Rugged Notebooks Guide

RUGGED NOTEBOOK BUYING GUIDE

A Guide to Rugged Portable Computing

A step-by-step guide on how to research, review, evaluate, compare, price, purchase, and maintain a Rugged Laptop, Rugged Notebook or other Rugged Portable Computer.

On This Website You Will Learn:

• The difference between “ruggedized”, ‘”semi-rugged”, and “fully-rugged”
• The companies that manufacture rugged laptops and rugged notebooks
• The difference between ODM and OEM computer design
• The benefits of owning and using a rugged laptop
• The importance of Mil-Std 810F Specifications
• The main features you should look for in a rugged laptop
• Why all rugged laptops and portable computers are not created equal
• Who should use a rugged laptop or rugged notebook
• How to protect your rugged laptop investment
• Some tips and tricks for using rugged laptops and a mobile office

An Introduction to “How To Buy A Rugged Laptop”

First a note about laptops and notebooks, and other portable computing devices. Throughout this guide we refer to laptops and notebooks. The portable computing niche includes a large array of form factors. Generally speaking, most people use “laptop” and “notebook” as interchangeable terms. That’s OK, but in reality a notebook is smaller than a laptop. Also, as technologies merge, portable computers can now be used as phones, and cell phones and smartphones can also be used as portable computer platforms.

The important thing to remember is that all mobile computing devices are becoming more durable and more rugged all the time. As consumer electronics get smaller they almost by default have to be designed to be more rugged. There are also numerous other names you will come across like minicomputers, UMPCs, ultra mobiles, handhelds, and PDAs.

Ruggedized, Semi-Rugged, and Fully Rugged Portable Computers

The differences between “ruggedized,” “semi-rugged” and “fully-rugged” are often confusing, interchangeable, and misleading. These descriptions can be likened to “good”, “better”, “best”, or other advertising orders of degree like “full strength”, “super strength”, and “super-duper strength”.

The use of such terms can be very subtle in the consumer market, but can be very specific in the industrial and military markets. Only a few standards are generally accepted to rate most rugged portable computing devices, and it is safe to say that portable computers in the durable category are a better value and offer distinct advantages over most conventional laptops and notebooks.

There is a growing appeal and a growing trend for anything “rugged” in the consumer electronics arena. Consumers are tired of cheap plastic laptops that fail or break at alarming rates. The failure rate has been an inside industry secret for many years. Sales trends show that laptops and notebooks have been replacing the desktop PC. What is not well known is that portable computers easily break and are expensive to repair. Some industry related research has estimated that motherboards and LCDs alone can range anywhere from $750 – $1500 for replacement parts and repairs.

Most people just assume, and are numb to the idea that if they damage a portable computer, they probably are better off to go buy a replacement.

Ruggedized, Semi-Rugged and Fully-Rugged portable computing gear is always more expensive, but with the added costs come some attractive advantages. When you consider a shorter lifespan and costs associated with failures and repairs, the return on investment for “going rugged” can end up being a bargain for individuals that need to rely on better portable computing equipment for their business or job.

Companies That Manufacture Rugged Laptops and Rugged Notebooks

Until recently most of the brands associated with the rugged niche were not exactly household names. Some of the top companies known for producing military style computers (Mil-Std 810F) include, Panasonic, Getac, and General Dynamics. Most people do not know that even Motorola is a big player in this specialty computer niche.

Now other well-known consumer brands like HP, Dell, Asus, Lenovo, plus many others are also known for product lines that include ruggedized, semi-rugged, and fully-rugged portable computers. As an example, most people will have read about, or seen some advertising for Panasonic Toughbooks and the Dell Latitude ATG.

Brand names are one thing, but electronics manufacturing is another. Most of the brand name leaders in the computer industry do not actually build the respective brands that they market. This definitely is the case in the rugged computing category and the consumer electronics arena in general. These are the realities of a global economy, emerging markets, and the availability of cheap labor in the 21st century.

Not unexpectedly, manufacturing almost always follows cheaper labor. Spend a few days in the manufacturing cultures of Hong Kong, Taiwan, or anywhere else in Asia and you find where most computers are manufactured. Did you really believe that famous consumer electronic brands are manufactured anywhere in North America? Do a few Internet searches on key terms and you will find which companies are making what and where it is made.

The Difference Between ODM and OEM Computer Design

The truth is that there are only two manufacturing solutions available, “ODM” and “OEM”, and the terminology can be confusing. The first is ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) like Dell, HP, Itronix, Gateway, having exclusive R&D based on paid NRE (Non-recurring Engineering) with high sales volume and a return on investment fueled by huge advertising and marketing budgets. It is well known fact that consumers often subsidize the cost of ODM and branding through higher brand name recognition.

