The segment of mobile devices with increased strength and protection against moisture is still damp in our country. Many users for some reason believe that the rugged laptop is more for the military than for civilians. There is some truth in this, but do not forget about people who work in extreme conditions, and buyers who prefer an active lifestyle are unlikely to pass by such a unique device.
Positioning in the international market
Before embarking on a review of manufacturers, you need to understand where a protected laptop can be used. It is clear that there is no need to describe military affairs, but there is very little information about the peaceful purpose of information in the media.
Severe weather conditions with unusual temperatures. It may not necessarily be the Sahara Desert or the North Pole. Normal work on the street in the hot heat or severe frost requires the equipment to be fully operational (builder, installer, electrician, telephone operator).
High humidity. It is not necessary to be a seafarer, high humidity in a car workshop can easily disable unprotected equipment. Yes, and in countries where heavy rainfall occurs, it does not hurt to insure yourself when working in nature.
Impact resistance. Everything is simple here: if the laptop in the process of work is more often in the hands than on the table, then it is imperative to take care of its impact resistance during falls.
Market Leader in Secure Devices
The first to enter the post-Soviet countries market was the Panasonic secure laptop. Its entry into the market is associated with well-known automatic telephone exchanges from the same brand, which are not only highly customizable, but also managed using software that comes with secure Panasonic laptops. Naturally, to establish communication between devices, there are corresponding connectors that have not changed in recent decades.
The Japanese manufacturer offers most of their devices as “2 in 1” products - a laptop and a tablet. This is possible due to the presence of a touch screen and the ability to rotate the display around its axis. By the way, the touch screen is also protected and is able to withstand not only a blow, but also an adult who wants to stand on it in army boots. One thing is not clear - why the manufacturer uses the old touch screen technology with a stylus. After all, in the courtyard of the 21st century, it is time to install a multi-touch for working with your fingers.
Interesting models from the Japanese manufacturer Panasonic
Not every computer store will be able to find a Panasonic laptop. A protected copy has a fairly high price, and not every seller can afford to have at least one sample on display. The manufacturer’s lineup does not shine with all kinds of modifications, on the contrary, from year to year, the manufacturer upgrades several popular models, introducing the latest technologies into them. Judging by the reviews of the owners, a well-known Japanese manufacturer meticulously monitors the market and constantly changes unused interfaces to popular devices. An example is removing a floppy drive and installing HDMI video outputs.
Current devices on the market are modifications of the Panasonic ToughBook CF-31 and CF-19 laptops. The main difference between them is the diagonal of the screen. The first device, it is 13 inches, and the second - 10 inches. Accordingly, this difference affects the weight of the device. The filling and the presence of interfaces remain unchanged, as well as the characteristics of security.
And if we talk about the technical characteristics
Any reader is always very interested in the characteristics of mobile devices, because many, in addition to the main functional purpose of the device, are considering the possibility of entertainment on a laptop, including games and multimedia. ToughBook Panasonic Rugged Notebook has a powerful and modern processor based on Core i5. The amount of RAM varies from 4 to 8 gigabytes of memory (depending on version). An SSD is installed as a hard drive . But the manufacturer did not install a discrete video system, endowing its brainchild with intel HD 5500 integrated graphics on the processor.
The user should not worry about interfaces and wireless data transfer. It is unlikely that he will be able to come up with a connection that fails to connect. There is everything, including a gaining 4G speed and a GLONASS / GPS navigation system. Naturally, the device has the latest Bluetooth and the once popular infrared port.
Nearest competitor
Getac, a ruggedized laptop and tablet company, is the main competitor to the market leader in the industrial segment. However, the domestic market is little familiar with this company. At the beginning of the 21st century, a Taiwanese manufacturer on its own initiative simply overlooked the Russian market.
It is unlikely that Getac will be able to move its main competitor into the market in the next decade, because the manufacturer in this price category has not introduced any interesting innovations. The same set of interfaces, computer hardware, a touch-screen swivel screen that turns a laptop into a tablet. Several models are available in the same price category: B300, V110, S400 and X500. It is noteworthy that the manufacturer based on a secure laptop created a server (X500 Server), which is able to quickly deploy a mobile office anywhere. The price of such a server is not much higher than the cost of a stationary one, so the Russian market is not yet ready for such a solution.
"Toys" from Russian manufacturers
Few people know that in the domestic market there are Russian rugged laptops that surpass all competitors in their characteristics. Yes, such mobile devices are more expensive than Japanese and Taiwanese products, but they have superior functionality. The most famous models on the market: TS Strong @ Master 7020T series GM45, Desten Cyberbook U882.
Work in conditions of strong magnetic fields and in an aggressive environment (ammonia, ozone, hydrogen sulfide and others). The laptop can be safely installed on any ship, including aircraft, helicopters and spaceships, because a mobile device can withstand tremendous overloads. It is worth paying attention to the temperature regime, within which a Russian laptop can work. The lower threshold is -50 degrees, and the upper one is +55 degrees. This range is 30% wider than that of rugged laptops from competing manufacturers.
Budget armored car?
The rugged Dell Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme laptop claims to share a niche with more well-known brands. This is hinted at by the appearance, IP-65 protection and the MIL-STD-461F certificate, which guarantees even protection against electromagnetic interference. A rubber carry handle, rubber corners and a four-kilogram weight also make no doubt that the buyer is a typical armored car that can work in extreme conditions.
With a full study of the characteristics, the potential buyer will have the opinion that the Dell rugged laptop is designed for pleasure and entertainment. The powerful intel Core i5 processor and four gigabytes of RAM are endowed with a discrete Nvidia GT720M video adapter. Special attention should be paid to the speaker, which is very loud and produces excellent sound.
Strange Chinese device
New devices on the market from the well-known manufacturer Lenovo ThinkPad X140e and ThinkPad X130e attracted the attention of buyers with statements by sellers about the complete protection of mobile devices from shock, dust and wet environments. There are a lot of reviews in the media about these two models. Logically, the Lenovo protected laptop should be positioned on the Russian market as a durable ultrabook for children, as happens abroad, in China. The laptop is aimed at schoolchildren and travelers who, according to statistics, drop laptops more often than the rest of the planet.
And having got acquainted with the characteristics of components, a potential buyer will independently draw conclusions that this device is an ordinary marketing move in a rugged case. The AMD A4-5000 processor, 4 GB of RAM and the Radeon HD8330 discrete video adapter will certainly attract the attention of young people, because with such characteristics you can play games that need high system performance. But the 500 GB hard disk drive hints to the buyer that there can be no question of any security.
Finally
Uniquely protected laptop, the price of which varies within one thousand conventional units, a priori can not claim to be a device for extreme conditions. We are talking about Lenovo products, which dishonest sellers are trying to sell not in their niche. But mobile devices of domestic production, as well as from Panasonic, Dell and Getac, have every right to be called protected laptops.
Judging by the numerous reviews in the media, it is quite difficult for many users to decide among such devices, because the technical specifications and functionality are almost identical. Here you need an understanding of exactly where the protected laptop will be used. And for these needs, select the appropriate technical characteristics of the device.