Ruggedized -- Engadget

ruggedized posts

pureSilicon adds 256GB model to new Renegade R2 SSD range

by Darren Murph posted Oct 26th 2009 at 8:00AM

pureSilicon's original Renegade family just started shipping in Q1 of this year, but as it looks to stay one step ahead of the competition (and provide us all with a version big enough to hold all of our, um, family photos), the company is already introducing its Renegade R2 family. Designed to meet MIL-STD-810F standards while still offering 255MB/sec sequential read rates and 180MB/sec sequential write rates, these low-height (9.5 millimeter) 2.5-inch SSDs should fit perfectly within the bulk of laptops on the market today. The crew -- which is comprised of 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB and 256GB models -- will soon be joined by PATA and 1.8-inch siblings. If you're looking to get your hands on one, most all of 'em are shipping today, though the 256GB flavor and encrypted models won't leave the dock until Q1 of next year.

Panasonic adds Windows 7 to laptop line, unveils Let's Note N8 and S8

by Vladislav Savov posted Sep 29th 2009 at 7:32AM

Oy vey! Today must be some industry-wide Windows 7 announcement day, as Panasonic is hot on the heels of Dell and Toshiba with no less than six lappies set to sport Vista's agile younger sibling. The Let's Note (ToughBook, to you and us) F8, R8, T8 and W8 models are likely to take on the new OS without alterations to their hardware, but the hot news comes in the form of the brand new N8 and S8. Powered by Core 2 Duo P8700 chips, both machines will come with 12.1-inch WXGA LCD screens, 250GB HDDs, up to 4GB of RAM, WiMAX, WiFi, HDMI and SDHC connectivity. They also share a stonking claim of 16 hours of battery life, and the one feature that distinguishes between them is the internal DVD burner on the S8. All that goodness will be out come October 22, with expected pricing around ¥200,000 (about $2,230) for the N series. You'll find a gallery of the unveiling event at the Akihabara News link below.

Gallery: Panasonic N8 and S8

[Via Akihabara News]

Stealth Computer kicks and shoves its Warrior 2000 rugged tablet out the door

by Donald Melanson posted Aug 7th 2009 at 5:14PM

Stealth Computer isn't exactly going for much subtlety with a rugged laptop line called "Warrior," but subtlety is hardly part of the equation when we're talking about a convertible tablet that's protected from repeated drops, shocks, dust, water, and, um, lint. Like most such ruggedized computers, however, all that comes at some expense to performance, although this new 13.3-inch Warrior NW-2000 model is certainly still more than adequate with a 1.06GHz low-voltage Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and a built-in DVD burner, not to mention optional 3G, GPS, and all the usual security measures like a fingerprint scanner and various password protection options. Oh, and a starting price of $4,895.

Buffalo HDS-PH500U2 gives you 500GB of rugged, encrypted storage

by Vladislav Savov posted Aug 6th 2009 at 5:29AM

Buffalo's MiniStation DataVault series of drives is focused on data protection, from hackers and clumsy owners alike, with features like automatic full disk encryption and ruggedized shock-resistant design. The latest model, identified in Japan by the dry alphanumeric title you see above, sticks to the security-centric formula but bumps the storage to a sweet 500GB. ¥23,200 ($244) will be enough to snag the USB-powered 5,400RPM device in mid-August, and a prompt US / European release also seems highly likely. Judging by what's already available in the US, you can expect a three year warranty plus preloaded auto-backup software and mobile versions of Firefox and Thunderbird for avoiding the scourge of IE wherever you may roam.

[Via PC Watch]

Ricoh announces new GPS unit, new firmware for 500SE camera

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Jul 15th 2009 at 2:11PM

It's been a while since we've seen any major updates for Ricoh's 500SE camera, but if you're in the mood, here's a heads up: the company has just announced its new SE-2 GPS module. Designed by EKA Technologies, Inc., this bad boy sports a new helix antenna, which should provide better reception and accuracy, and smaller fix times. Available in two flavors, the SE-2g (GPS only) has an MSRP of $169, while the SE-2c offers GPS and a 3-axis compass for direction information for an MSRP of $399. And if that weren't enough, the company has just announced new firmware for the camera that enhances its ability to store field data and embed it into images for GIS mapping applications. The new firmware also allows up to three attributes as well as GPS position, azimuth, and UTC (satellite time) to be imprinted directly onto images as they are captured. Pretty awesome, right? Full PR available after the break.

