it. Under its tough hood, the device packs some latest tech available. Latest Intel processor powers it, and the LCD screen is viewable even in bright sunlight. Battery life is up to 10 hours. Price: Rs. 70,000 to 80,000 (Depending on configuration)

Getac X500

This laptop comes with tech chops to offer ultimate computing solutions in all kinds of extreme environments. Inside the body made out of extremely durable magnesium alloy case, we have a shock-mounted hard drive. The I/O caps and doors are fully sealed to prevent damage from solid particles and moisture. The device is certified for ruggedness and shock protection, and is completely resistant to dust and water. The 15.6” HD display is readable in brightest sunlight. Superlative computing experience is assured by the presence of Intel Core i7 2.66GHz Processor, 4GB of RAM and Nvidia GeForce GT 330M graphics card. Price: Rs. 225,000 (approx.)

HP EliteBook 8460p

This sleek notebook comes packed in a robust platinum casing and is capable of withstanding drops, vibration, dusts, altitude, water and high temperature. The 14-inch LED screen has a distinctive matte finish and it offers excellent visibility in direct sunlight. The device uses latest processor technology from Intel. You can go in for one powered by Intel Core i5 processor, or the more advanced Core i7 processor. RAM is upgradeable to 16 GB. All the models use Windows 7 Professional 64-bit OS. The Elitebook 8460p’s standard 6-cell battery is good for more than 8 hours. Price: Rs. 63,000 (Approx.)

Panasonic Toughbook Tablet

According to Panasonic, this about to be launched tablet will be the toughest in the planet. It can handle the rigours of vacations, construction sites and crowded buses and trains.  It is fall proof, dust proof, waterproof, and packed with all the mission-critical features to serve the professional needs of a mobile user. It comes with a fully functioning GPS, “full-shift” battery life, 3G/4G options, and its interface consists of a bright, daylight viewable 10.1-inch XGA matte screen. Price: Yet to be decided.

Itronix GD2000

Even though the Itronix GD2000 weighs just 2.4 pounds and is small enough to fit into your pocket, it can perform like a full-sized notebook, thanks to an energy-efficient 1.2 Ghz Intel processor and a 2GB DDR3 RAM. It is capable of withstanding accidental drops, extreme temperatures, heavy vibrations, blowing rain, sand and dust, humidity, altitude, acoustic noise, fungus, direct sunlight, and many other conditions. It packs a highly sensitive GPS, and has a 5.6-inch daylight visible touchscreen. This beast can run for six hours on a lithium-ion battery. Price: Rs. 225,000 (Approx.)?