Tough notebooks

[pointd]

I am looking for comments/recommendations on tough notebooks. These need to be tougher than the average as they are to be used in a school, hence a lot of general bumping and banging goes on with the occasional bit of malicious damage.

Any opinions good or bad are welcome, the more the merrier.

Thanks in advance.

[PMich]

There are a variety of companies that make "rugged" notebooks. They are expensive and depending on your need you may be better off to purchase a less rugged model and pay for the repairs.

[ktkendall]

Panasonic makes the Toughbook series. They are quite rugged, but quite pricey I understand. I've seen them in police cars, and our company gave them to us to use because we are field techs. I know of 1 of our guys who drove off with his on the roof, and it survived OK. I do believe he had it closed at the time though, not sure it would have done so well if lid was open. we were also told the military uses them also but with a membrane type keyboard. The hinges and lid are way sturdier than any other I've seen.

[Mr N8]

What is your budget for this laptop? I have had the priviledge of using a Panasonic Toughbook, and they are very well built. If you need the durability, they are well worth the cost. The only drawback, is that they are fairly heavy, when compared to other notebooks.

I also think that if you get a nice case for a laptop, it would be work fine for taking it to school. I have a Sony, and I take it to class, home, and work all week long. It has been very reliable, and I've noticed no damage caused by travelling it all over the place.

If you look at Toshiba's line of notebooks, though, they have a 3-year full coverage warranty that they sell. It is a fix anything, no questions asked warranty. I had a professor who forgot to zip his bag, threw it over his should as he was leaving class, and the computer hit the wall and the chasis was sent out of whack. He had a new laptop from Toshiba within the week. As far as I know, they are the only company that will do that.

Here's a link to the toughbook series: http://www.cdw.com/shop/search/resul...onic+toughbook

[pointd]

Due to budget a Toughbook is out of the question but have been recommended by others.

We are on our second year of a project whereby we provide laptops for a number of pupils (approximately 60 aged 14-16). The laptops we currently use are fairly standard mid range machines and we have had so many broken screens, broken charger connectors, chargers, floppy and CD drives that we are going to have to find something more substantial.

Other than Toughbook has anybody used a laptop they found particularly robust or know of a manufacturer that maybe builds specifically for this type of environment.

I did find these (http://www.higrade.com/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=938) for which we are requesting a sample machine but as yet can't find anybody who has used one to get their opinion.

Please keep the suggestions coming

Thanks

[Mr N8]

I don't know anything about these guys, but CDW.com sells them. Appearances say they are tough notebooks. It also says they will do leases, and you can upgrade at the end of the lease. I don't know the details, but they do have some contact info.
Rugged Notebooks
Rugged Notebooks Contact Info

[Tuf]

The Panasonics are about as tough as it gets unless you want to spend five or six thousand dollars. Panasonic has several models that are tougher than normal but not as tough as the military spec ones that are decently priced.