Fully rugged laptops and semi rugged laptops are built to last — and for good reason. There are a number of industries that depend on the durability of this technology to succeed; from the public safety sector to the military, our ability to record and transmit information regardless of our environment is what allows us to be one of the strongest and most prosperous nations in the world.

But just how do we know, without a doubt, that the semi and fully rugged laptops used by our police, firefighters, and military members (both on the water and overseas) can stand up to such extremes? We test them mercilessly.

Military Standards Explained

As our country’s main line of defense, our military is incredibly strict about the technology that they depend on. Since lives could literally be at stake if some vital piece of tech were to fail, the U.S. military has created a set of tests to ensure they can withstand a variety of other environmental conditions. Most of these durable laptops, such as the Panasonic Toughbook 33, Toughbook 20, Getac B300, Getac V110 and Getac X500 meet the MIL-STD-810G qualifications.

MIL-STD-810, Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests, is defined as “a United States Military Standard that emphasizes tailoring an equipment’s environmental design and test limits to the conditions that it will experience throughout its service life.” The “G” has to do with updates and clarifications made to earlier editions. The MIL-STD-810 tests focus on:

• Low pressure for altitude testing,
• Exposure to high and low temperatures plus temperature shock (both operating and in storage)
• Rain (including wind blown and freezing rain)
• Humidity, fungus, salt fog for rust testing
• Sand and dust exposure
• Explosive atmosphere
• Leakage
• Acceleration
• Shock and transport shock
• Gunfire vibration
• And random vibration

Because the Department of Defense has shared these testing methods with computer manufacturers, any industry that may need to be protected from the risks of rust, dust, or water exposure can find a reliable laptop to properly and effectively perform their jobs.

Limitless Possibilities

Consider how many professionals are forced to do their work out in the field. As a society that has thrived based on the transfer of information, we have found a way to mold that technology around our needs; thanks to semi and fully rugged laptops and tablets such as Panasonic Toughbook CF-54, Toughpad FZ-G1, Toughpad FZ-M1, Getac S410 and Getac F110 rain, saltwater, sand, and dust do not get in our way or slow us down.