Hit the road with rugged devices: looking for an all-terrain, all-weather device that won't let you down when the going gets tough?

MOBILE DEVICES AREN'T JUST FOR address books anymore. An increasing number of mobile professionals and road warriors are relying on PDAs, smartphones, and laptops to let them take mission-critical data and applications on the road. Unfortunately, it's dangerous out there. The more critical the data or application, the more critical the need to protect it. As a result, you're starting to see devices such as the HP iPAQ 5450, which comes with a fingerprint scanner for user authentication (see Ken Getz's ADVISOR EVAL on page 14).

But, what about a more basic level of security? By that, I mean protection of the device itself; protection from the elements, the environment, and the just plain clumsy. For mobile users concerned about any of these challenges, there's an option you might not have considered: rugged devices.

More bounce to the ounce

Rugged hardware is made to withstand harsh environments--whether it's on the high seas, the shipping dock, the open road, or the factory floor. These devices endure extreme heat and cold, block out dust and moisture, and take a fair amount of violent jarring. However, just how much of any of these elements a rugged device should withstand is a source of debate. Most manufacturers of rugged devices work with a series of de facto standards. But, when it comes right down to it, the definition of "rugged" varies from vendor to vendor.

There are three general levels of ruggedization: semi-rugged, fully rugged, and ultra rugged. Semi-rugged devices are usually ruggedized versions of off-the-shelf equipment. You get the same components; they're just better protected. For example, the inner components might be cushioned by a layer of gel or rubber, and the casing might be more durable than that of a regular device. The displays and keyboard are also protected, to some extent, against moisture and dust.

Fully rugged devices are designed from scratch for rugged use. The inner workings are built to operate in extreme temperatures. For example, they might use special screens that don't go dark or freeze in extreme temperatures.

Ultra-rugged devices are made to handle the harshest environmental conditions. You can submerge them in water, leave them out in an ice storm, let them sit all day in the desert sun or near a furnace, or bump them off a workbench onto a concrete floor and they'll keep working. Ultra-rugged devices often meet specifications for military use.

Rugged device vendors subject their products to a range of tests. Some of the most common tests measure how well the device stands up to impact, extreme temperatures, and vibration. Spec sheets for rugged devices usually reference something called an ingress protection (IP) rating, which measures the extent to which the device is sealed against dust and water. IP ratings consist of two numbers. The first refers to protection against increasingly small solid objects such as dust and grains of sand (this scale goes to 6); the second measures protection against liquids, from condensation to total submersion (this scale goes to 8).

Word games

Because there are few hard and fast rules when it comes to defining the term rugged, there is room to fudge on product descriptions. "When discussing drop tests with a vendor, be sure they're clear about the surface they use in the test," advises Vincent Luciano, VP of product management for Symbol Technologies' mobile computing division. "Some vendors use the trick of saying their devices survive a certain level drop test on concrete covered in steel. This sounds a lot harder than plain concrete, but in reality the steel absorbs some of the shock and lessens the impact on the device."

"You also need to look out for the phrase 'designed for' in product specs," says Matt Gerber VP of Itronix worldwide marketing. "If the spec sheet says 'designed for' instead of 'tested,' you have no way of knowing if the device really meets that specification."

Temperature also figures into drop tests. Because extremely high or low temperatures can make a device soft or brittle, you should make sure the test was run at temperatures approximating those to which you'll be subjecting the device.

More ounce to the bounce?

Most people think of rugged devices as bulky and heavy. However, ruggedness and size don't necessarily conflict. For example, many of the devices listed in this article outweigh their non-rugged counterparts by only a few ounces.

On the other hand, in a market where devices seem to shrink daily, it's easy to forget that small doesn't necessarily mean user friendly. "Consumers want small devices because they don't want to lug around a heavy device," says Symbol's Luciano. "But, in this space, it's more important to make sure the device fits the application. A construction worker wearing work gloves cares a lot more about having buttons large enough to hit accurately than he does about carrying around an extra four ounces."

