How “rugged” do you need to be?

The first Gulf War brought us, among other things, the Hummer urban assault – er, utility vehicle. By some accounts, the war and occupation of Iraq this time around are going to bring us the "rugged notebook" computer. Sounds very manly! But do you need one?

A "rugged notebook," produced and sold principally by companies called Itronix (GoBook) and Panasonic (ToughBook), tends to feature sturdy magnesium cases with rubber bumpers outside and well-cushioned innards, hermetically sealed keyboards to protect against spills, connectors are equipped with water- and dirt proof covers, displays designed to be readable even in direct sunlight, and even touchscreens to allow easy clicking in tough conditions. Anyone who uses a laptop or notebook computer in the field would probably enjoy some or all of those features. But there is a significant tradeoff.

First, since the idea is not to achieve optimum processing speed and agility, but rather to be able to withstand abuse, some of your more resource-intensive applications aren't going to fare well on a rugged notebook. Second, and more important (or at least more immediate), they cost an arm and a leg. Or around $4,000 and up, if you prefer specifics!

The most popular and expensive ruggedized notebooks pass the U.S. military's stress tests for field equipment. Considering that includes among other things being able to work at four degrees below zero Fahrenheit and withstand four inches of rain an hour, there's no question that they can take the abuse an appraiser might give them in the field. But processing speed, cost, heft (these things aren't light) and looks (one reviewer for a personal computing magazine said they look like bombs, not computers) probably make a "semi-rugged" notebook the more attractive option.

Panasonic's "semi-rugged" is equipped to sustain a one-foot drop, features more processing power (it's not hermetically sealed, like its big brother, so can vent the heat a powerful processor gives off), and weighs only 2.8 pounds. Other manufacturers include Twinhead, which bills itself as more spill proof, and the aptly named Rugged Notebooks, which reviewers say does the best job of blunting outdoor glare.

But while priced lower than the military-ready line, these computers still make more sense for workers who spend almost all their time in the field. While it sometimes seems that way to our appraiser customers, they tell us a Tablet PC or PocketPC handheld device loaded with Pocket TOTAL, does everything they need. For data calculation and storage, quick notes and sketching that can then be easily imported into the PC in your office, going handheld is still probably the best bet over a semi-rugged notebook computer.