What Are Fully Rugged, Semi-Rugged, Business Rugged Panasonic Toughbooks?

You’ve probably heard of the many different types of rugged laptops offered by Panasonic, but you may not know exactly what each one has to offer. For example, what is the difference between a fully rugged laptop and a semi-rugged model? This article will explore the different types of rugged laptops offered, and help you choose which one is best for your individual needs.

 

Fully Rugged Laptops

A fully rugged laptop has been designed from the ground up with one overall purpose in mind: to be able to function anywhere, even in outdoor, dusty, or extreme weather conditions. Each component is carefully weatherproofed and sealed to prevent salt, sand, moisture, or other environmental hazards from affecting it. The screens are specially designed to reduce glare, making it possible to use the laptop outdoors and in bright sunlight. These laptops can typically withstand freezing temperatures and heat up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. They are ideally suited for laborers, military personnel, and anybody else who is likely to need a computer outside and in an extreme working environment.

 

Semi-Rugged Laptops

A semi-rugged laptop is a standard notebook computer that has been adapted to rugged use. These machines go through a process known as ruggedization, which includes giving them a magnesium case, a shock or gel-mounted hard disk drive, and a spill-proof keyboard. They can withstand high and low temperatures, but may suffer a decrease in performance in those environments. For example, the gel in the screen might freeze at very cold temperatures, reducing visibility for a short period of time. These laptops are still very good for travel and outdoor use, and are best for people who travel often and need to occasionally work outside, but who don’t want the higher cost of a fully rugged laptop.

 

Business Rugged Laptops

A business rugged laptop is designed for travel use, but is not sealed and prepared in the same manner as a semi-rugged or fully rugged laptop. These machines have shock mounted hard disk drives and magnesium casings, but they are not waterproofed and sealed. They can survive a small fall, but not necessarily a drop of greater than 18 inches. They do, however, tend to have the most flexibility when it comes to style and performance, since a greater range of parts can be used as part of their design. A business rugged laptop is an ideal machine for use by traveling executives and other people who will be on the road often, but who will not be using their laptop as part of fieldwork on a regular basis.

 

The semi-rugged, business rugged, and fully rugged laptop each has its own pros and cons, and each might be ideally suited for the job at hand. When determining which laptop you should select, be sure to consider the amount of traveling you will be doing on a typical basis, how much fieldwork your job involves, and whether you face an unusual number of work-related hazards.