The second is an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) utilizing a design without the need to invest in high NRE. None of these ODM and OEM companies (Dell being a partial exception) actually manufacture their individually branded products, as the product components are all made by a small group of manufacturing giants like Asus, Acer, Mitac, and a few others mostly located in Greater Asia. Like it or not, outsourcing is part of big business. Lower labor costs significantly contribute to the competitive pricing most of the global economy enjoys via the trend for free trade and open markets.

Ultimately, the reliability and value of any product or service relies on the underlying company, or the brand behind it. This further illustrates the necessity to research features and benefits, service and warranty support, along with all important price considerations. In our world today, it makes little difference what portions of a supply chain are being outsourced.

Benefits of Owning and Using a Rugged Laptop

Here is a short checklist of why you may be a candidate for a rugged laptop. You will pay a premium for a rugged laptop over regular off-the-shelf consumer models, and you need to know some of the benefits. Much of this has to do with your working habits and working conditions.

Two of the most important aspects of owning a rugged laptop are flexibility and mobility. Rugged laptops give you the ability to work in a wide variety of conditions and environments. If your work requires you to work in the outdoors, in inclement weather, or in other harsh conditions, then you probably will like the advantages of going rugged.

Rugged laptops are equipped with sealed keyboards and specially designed cases to protect against, moisture, water, and other liquids. Often protective sealed covers are available to protect external ports. This allows the use of a rugged laptop in wet conditions without the fear of damage and loss of data.

Rugged laptops are designed to withstand knocks, drops and shocks. Extra design precautions protect the CPU, HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) and optical drives. SSDs (Solid State Drives) are optional, and eventually should be standard equipment in rugged laptops.

Rugged laptops are designed to protect other internal hardware components against shock and vibration. Consumer laptops and notebooks do not have this additional protection built in, and can easily be damaged by vibrations.

You no longer have to worry about exposure to the elements or changes in atmospheric pressure. Rain, snow, sleet, hail, wind, fog, dust, sand, extreme cold and heat, salt spray and humidity have all been considered in the design standards for rugged laptops. Specially designed seals and durable case construction enable rugged laptops to perform well in all weather and in most all locations.

Radio signals and power transmission wreak havoc on regular computers, and can even be dangerous. Such emissions can actually damage computer equipment and create work related hazards. A rugged laptop can be outfitted to guard against electromagnetic transmissions and will work properly in such conditions.

The Importance of Mil-Std 810F Specifications

The Mil-Std 810F specification is the industry default for joining the rugged laptop category. This largely is what defines the category and sets rugged laptops apart from popular consumer models. It is the value-ratio proposition for the entire rugged niche. This should help to answer the question why rugged laptops are more expensive. Mil-Std 810F is the Department of Defense Test Method Standard that establishes uniform environmental test methods for determining the resistance of materials to the effects of natural and induced environments peculiar to military operations. This is the industry-wide standard currently used as the measure for rugged laptops.

”It focuses on the process of tailoring materiel design and test criteria to the specific environmental conditions a materiel item is likely to encounter during its service life.”
http://www.dtc.army.mil/navigator/

The Environments are 1. Altitude 2. Temperature 3. Rain and Dust 4. Humidity. 5. Cold Storage 6. Vibration 7. Shock. 8. Drop

Mil-Std 810F test methods do not require the use of specific materials, hardware, nor specific manufacturing processes. An 810F certified device is not the result of encasing a consumer electronics product inside a heavy-duty enclosure such as ballistic plastic, although that could very well be a selected design material for testing and manufacture.

For this reason, the price points usually demonstrated in the side-by-side comparisons between popular consumer brand models that appear to be similarly equipped do not tend to be examples of particularly good, nor reliable analysis.

Note that the standards are collectively referred to as 810F, in reference to the most current revision. Also, collectively, there are many test methods that are employed to test for many different things.

By Example - source: wikipedia.org

MIL-STD 810E Method 500.3 Low Pressure (aka Altitude testing)

MIL-STD 810E Method 501.3 High Temperature (Both storage and operating)

MIL-STD 810E Method 502.3 Low Temperature (Both storage and operating)

MIL-STD 810E Method 503.3 Temperature Shock (How well does the device handle going from high to low temps, and back)

MIL-STD 810E Method 506.3 Rain (How does the device do in wind blown rain)

MIL-STD 810E Method 507.3 Humidity (Can the device handle high Humidity)

MIL-STD 810E Method 508.4 Fungus (device is exposed to warm moist air in the presence of Fungus to see if it grows on the device)