Continue reading Ricoh announces new GPS unit, new firmware for 500SE camera

Getac 9213 "business rugged" laptop tones down the toughness, the ugly

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Jul 9th 2009 at 4:21PM

Looking for something a little tougher than your average notebook yet a little less fugly than your typical Toughbook? Getac's 9213 is a "business rugged" device that sports a full magnesium alloy chassis, a spill-resistant keyboard and touchpad, and a 13.3-inch WXGA display. With a 45nm Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn-class ULV processor, 3GB of RAM, a shock-mounted HDD (up to 250GB), and a battery life of up to eight hours, this guy shouldn't be slouch as far as performance goes -- and if that weren't enough you can swap out the optical drive for a second battery (extending its life another fifty percent or so). As you'd imagine, the connectivity options here include draft-n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, and an optional 3.75G HSUPA module. Man, we can't wait to put this bad boy through one of our sadistic torture tests! Available now with an MSRP of $1,799.

Gallery: Getac 9213 "business rugged" laptop tones down the toughness, the ugly

AgfaPhoto rolls out rugged, waterproof DV-600uw camera

by Donald Melanson posted Jun 29th 2009 at 11:31PM

AgfaPhoto's new DV-600uw rugged camera may not be quite as stylish as Pentax's latest ruggedized offering, but it looks like it has it beat where it counts, with it able to handle submersion in water up to 33 feet deep (compared to the Pentax's 16 feet), and hold up to the usual drops, dust, and dirt for good measure. Unfortunately, things are a bit less impressive when it comes to the core camera specs, with this one packing just 6-megapixels, no optical zoom, and a plain old VGA movie mode instead of 720p -- not to mention just one choice of color. If that extra ruggedness makes the difference for you, however, you can pick this one up right now for $199.

[Via Electronista]

Panasonic's Toughbook CF-30 gets gnawed by tiger, stomped by elephant and 187'd

by Darren Murph posted Jun 25th 2009 at 8:41AM

In a whirring round of hurt that only a dear friend we know simply as Congmasta could deliver, a team of his irreverent cousins got ahold of Panasonic's Toughbook CF-30 to see just how far the envelope could be pushed. We already discovered that said machine was plenty tough for the average adventurer, but Forbes' tests prove that this bad boy is tailor made for maltreatment in the field. Somehow, the machine survived a round of Diet Coke to the keys, a few chomps from a white tiger, an elephant's playful attempt to extirpate it and even a single .22 slug through the lid. After the torment concluded, the CF-30 still managed to boot, and while that hole in the LCD was certainly a nuisance, it didn't stop the rest of the pixels from lighting up and trudging onward. Tap the read link for all the gory details, photographs and video, but seriously, don't try this at home. Or anywhere.

[Image courtesy of Schim Schimmel/SchimmelSmith Publishing, thanks Vipul]

GETAC's ultra-rugged V100 gets upgrades for performance, not looks

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Jun 3rd 2009 at 1:10AM

For those of you in need of a PC capable of operating in extreme conditions (anyone reading this from a mine shaft or a bunker, for instance). Getac's battle-tested and war-weary V100 convertible tablet PC has received several key upgrades, including a bump in processing power to a 1.4 GHz Intel Penryn, a front side bus increased from 533 MHz to 800 MHz, a RAM increase (bringing the total up to 4GB), and a max capacity increase from 250GB to 320GB. If that weren't enough, this bad boy now supports draft 802.11n WiFi, and lastly (but not leastly) a new UL 1604 certification (optional) ensures safe, spark-free use of the device in potentially explosive environments. Yes, that's right -- you'll soon be able to read The Onion from the shop floor at the TNT factory. No definite prices or release dates yet, but if this is up your alley you can keep an eye on your usual sources. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading GETAC's ultra-rugged V100 gets upgrades for performance, not looks

FON CEO teases ruggedized outdoor Foneras

by Jacob Schulman posted Dec 2nd 2008 at 12:54AM

While this isn't the first device we've seen of its kind, new images of a wireless-capable, ruggedized la Fonera router have surfaced on the FON head honcho's personal blog. CEO Martin Varsavsky clearly states that "this is not a product announcement," and that the pictured devices are part of an R&D project, so pricing and availability info are certainly out of the question. Still, it's promising to see FON working to extend the reach of its network beyond the current Fonera / Fontenna combos. Just let us know when this one hits the market, okay Mr. V?

