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Stealth's rugged LPC-395F Mini PC: it's like a caged monster, but weak

by Darren Murph posted Nov 9th 2009 at 2:14AM

Stealth Computer has been kicking, shoving and blasting ruggedized PCs out of its labs for years on end, and the latest mini PC is amongst the smallest we've seen to still sport such a hardcore shell. The LPC-395F is a fanless rig with integrated removable storage, featuring front-loading removable media slots (for HDDs and flash media), a 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, a metal chassis and an overall size of just 6.54- x 6.18- x 1.89-inches. As for ports, you'll find twin gigabit Ethernet sockets, four USB 2.0 connectors, DVI and RS-232; there's also an inbuilt WiFi module and room for 2GB of RAM, while the OS that arrives is totally your call. The base configuration checks in at $795, but you'll probably end up paying well north of a grand when everything's said and done.

Rugged, waterproof Predator VX360 wearable camcorder destined for X Games

by Darren Murph posted Sep 22nd 2009 at 2:50AM

Had your daily dose of Sal Masekela? No? Shame on you! Though, we have to say, if this here wearable camcorder takes off, you could very well hear that very fellow doing color commentary over some pretty sick footage. The Predator VX360 is a rugged, waterproof wearable video camera that's engineered to withstand abuse from the elements while popping 1080 kickflips on the halfpipe, and unlike many head-worn alternatives, this one has its recording module (complete with a built-in LCD) strapped to an armband. The "eyeball camera" is still meant to cling tightly to your dome, but details are scant when it comes to resolution and the like. It's available now for daredevils in the UK, though the £549.99 ($892) sticker is apt to keep most of 'em at bay.

[Via I4U News]

Pentax's waterproof Optio W80 reviewed: tough as nails, 'so-so' image quality

by Darren Murph posted Sep 21st 2009 at 10:12AM

We've always heard that life was full of compromises, and evidently Pentax made a few when it decided to build its toughest, most rugged point-and-shoot camera of all time. On paper, the Optio W80 looked mighty promising, but in practice, the all-important image quality was found to fall short. Over at PhotographyBLOG, critics found that the camera could withstand "virtually anything" within reason, and while the 5x optical zoom and HD movie mode were both appreciated, most everything else was at least somewhat disappointing. The anti-shake system was found to simply slow the camera down, and the image quality was hamstrung by excessive noise at all ISO levels -- even 100. Feel free to peek the full review down in the read link, but make sure to keep your expectations in check.

Rugged Duros 8404 tablet PC: now with Atom, sunlight-viewable LCD

by Darren Murph posted Jul 22nd 2009 at 7:52AM

We're not saying that Intel's Atom CPUs are lightning fast or anything, but even the 1.6GHz N270 is snappier than the lethargic 1GHz Celeron M that was placed in last year's Duros tablet. In an effort to make the 8404 viable once more, Duros has introduced an equally rugged new model with an Atom processor, hot-swappable battery and an 8.4-inch SVGA sunlight-viewable touchscreen. You'll still find an IP65 sealed enclosure (perfect for those leisurely jaunts through Deadfoot), as well as Windows XP running the show. For those craving extras, the 8404 can be equipped with WiFi, WWAN connectivity, GPS and Bluetooth, not to mention 1GB of RAM, a vehicle dock, integrated Intel graphics, a 120GB hard drive and a single USB 2.0 socket. There's no mention of price, but considering that you can run this thing over with a snowmobile and continue your Gchat session where you left off, we'd expect to fork over quite the premium.

[Via HotHardware]

Olympus Mju Tough-6010 seeks clumsy photographer to grow old with

by Vladislav Savov posted Jul 17th 2009 at 4:26AM

The latest addition to the Olympus Mju (Stylus in the US) family of ruggedized cameras is the Tough-6010, which claims to be waterproof up to (or is it down to) 3 m (10 ft), freezeproof to -10°C (14°F), and capable of withstanding drops from 1.5 m (5 ft). It retains the TAP Control Mode from its elder sibling, which lets users access various functions by tapping the camera's top and sides. If you're going to be snorkeling on Greenland's north coast, there is perhaps no other camera for you -- but if you care about actual camera specs, this is a 12-megapixel shooter, equipped with 3.6x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD, dual image stabilization, ISO sensitivity up to 1600, and storage handled by your choice of xd-Picture Card or MicroSD. Should you be leaving for Greenland soon, fret not, as the UK will be getting the 6010 this month for £299, with continental Europe and the US probably not too far behind.

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

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

Garmin launches Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t outdoor navigators

by Darren Murph posted May 7th 2009 at 7:00AM

Did you seriously shell out to have ARGONAUT plastered on your license plate? Oh, yeah? Listen up. Garmin has just pushed out a new duo of navigators aimed squarely at you, the Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t. Both of the touchscreen-based devices boast a 3.2 megapixel camera, a 3-axis compass, waterproof chassis, 850MB of internal storage and USB connectivity. Each unit packs a 3-inch, sunlight-readable display, two precharged AA NiMH batteries, loads of waypoint storage and the ability to route you while on the road, on the trail or in the wild. The standard 550 is set to arrive with a worldwide basemap in shaded relief for $499.99, while the 550t comes with preloaded topography maps for the entire US for $599.99. The full release is after the break.

