Technology today: Only tough is good enough

Fancy handsets and whizzy tablets are great to look at but stop being useful the moment they’re accidentally dropped. As a result, more people than ever before are considering toughening up their latest gadgets. That’s because the nature of mobility these days sees our phones, tablets and cameras venturing forth into places which would make most manufacturers shudder and start reaching for their 20-page warranty terms.

Like it or not, whether you’re a parent with a destructive 2 year old, the local hard-wearing builder, or a techy IT manager, your Smartphone, laptop or tablet could be one slip away from destruction.

Unless, of course, your device is ruggedised.

One such player paving the way for rugged technology is Panasonic. Its range of Toughbook laptops and Toughpad tablets are being snapped up by an increasingly wide number of new converts.

“Whether it is for travelling salesmen, controlling vehicles in the field, construction, forestry or even out at sea, tough technology lasts longer. It means your technology systems are available when –and where – they are needed, every time,” says Darryn Smith, Panasonic Toughbook Mobility and Channel Manager at Comworth.

But it is also the office worker who faces constant ‘tech-killers’ every day. “Hands up if you’ve dropped a phone, spilled a coffee on a laptop, or had a child get hold of a tablet and introduce it to the toilet,” says Smith.

Chances are, your hand is up – and the fragile screen or keyboard of your device, which can cost upwards of $250 to replace, has suffered the consequences.

Repair time means serious downtime and frustration when you have to revert back to fumbling through a printed newspaper to get your morning news.
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And it’s not just you that seems to be doing one too many insurance claims. A recent IDC study found that 19.6% of notebooks used in U.S. businesses break or require repair at some point in their lifetime.”Human error and carelessness” were responsible for the greatest sources of damage with 72% of respondents saying they dropped their laptops, 66% spilled liquid onto the devices and 55% said their machines fell off a desk.

With the odds stacked against you it’s worth considering the alternatives.

Smith says rugged devices fall into two broad categories: semi-rugged and fully-rugged. “Semi-rugged devices are ideal for the office worker. They offer moisture and dust resistance, the ability to handle knocks and minor drops, and don’t look too different from standard laptops,” he explains.

Fully-rugged devices, on the other hand, look the part. They shout – ‘I’m tough, don’t mess with me!’ – and are capable of withstanding rain, snow and sea spray. They also offer screens viewable in bright sunshine, and are certified to military specifications for keeping out dust and water.

Smith says Smartphone and tablet vendors are cottoning on to consumer demand for tougher technology with options available for every personal computing need. “You might use an Android tablet or perhaps prefer a Windows 8 laptop that combines a touch screen with a keyboard.

“Whatever you are getting up to with your favourite gadget, if you’ve had enough of devices that must be handled with kid gloves – or kept away from the kids lest they break the device – there are options available capable of handling whatever life throws your way,” he concludes.