Designed to withstand harsh usage and conditions like strong vibrations, extreme temperatures and extreme weather your rugged notebook is a super version of normal computers with the same configurations. The rugged computers are robust and ruggedized not just externally but also internally. Typically used in the harsher environments like manufacturing, field services, healthcare, transportation and the military, your ruggedized computer may look tough but still requires proper care from time to time.
The ruggedized computers can be classified in to three types:
Fully rugged devices – Toughest of all models these devices are field device. These are mainly used by first responders and military personnel. Long battery life, multiple wireless communication modes and tough built are its strong features.
Semi-rugged models – Compared to the fully rugged ones, these devices focus on data protection and spill proof protections. They also make use of removable storage devices to protect data as compared to fully rugged ones which uses SSD.
Professional Rugged – Used by field workers like fire inspectors, visiting nurses or road warriors, the professional rugged devices have powerful computing powers and also withstands extreme temperature, dust humidity and of course, accidental drops.
A ruggedized tablet or rugged notebook has a longer lifespan as compared to its non-rugged counterparts. Please follow the following tips if you want the lifespan to extend further:
1. Though the operational parameters are wide when compared to non-rugged devices, you mustn’t abuse its features. That is, a rugged device is designed to endure temperature of 0 to 122-degreeFahrenheit. So, it’s always advisable to not to subject the device to extremeness. This may hamper the durability of the device.
2. Ruggedized devices are used in extreme conditions that requires full rugged technology. It is important to check whether device meets MIL-STD-810G specs, a benchmark formulated by US department of defense to validate the ruggedization level.
3. MIL-STD certified doesn’t always mean that device is rugged in every extreme condition. So, it will be advisable to the buyers to ensure that your device has been passed the ones that is required for the environment it will be deployed in. For example, a car mounted rugged device must have been subjected to heat and vibration tests.
4. IP rating or Ingress Protection rating is a standard to test that ensures how the well sealing of ports protects the devices against the solid, dust and water intrusions. It’s important to note that the two-digit IP ratings are the limits of foreign intrusions and any over exposure to the parameters above the ratings may be harmful for the device.
5. Always have a third-party validation of the tests that the suppliers had guaranteed that the devices were tested upon.
6. Though the suppliers guarantee the test is the benchmark for any endurance, it doesn’t happen every time. For example, 810G water resistance test might not ensure the durability of rugged devices in a tropical storm.
7. We have discussed enough about the IP ratings and MIL specifications. Another feature that requires utmost care is the spill resistant keyboard ability of your rugged notebook. It is designed only to resist minor spills and may not drown in greater amounts.
According to the market studies, the failure rate of a rugged device is it a ruggedized tablet or a rugged laptop is only 4.6% as compared to the 16.6% of the non-rugged ones. The added features obviously come with added cost. So, if you desire more functionality, longevity and convenience in your laptop go for a rugged computer.