[Thanks, Joas]

Jeep's rugged RT-300 navigator gets rough review

by Darren Murph posted Oct 15th 2008 at 4:49AM

Hmm, maybe Jeep should stick to scaling mountains and whatnot. To be totally frank, we had all but forgotten that a Jeep-branded navigator was even in the works, let alone closing in on release -- of course, maybe that's because we last heard of this thing in December of 2007. At any rate, the ruggedized RT-300 has finally found its way to the review bench, and unfortunately for those holding out for this critter, it didn't fare too well. At all. For starters, $249.99 is a lot of scratch for a lowly 320 x 240 resolution screen, and the fact that it's not even waterproof didn't help matters either. Worst of all, testers had issues with route calculation (read: its main function), with a certain Cincy-to-Jersey query causing a total freeze three times in a row (and even on a second unit). Bottom line? Steer clear of this one, hard though that may be for the Jeep faithful.

LaCie snags Hitachi's 500GB 5K500, stuffs it into Rugged Hard Disk

by Darren Murph posted Apr 23rd 2008 at 3:59PM

LaCie's bright orange Rugged Hard Disk hasn't changed much externally since it surfaced over two years ago, but what used to buy you 160GB will now land you a full half-terabyte with dough left over for several In-N-Out runs. The latest Rugged drive packs Hitachi's 500GB Travelstar 5K500 and still maintains the scratch-resistant aluminum shell and shock-resistant rubber bumper. As for ports, you'll find a USB 2.0-only edition or a more versatile iteration that includes USB 2.0, FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 sockets. Either flavor comes bundled with the company's Setup Assistant and backup software, and if you're tired of waiting for 1TB in your pocket, you can make do with this one for just $299.99 / $399.99 depending on your choice of interface(s).

Averatec reveals a pair of ruggedized Voya laptops

by Darren Murph posted Apr 23rd 2008 at 3:13AM

Look out, argonauts -- you've got more than Panasonic and Dell vying for your hard-earned dollars, as even Averatec is looking to make a play in the rugged laptop space. The firm's new Voya line of lappies gets going with a new duo of rough 'n tough rigs: the 14.1-inch 4473 and the 15.4-inch 6494. Both units pack a magnesium alloy outer case, corner bumpers and an anti-shock mounted hard drive. Internally, you'll find an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a 250GB HDD, WiFi, X3100 graphics set, a dual-layer DVD writer, 4-in-1 multicard reader and Windows Vista running the show. We're told that each should be available to order real soon, and with the Voya family starting at just $1,299, it may be just the thing for the outdoorsman / outdoorswoman on a budget.

[Via Blast]

Rugged Ricoh G600 point-and-shoot resists dust, water

by Darren Murph posted Apr 22nd 2008 at 9:26AM

In case it's not glaringly apparent just by eying the image above, Ricoh's 600 (the proper successor to the Caplio 500G) is built to withstand most any element you'll encounter during a weekend jaunt through the wilderness. The 10-megapixel compact features a 2.7-inch LCD, 28-140mm wide-zoom lens, 5x optical zoom, USB connectivity, ISO 3200 capability and a shock-resistant chassis that also turns a cold shoulder to dust and water. Those in a pinch can swap in a set of AAA cells should the rechargeable Li-ion run out of juice, and though we can't imagine it getting much use, there's even an accessory shoe included for an external flash. Apparently all that toughness doesn't come cheap, as Ricoh's set to demand £349.99 ($693) for this thing when it lands in May.

NextComputing's rugged Vigor Evo HD flextop has an LCD on its side

by Darren Murph posted Apr 18th 2008 at 3:07PM

Under most circumstances, we too would take one glance at the monolith pictured above and scream in horror. But of course, we're entirely sure you're familiar with the wacky machines emerging from NextComputing. The ultra-tough Vigor Evo HD is hailed as the company's "highest performance rugged workstation," and besides offering up a floating chassis which absorbs all sorts of bumps and shocks, it also comes with a 17-inch LCD plastered right on the side. Said panel is covered with a hard-coated protective screen, and sitting just beneath that is your choice of AMD / Intel processors, up to four PCIe or PCI-X 64-bit slots, a dual-layer DVD writer, up to 3TB of internal HDD space and most everything else you'd find in a pre-fab desktop. Of course, it loses the vast majority of its intimidation factor when equipped with the optional wheels / telescoping handle package, but we won't tell anyone if you're not man / woman enough to lug it over your shoulder.