Gallery: Garmin launches Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t outdoor navigators

Continue reading Garmin launches Oregon 550 and Oregon 550t outdoor navigators

Proxicast's Cell-PAK: it's a portable 3G / WiFi hotspot, but rugged

by Darren Murph posted May 3rd 2009 at 7:57PM

If you've been toying with the idea of buying a bulletproof shell for your CradlePoint portable hotspot, we're guessing that Proxicast's Cell-PAK is an entirely better option. Said box, which is described as a rugged, self-powered 3G + WiFi wireless hotspot in a box, was designed to provide "mission-critical wireless communications" in the jungle, on the battlefield or in your backyard. Aside from having its very own battery pack for completely untethered access, the device comes encased in an impact and water-resistant MIL-spec rated chassis, and we're told that it can accept "any 3G modem from any cellular carrier worldwide." We're talking over a dozen hours of wireless access from anywhere that you can retrieve signal, and there's even an external high-gain antenna to help with that. Now, if only that $1,295 price weren't so gigantic...

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

Gallery: Proxicast's Cell-PAK: it's a portable 3G / WiFi hotspot, but rugged

LaCie's Rugged XL: 1TB of ready-for-anything storage

by Darren Murph posted Apr 14th 2009 at 3:46PM

Clearly LaCie's going for that "timeless" look, 'cause the Rugged XL looks precisely like the original Rugged that launched over three years ago. The drive, which was unsurprisingly designed by Neil Poulton, touts a durable aluminum casing with external and internal shock absorbers, USB 2.0 and eSATA connectors along with a software suit to handle your backups. Packed within is a single 1TB drive, and externally, there's a "warm orange LED strip" to either keep you informed of drive status or just look stupendously fashionable, one. It's up for grabs today (or it should be soon, anyway) for $159.99, and no, the orange exterior cannot be swapped for a non-DOT-approved hue.

Gallery: LaCie's Rugged XL: 1TB of ready-for-anything storage

Camera-packin' Garmin Oregon 500 navigator on sale in UK

by Darren Murph posted Apr 12th 2009 at 12:38PM

Wouldn't you know it? That leaked Garmin Oregon 500 is indeed a real, bona fide product, and it's on sale now for argonauts over in the UK. The outdoorsy navigator officially boasts a rugged 3-inch sunlight-readable touch panel (400 x 240 resolution), a tough, waterproof casing, a built-in electronic compass, barometric altimeter (seriously!), AA battery support, USB connectivity, a microSD card slot and a bundled carabiner clip to really set it apart. Oh, and there's also an integrated camera for automatic picture geotagging, which seems to be a pretty rare commodity in GPS units these days. We're not quite sure it's rare enough to justify the lofty £353.97 ($519) price tag, but thankfully that's not our call to make.

[Thanks, Jordan]

Motion's J3400 rugged tablet PC dissected, loved up on video

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Mar 16th 2009 at 5:53PM

Somebody is really geeked about Motion Computing's J3400 Rugged Slate Tablet PC. Not only have we found it dissected over at Gotta Be Mobile, but the InkShow gang have just released the first of two videos where they give the device their "fine toothed comb" treatment. The verdict? "It feels great," the reviewer enthuses. It's easily the lightest rugged slate he's yet experienced, a joy to write on, with buttons "where they should be," and a host of great features: the convertible keyboard is held in place by magnets (which seem to be more than up to the task), the webcam has a flash, and the accelerometer is nice and responsive, switching things up from landscape to portrait and back with real panache. Of course, the best part is when this one guy states that "we are a mobile computing warrior, ready to do anything that we need to do." Video after the break.

Read: What Does The Inside of Motion Computing's J3400 Rugged Tablet PC Look Like?
Read: GBM InkShow: Motion Computing J3400 Rugged Slate Tablet PC, Part 1

Continue reading Motion's J3400 rugged tablet PC dissected, loved up on video

Motion's J3400 rugged tablet PC boasts dual batteries, outdoor display

by Darren Murph posted Mar 16th 2009 at 12:00AM

Need a tablet PC that'll last all day, do ya? Care for one that you can also see whilst outdoors? Look no further than Motion's brand new J3400, a rugged (albeit sleek) new tablet that comes equipped with dual battery compartments and an outdoor-visible LCD. Other specs include an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1.8-inch shock-mounted HDD (a 64GB SSD is a worthwhile option), 2 megapixel camera, GPS, a biometric sensor, multicard reader, Bluetooth 2.1, Qualcomm's dual-mode Gobi WWAN chip, WiFi and a chassis that's IP-52 rated and meets MIL-STD-810F specifications. In other words, a three foot tumble onto plywood won't even faze it. This beauty can be yours to ruin in the field for the low, low starting price of $2,299, and yes, it's ready to ship this very moment. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading Motion's J3400 rugged tablet PC boasts dual batteries, outdoor display

ThinkPads pass the Tough Test, but don't call 'em rugged

by Darren Murph posted Feb 23rd 2009 at 2:16PM

We've long since known that the ThinkPad line was one of the most sturdy, solid and well built families in the entire laptop kingdom, but Lenovo's making extra sure you're aware of that fact with a new designation. The ThinkPad X200, X301, X200s, X200 Tablet, T400, T500, R400 and SL300 laptops have all met "a barrage of military specifications tests," which obviously deems them worthy of a "semi-rugged" label. For the record, Lenovo is quite clear that these machines cannot be billed as "ruggedized" at this time, though the bashing that they reportedly took in the testing lab (see above) sort of prove otherwise. In related news, the firm is also adding a new optional 680-nit high brightness panel to the oh-so-popular T400, though there's no indication that said option will ever bleed out to more models. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading ThinkPads pass the Tough Test, but don't call 'em rugged