MIL-STD 810E Method 509.3 Salt Fog (does the device rust/fail when exposed to salt fog)

MIL-STD 810E Method 510.3 Sand and Dust (how well does the device work when exposed to sand and dust)

MIL-STD 810E Method 511.3 Explosive Atmosphere (does the device create enough sparks/etc to cause an explosive atmosphere to blow up)

MIL-STD 810E Method 512.3 Leakage

MIL-STD 810E Method 513.4 Acceleration (constant acceleration)

MIL-STD 810E Method 516.4 Shock (either Shock Response Spectrums, or Triangle/sine/square wave shocks) – also transport shock

MIL-STD 810E Method 519.4 Gunfire Vibration

MIL-STD 810E Method 520.1 Temp, Humidity, Vibration (Traditionally sine wave (pre D) – later random vibration – combined with Temp testing)

MIL-STD 810E Method 521.1 Icing, Freezing Rain (what the device sounds like)

The Main Features You Should Look for in a Rugged Laptop

IP (Ingress Protection) is another desirable classification or certification. An IP number specifies the environmental protection of electronic equipment enclosures The system uses the letters “IP” followed by two digits to identify a rating. The 1st digit of the code indicates the degree of protection against contact with moving parts and the degree of protection against the intrusion of solid foreign bodies. The 2nd digit indicates the degree of protection inside the enclosure against the entry of various forms of moisture. The higher the two digits, the higher the rating, and the better the rugged laptop or rugged notebook.

Following is a review of other common features that contribute to the characteristics of rugged laptops and other rugged devices in no particular order.

SHOCK RESISTANCE This is a measure of how much shock load a rugged laptop can withstand and still operate properly. This test is typically measured by the height and number of the drops that a rugged laptop can endure. The drop surface is usually defined as two-inch-thick plywood over a steel plate over concrete and a drop distance of 36 inches.. Laptops are inspected after each drop and booted up for a function check performed after each drop.

WATER RESISTANCE Water and moisture is hazardous to many electrical components of any laptop. This specification measures the performance ability of a rugged laptop after being exposed to different amounts of water and moisture levels.

DUST RESISTANCE Air venting systems for cooling tend to collect dust and dirt. For this reason most rugged laptops are designed to dissipate heat without the use of fans. Materials in the casing are use as heat sinks to prevent dust and dirt from entering the inside of the case – CPU heat is released through the casing.

VIBRATION RESISTANCE Rugged laptops are often used in vehicles, and around other equipment. These workhorses need to stand up to continuous vibration. Constant vibration can cause keyboard damage and damage to internal components of regular office or home laptop computers.

TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE Rugged computers need to perform while exposed to extreme temperatures. From arctic condition to dessert conditions, some rugged laptop can operate in a temperature range between -32° to 60° C (-10° to 140° F). Usually an optional feature, rugged laptops can also be equipped with a hard drive heater for startup and operation in freezing temperatures. Diagnostic software can even monitor internal conditions to prevent outages due to extremes of heat and cold.

Not All Rugged Laptops and Portable Computers Are Created Equal

This section could be labeled “Extra Things to Look for in a Rugged Laptop”, as the next four items are not always standard features. However, they are important and will make the use and operation of your portable computer more enjoyable and give you more check marks in the usability column. Oddly enough, these features are not widely available as standard features, and usually are available only at a premium. They are: Transflective LCD Screen, Precision O-Ring Construction, EMI-RFI Cable Shielding, and a Superconductor Heat Pipe System. The reason these features are not standard is because they drive up the costs of materials and manufacturing for an off-the shelf products.

Sunlight readable Screen One of the more important usability features of rugged computers is the need for a Sunlight Readable Screen. The best LCD technology available is termed “Transflective”, versus the “Transmissive” LCD technology used in most popular off the shelf brand names. The major design goals are to reduce glare, harness the use of reflective ambient light, and to conserve battery life. Sunlight Readable Technology increases the LCD backlight module light efficiency without increasing the lamp power consumption. Normally, light transmission is lost in standard LCDs. Transflective screens allow for more light transmission.

Transflective Sunlight Readable screens also reduce glare from reflected light. LCDs with normal touch screen or with some protection, are clear in opacity that result in glare. Sunlight Readable technology provides a complete and total solution by extending the benefits of Sunlight Readable technology to touch screen and protection glass.

Precision O-Ring Construction Not a very sexy feature and maybe even considered low-tech, o-rings are still one of the most common and most critical components of rugged computer design. The humble o-ring can not be overlooked as an important design element in the construction of mobile computing devices.

O-rings used in the construction of rugged mobile computing devices are not just gaskets, they must be manufactured with attention to precision, uniformity, and design specifications to meet the demands of rugged computers.

