Torture Test -- Engadget

torture test posts

Video: Nokia N97 gets a torture testing, goes great with milk

by Tim Stevens, posted Jun 24th 2009 at 12:19PM

If the opinions of two star-crossed bloggers weren't enough to sway you firmly into either the "yea" or "nay" column regarding a Nokia N97 purchase, perhaps seeing how it fares after being dunked into a bowl of corn flakes will help you make up your mind. N97Geeks.com has gone the 'ol torture test route, including of a series of scratch attempts for the screen and the body as well, plus the aforementioned test where it became a part of This Complete Breakfast. The result was an almost fully functional if slightly scuffed up handset that now has a non-working menu key and a wee bit of internal condensation, meaning you can probably get by without a screen protector or case if you hate buying accessories. But, for best results, keep this one clear of your Kellogg's.

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Durable faceoff and torture test: Panasonic's Toughbook 30 vs. GammaTech's Durabook D15RP

by Tim Stevens, posted Mar 24th 2009 at 11:13AM

It seems like a bit of a rip-off -- if you want a laptop that won't shatter when its shiny little form slips out of your fingers as you run to your next meeting/target you have to pay a hefty premium to get something dull and durable. And, if that weren't bad enough, you then have to live with something big, boxy, and ugly. Panasonic's Toughbook line defines what many think of as a rugged laptop, but its bulk, heft, and cost give it niche appeal. It's not the only option out there for a notebook that can take a beating, though, with the semi-rugged Durabook from GammaTech offering a package that's a little more comfortable to use and, perhaps more importantly, a lot less expensive.

But, which of the two is right for you? (Assuming, of course, that either is.) Just how durable are these things? And, which one didn't fair so well in the water test? Read on to find out.

Continue reading Durable faceoff and torture test: Panasonic's Toughbook 30 vs. GammaTech's Durabook D15RP

LG's Renoir tortured in the name of science and art

by Tim Stevens, posted Jan 28th 2009 at 9:04AM

We heard some impressive claims about LG's Renoir earlier this month at CES courtesy of a rather desperate spokesman, but nothing compares to the torture test the phone recently underwent and, unlike Nokia's 5800, survived. The handset was left in the freezer at -20C (-4F) for 12 hours, dropped to the floor, stepped on, thrown in a clothes drier for 15 minutes, caked in dust, dunked in wine, and run over by a Ford Focus. After all that it functioned just fine, suffering only a few scratches on the screen inflicted by the pavement -- a small price to pay if you're clumsy enough to drive over your own phone. Curiously soothing videos of the abuse after the break.

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Video: Vissumo touchscreen takes 9mm bullets like a champ

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 26th 2009 at 3:07AM

It's not often that even rugged gadgets can withstand the force of a flying bullet, but whatever Vissumo has baked into its unique touchscreen technology, well, can. In Vissumo's Test Video #99, a firearm wielding employee unloads a few 9mm rounds into the panel (exciting, we know), and then he proceeds to prove that the touch functionality it started with is still there. We're not sure what it says about your choice of living location if you can think of just how helpful this would be in your everyday life, but regardless of all that, you simply have to see the vid after the break. Go on, give it a look.

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Asus' Eee PC gets torture tested on video

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 24th 2008 at 5:08PM

For those that had no qualms kicking Teddy to the curb and cuddling with Asus' Eee PC throughout the night just as soon as it was released, you may want to utilize your scroll wheel right about now. For those with a tough stomach and a perverse appetite for destruction, you can most definitely stay put. In the video posted after the jump, the Eee PC is pushed from great heights onto solid floors, forced to sit in extreme temperatures and repeatedly prodded to see if it still functioned. Interested? You're just one click away from a clip sure to make gadget aficionados everywhere cringe.

[Thanks, Roman]

Continue reading Asus' Eee PC gets torture tested on video

Corsair Flash Survivor GT 8GB escapes torture test unscathed

by Darren Murph, posted May 24th 2007 at 1:34AM

We've seen some mighty rugged flash drives put to the test in our day, but Corsair's Flash Survivor GT 8GB managed to withstand a well-planned and carefully executed attack on its life like none that have come before it. This soldier of a USB drive not only performed great when tested against more fragile alternatives, it somehow escaped sans injury after being submerged in a pool, cooked in boiling water for ten solid minutes, and being creamed with a hammer numerous times. The torturers expected the CNC-milled anodized aircraft-grade aluminum housing to hold up fairly well under duress, but even they were utterly amazed at how invincible this thing really seemed. The $130 drive earned a much deserved 10 out of 10 rating from the flabbergasted review crew, and while we're not quite sure if it could withstand a nuclear attack like one of its competitors, it can apparently live through just about anything that you yourself could.

[Thanks, Rodger]