A Complete Guide to Rugged Computing Devices

Our laptops don’t lead an easy life. From being carelessly stuffed in our bags with a lot of other items to being thrown recklessly on the trays in Airports, the tablets and notebooks suffer a lot. However, some manufacturers are coming up with devices that offer extra protection for meeting various needs of people.

These specially designed devices are known as rugged devices or military grade tablets and notebooks as they can withstand harsh conditions and function in any given type of environment without breaking down or getting damaged. These devices offer more durability but are not unnecessarily heavy. But the pertinent question is how rugged are military grade notebook and how are they different from semi-rugged and fully rugged notebooks?

What makes military grade devices different?

The military grade notebook and tablets claim that their machine meets the specific rugged standards such as the MIL-STD- 810G. These specifications cover a wide array of extreme conditions such as drops, shocks, humidity, and vibration. In fact, sometimes a third party group is brought in to verify the ruggedness of these devices. However, most companies have their own testing standards.

Thus, you will always see ‘designed to meet’ and ‘tested to meet’ on these devices. However, each manufacturer has their own testing parameters and only they can explain what they mean by certain claims and standards. You need to think deeper when deciding on what to buy. Many times the manufacturers choose what conditions the ruggedized laptop is designed to survive. Thus, as a shopper you need to look closely at these claims.

What rugged means?

The MIL-STD-810G is an environment durability standard which was created back in 1960 by the US Department of Defense as a parameter for designing military equipment to be used on field. The standard comprises of 28 tests which includes exposure to extreme temperature, drop from higher altitude, vibration, drops, and water resistance.

How rugged these devices actually are?

It can be tricky to answer this question as various manufacturers have different claims and testing standards but one thing is for sure that these devices are sturdier than commercial notebook and tablets. On the basis of rugged, the devices are classified into 3 which are as follows:

1. Business rugged

These devices are the least rugged of all and they come with fewer features built for greater durability. The features include spill resistance keyboards, drains on the underside of notebooks, and shock-mounted hard drives. These devices look chic and can be used by executives and the only advantage is they are stronger and more durable than commercial devices.

2. Semi-rugged

These devices meet some standards of the MIL-STD-810G testing for toughness which includes ability to sustain drops from a height of 3 feet. Shock-mounted hard drives, spill-resistant keyboards, and magnesium construction are other features. You may also get optional heated hard drives and watertight port covers.

3. Fully- rugged

The fully rugged devices are designed to meet and sometimes exceed the MIL-STD-810G specifications which include vibration, drop from 6 feet on hard surfaces, and several other elements. They come with closed ports, magnesium enclosure, and shock-mounted and heated hard drives. These devices can be pretty expensive as well.

Explore the web for more information and suggestions on choosing the right military grade tablet which can do justice with your investment in the long run.

Author Bio: Nick Lee is a computer hardware engineer in Singapore and his exceptional knowledge about processors and computing devices makes him the perfect choice amongst customers looking for a super-fast military grade notebook. He is a keen writer and loves to share tips and tricks that can help you in choosing the best military grade tablet according to your budget. Read his blogs to know more about PC maintenance guidelines and save on your computer repair costs.

Nick Lee works as a senior manager with a leading construction company in Singapore. He is also a freelance commercial writer and has interests in topics such as construction management, technology and labor management.