O-rings are designed to create a protective seal between the sealing faces. This allows for high local stress and high local pressure without exceeding the yield stress of the o-ring material. Usually formulated from silicon-based plastics and special synthetic rubber, the best o-rings need to be chemically inert to oils, solvents, and to a variety of acidic and other caustic solutions.

O-rings are important in the design and construction of all computers. and in particular the three levels of rugged computers currently defined as, Ruggedized, Semi-Rugged, and Fully Rugged.

EMI-RFI Cable Shielding Don’t be fooled or forget this little known fact. Not all rugged computers employ EMI and RFI shielded cables. EMI-RFI shielding not only helps to protect sensitive and expensive computing devices, but also helps in the prevention of accidents associated with other malfunctioning systems and equipment, such as avionics.

This obviously is not good in the operation of mobile devices and computers, and depending on the circumstances can become dangerous and even may be life threatening. EMI and RFI transmissions interrupt and obstruct, they degrade and limit the effective and desired performance of electronic circuits. Natural and artificial sources may include any objects that carry or emit rapidly changing electrical currents. Make sure any rugged computer you purchase is equipped with the additional feature of shielded cables.

Superconductor Heat Pipe System Rugged computers usually have heat sinks. The most efficient designs use Heat Pipes in combination with passive heat sinks. Since rugged computers are fan-less, any additional technology to induce dissipating heat rapidly is a desirable feature.

These Heat Pipes are also called “superconductors”. Superconductors transfer heat efficiently and quickly from one point to another. Superconductors were first designed for use in space, but the engineering has become ideal for the demands of mobile computing. No moving parts equates to no maintenance. Many rugged computers meet or exceed industry specifications (MIL-STD-810F), but few have this heat pipe technology as a standard feature.

Who Should Use a Rugged Laptop or Rugged Notebook

If you are a techie, or a globe trotter, maybe a worn, stained, and crippled laptop is your badge of honor. You could also just be attached to a portable computer that has outlived its usefulness. Smart mobile workers already know that the new technology of rugged laptop computing is here to stay.

For many years, rugged laptops have been the darlings of the military, police, EMI, other public service sectors, and professionals that needed an edge in a rough and tumble world. Truth be told, there is real value in a ruggedized, semi-rugged, or fully-rugged wireless and portable computers.

High tech manufacturing has designed and replaced almost every major system with tougher, beefed up versions of popular brands. And its not just reinforced cases with cushioned rubber bumpers. We are talking new magnesium and aluminum alloys for these hard body beauties on the outside, and SSDs, heat pipes, and other good stuff on the inside.

Every year we are seeing smaller, cheaper and sturdier computer gear enter this niche space. Having sealed keyboards and ports, and extra protection against moisture, dirt, and the occasional ding and drop is becoming standard fare.

As we move away from the desktop PC in our work and play, it’s time to start thinking about the choices for a rugged laptop as an investment. One drop, or other careless action has a chance of putting your present laptop out of commission for good.

So the truth about things “rugged”, is that you can be an early adopter with a wink and a nod, or wait and follow the crowd somewhere down the road.

How to Protect Your Rugged Laptop Investment

Don’t forget these things when buying your rugged mobile gear to insure the best performance. Think of your rugged laptop or rugged notebook as an investment for your business or yourself.

Purchase a Reliable Brand and Quality Model Rugged laptops and rugged notebooks are more resistant to physical damage. If you work outdoors or do a great deal of travel, you need a portable computer that meets or exceeds Department of Defense standards. These are mobile computers designed to be used in rough conditions.

Purchase a Good Bag or Case There is nothing wrong with redundancy. It is still a good idea to go the extra step when you transport expensive rugged portables. make sure your carrying bag or case is “sturdy” over “stylish”. Make sure it is functional, but don’t intend it to be substitute for a business tote or briefcase.

Purchase a Warranty While extended warranties may seem foolish for most consumer electronics, make an exception for the purchase of a rugged laptops or rugged notebook. Note that manufacturer warranties do not carry everything, and that you need both a hardware and software backup plan.

If you plan to keep a Rugged Notebook for more than 3 years it is a good idea to invest in an extended warranty and stretch it to 4 and 5 years.

Purchase Insurance Insurance is “peace of mind” for loss and theft. It will make it easier to replace a lost or stolen computer. Check with your insurance agent about home and business coverage. Review your coverage yearly and when you purchase a new rugged laptop or rugged notebook.

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Copyright © 2008-2010 Michael Beck / The-Digital-Nomad.com and Evan Beck / Rugged Notebooks Guide

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