ACADEMIA

Group Mobile has announced their "Best Rugged Computers in 2011 Guide". The guide is based on opinions of Group Mobile's rugged computer experts, as well as feedback from Group Mobile customers. For 2011, the categories analyzed include Best Fully Rugged Laptop, Best Bargain in a Semi-rugged Laptop, Best Bargain in a Rugged Tablet, Best Handheld Computer, and many more.

In the Best Fully Rugged Laptop category, Group Mobile selected Panasonic's Toughbook 31. In making this selection, Group Mobile's experts took price, processor, battery life, wireless options, media bay options, display brightness, and the ability to withstand harsh environments into consideration.

"The Toughbook 31 is used by our customers in some of the most challenging environments, said Richard Lawson, President of Group Mobile. "The enhancements Panasonic made to the Toughbook 31 in 2011 continue to exceed the constantly growing rugged computing requirements of our consumers."

The Tougbook 31 features Intel Core i5 and i3 processors, combined with available discrete graphics to deliver amazing performance and greatly enhanced video and 3D graphics. A 1,100 nit sunlight-viewable touchscreen display allows users to work efficiently in any lighting condition. An integrated webcam option and larger storage capacity set it apart from the competition.

In the Best Bargain in a Semi-Rugged Computer category, Group Mobile likes the Getac S400. The Getac S400 is one of the most durable semi-rugged notebooks on the market. It features Getac's KryptoShell™ body which allows the S400 to withstand temperature extremes, shock, vibration, and drops from up to 2.5 feet. It features a 14 inch widescreen, sunlight-readable display, a water-resistant keyboard, an integrated webcam, and a Super Multi DVD drive. Connectivity features of the S400 include 802.11a/b/g/n wireless LAN and other integrated wireless options including Bluetooth, Gobi, and a GPS receiver and antenna.

In the Best Bargain in a Rugged Tablet category, Group Mobile selected the WebDT line of economical, rugged tablet computers from DT Research. These rugged offer vibrant touch displays and high performance, yet energy-efficient Intel Atom processors within slim, light, and durable housings.

"DT Research's rugged tablets provide a strong and durable mobile computing platform at a very affordable price," stated Lawson. "With prices starting under $1,400 and a quick delivery time, we expect these rugged tablet PCs to be very popular among our customers in 2012."

DT Research tablets feature options for RFID, smart card, and magnetic stripe readers, barcode scanners, and integrated cameras. These versatile tablets also offer Wi-Fi 802.11 wireless connectivity to enhance work efficiency. The sizes of the touch displays vary among models to accommodate a wide variety of uses - on the sales floor, in the warehouse, in the field, and in the classroom. For outdoor use, optional sunlight-readable displays are available on all models.