Source: Tom's Games | Keywords: shockproof, waterproof | Themes: Business Notebooks, Laptops and Notebooks, Digital Cameras
4. Current Tech: Laptops
Most of us don’t find ourselves in HazMat environments too often, fortunately. We do, however, have drooling dogs and toddlers, clumsy feet and—in my case—butterfingers when it comes to anything breakable. Some laptops, built with accidents in mind, come armed with technologies to make them both durable and flexible. These ruggedized machines tend to have immovable solid state hard drives and use older chip sets that don’t get hot enough to require fans, which are entryways for dust and water. Here are some examples:
Panasonic Toughbook 30
The Toughbook 30, launched in January 2008 and priced starting around $3,000, is used by the Air Force for flight mission planning and maintenance work in extreme heat or humidity, according to Panasonic. The laptop is encased in magnesium alloys, and weighs in at 8.4 pounds. The sealed keyboard is designed to prevent spills from getting inside.
Unlike most ruggedized laptops, the Toughbook 30 has a display that’s actually readable in bright sunlight, because it was designed for outdoor use. Panasonic used the U.S. military’s MIL-STD-810F ruggedization guidelines to test the Toughbook. (MIL-STD-810 is a series of standards, or methods, developed by the Army Developmental Test Command to specify environmental tests simulating conditions a device might encounter in the field, including low pressure, high pressure, low temperature, temperature shock, rain, humidity, fungus, salt fog, sand and dust, explosive atmosphere, leakage, acceleration, shock, vibration and freezing rain.)
The Toughbook can’t withstand the extreme vibration or shock of an explosion, for example, but it can fall from a kitchen table and keep on ticking. Panasonic’s Toughbook tests are some of the most strenuous for consumer products. A few highlights (don’t try this at home): Spray the computer with water for 12 consecutive hours; spray superfine silica dust at it for 8 hours; heat and cool it from -4 degrees F to 140 degrees F in cycles.
HP Elitebook 6930p
Weighing in at only 4.7 pounds, the HP Elitebook 6930p, released in October 2008, is HP’s first foray into the rugged laptop market. This sturdy machine, priced starting around $1,200, has a 14.1-inch diagonal display, and a shock- and spill-resistant exterior. It comes with what the company says is the longest-lasting battery on the market, providing 24-hour continuous use.
Like Panasonic’s Toughbook, HP’s Elitebook was configured with military standards in mind. But perhaps more important, if the battery life is as long as HP claims, that extra juice could be the inspiration the rest of the industry needs to improve battery technology.
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If I'm not mistaken this is suppose to be a site for Computer Enthusiasts...if so why is this article treating us like we're idiots?
My god, if your computer is making a whirring noise you recommend giving it a light smack? What kind of non-technical potentially risky bullshit is that. I want to hear one computer professional recommend smacking a computer when its on, when the probable cause is a wire near a fan.
My dog chewed on a brand new cell phone (no sim card), breaking the screen and puncturing the battery. I found the same model (differant carrier) on ebay for $15, opened them up, put the old board into the new phone and it fired right up. All of the programming info was on the circuit board, so Sprint never has to know.
Another phone I had got drenched in a rain storm. Popped out the battery, and put it in the toaster oven on low with constant supervision for an hour. It baked out the water and the phone was as good as new.
Hmm as an IT professional, I would never recommend "smacking" a computer and definitely not RISING OUT A LAPTOP if you spill something in it, talk about making a bad situation worse. If anything the water will dilute whatever you spilled and ensure that it gets in every single crevice and guarantee your laptop will never work again.
As long as companies keep outsourcing to the chinks in china with their substandard quality and tainted goods, nothing will ever be good.
Hey, I'm almost certain the last part wasn't serious, guys. It's clearly a joke. It's the OPPOSITE of what your supposed to do.
(Oh, and I like the atomic-proof drive.)
An interesting article though, and the only problem I have is that it seems these laptops that are 'ultra-durable' are compensated by their cost and performance.
Actually, smacking is a good method for fixing an aging CRT monitor when it decides to turn pink or green. I used to really abuse mine.
To little detail was given on each item, we know these laptops exist...why aren't they telling us the specs, or why the USB hard drive isn't compatible with all computers..? Or the hard drive ticking comment....oh come on who do you think you're talking to here?
If I'm not mistaken this is suppose to be a site for Computer Enthusiasts...if so why is this article treating us like we're idiots?
Hi Grims,
Tom's Hardware is for "enthusiasts," while Tom's Guide is for interested consumers, but we think both groups can find interesting things to read on both sites.
Thanks for your comment!
Rachel Rosmarin, Editor of Tom's Guide
A good method for drying your toilet, lake, sink or bathtub dunked phone is to take it apart, remove the battery and sim card. Heat up some uncooked dry rice in the microwave for about 30-60s. Then put the wet phone in the rice (covering the phone with the rice) and repeat until it is dry, let it sit overnight, reassemble and fire it up. This worked on my brother's Palm Treo, and is most likely safer than a toaster oven =P
smack it? why smack it?! are you crazy? don't give bs tips to non-IT readers! what kind of advice is that...
smack it? why smack it?! are you crazy? don't give bs tips to non-IT readers! what kind of advice is that...
If you are stupid enough to rinse off your laptop or smack your computer because it is noisy, you shouldn't really be reading this anyway. In fact, you shouldn't own any electronic device.
A good method for drying your toilet, lake, sink or bathtub http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathtub dunked phone is to take it apart, remove the battery and sim card. Heat up some uncooked dry rice in the microwave for about 30-60s. Then put the wet phone in the rice (covering the phone with the rice) and repeat until it is dry, let it sit overnight, reassemble and fire it up. This worked on my brother's Palm Treo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Tr%C4%93o , and is most likely safer than a toaster oven =P
I'll keep this one in mind
Why I use a Panasonic Toughbook and Linux...
Billy in Sugar Land