3. Using The Twinhead Durabook N15RI: Build, Keyboard And Mouse

On the build side the N15RI is an undisputed winner. The case is made of magnesium alloy, which Twinhead claims is 20 times stronger than plastic. I can't vouch for that claim, but I can tell you that the notebook feels very solid. The magnesium alloy accounts for some of that, but you also have to remember that both the LCD and the hard disk drive are surrounded by solid rubber cushioning; the HDD on all sides and the LCD on its four edges. It's easy to get to the disk drive, see the photo below, but the LCD is sealed in such a way that I didn't want to risk damaging the computer to show you its rubber cushioning.

"Yea," I hear you saying, "but you're going to drop the thing. So why worry about a little LCD damage?" Well, there is a difference between intentionally inflicted damage and damage from a fair test approved by the manufacturer."

The Durabook N15RI's hard disk drive is cushioned on all sides by rubber.

The LCD is also cushioned by a nicely designed space on the top of the case; the part above the back of the LCD. The top of the case peaks in the middle. This provides a nice chunk of empty space to absorb energy from falls where the top of the case hits first.

The peaked top of the N15RI's case absorbs energy from falls where the top of the case hits first.

I was surprised that the two halves of the NRI5RI's clamshell case were not secured by a locking mechanism. Instead small spring loaded plastic catches on either side of the display click into openings on the keyboard part of the case. See the photo below. The catches don't lock in place. They just hold the clamshell closed by virtue of the pressure applied by the springs. It appears that this was done to allow the clamshell top and bottom to flex in case of a fall, thus adding some to the notebook's ability to better absorb an impact.

One catch (top red circle) on each side of the N15IR snaps into a hole (bottom red circle) and is held closed only by spring pressure. This adds impact absorbing flexibility to the notebook's case.