There are still other considerations. Psion Teklogix works with a firm specializing in ergonomics to help design its rugged devices. Says Peter Morely, Psion Teklogix' senior product manager for client devices, "In addition to basic ease-of-use issues, you need to consider any union specifications you might have to meet to help workers avoid repetitive stress injuries, and eye strain from screens too small to read easily."

Devices for the long haul 

Rugged devices don't come cheap. You'll usually pay about 30-50 percent more for a rugged device than you would for a regular device. Why not just go for a cheaper device and replace it when it breaks--and take advantage of more advanced technology that comes with the replacement? As with most IT decisions, it's a matter of weighing the options. "These are tools for getting a job done. The notion of disposability does not exist here," Symbol's Luciano says. "We design these devices to last five, six, seven years."

When asked how companies using rugged devices keep up with the fast pace of changing technology, Luciano replies, "You have to consider that a lot of behind-the-scenes business equipment runs on mature technology. For example, Symbol sold roughly 250,000 DOS machines in 2002." He adds, "There's no standard answer, but there are ways of insulating the customer from changes in technology. For example, working with a thin client can be a good choice. The changes are going to be on the back-end in the processing power and transactions. The client device doesn't need to change anything to access this info. This is cost effective--particularly when you're working with large deployments. That's thousands of devices you don't have to touch or replace."

Itronix's Matt Gerber agrees that a large chunk of the cost of implementing mobile solutions comes from more than just the device itself. "The biggest misperception we battle is the idea that it's cheaper to go through three regular laptops than it is to buy one rugged laptop," he says. "When you factor in downtime, deployment, support, and maintenance, it just isn't true."

Indeed, downtime is a major factor to consider. When a device is damaged in the field, the organization not only has to replace the device, but face a situation where its workers can't do their job. If you're considering a rugged device for an application that doesn't bring your business to a grinding halt when a damaged device prevents workers from accessing it, or the environment they're working in isn't particularly extreme, rugged devices might not be for you. However, for outdoor, factory, or delivery route use, you should seriously consider rugged devices. An investment in a rugged device will cost you more upfront; but, for certain applications in tough environments, it's an investment in productivity as well as the device.

Rugged Mobile Devices

Intermec

700 Series Color Mobile Computer

http://www.intermec.com

Price: US$1,595 to US$1,995

Connection: 802.11b, GSM/GPRS, CDMA/1XRTT, Bluetooth

Weight: 1.1 to 1.25 lbs, depending on options

Drop test: Multiple 5-foot drops to concrete

Storage Temp: -20[degrees] to 60[degrees] C (-4[degrees] to 140[degrees]F)

Operating Temp: -10[degrees] to 60[degrees] C (14[degrees] to 140[degrees]F)

IP rating: IP64

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Intermec

CT60 Rugged Tablet PC 

http://www.intermec.com

Price: US$4,850

Connection: 802.11b, GPS

Weight: 4.5 lbs

Drop test: 3-foot drop to .75-inch plywood over concrete

Storage Temperature: -40[degrees] to 70[degrees]C (-40[degrees] to 158[degrees]F)

Operating Temperature: 0[degrees] to 55[degrees] C (32[degrees] to 131[degrees]F)

IP Rating: IP67

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Itronix

GoBook II

http://www.itronix.com/

Price: U$4,495

Connection: 802.11b, CDMA 1XRTT, CDPD, GPRS, Bluetooth

Weight: 7.9 lbs

Drop test: Multiple 3-foot drops to plywood over concrete

Storage temperature: -55[degrees] to 75[degrees]C (-67[degrees] to 167[degrees]F)

Operating temperature: -23[degrees] to 60[degrees]C (-10[degrees] to 140[degrees]F) with optional hard drive heater

IP rating: IP54

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Itronix

Q-100

http://www.itronix-com/

Price: US$2,295

Connection: GSM/GPRS

Weight: 1.75 lbs

Drop test: Multiple 6.5-foot drops to concrete

Storage Temperature: -30[degrees]C to 70[degrees]C (-22[degrees]F to 158[degrees]F)

Operating Temp: -20[degrees]C to 60[degrees]C (-4[degrees]F to 140[degrees]F)

IP rating: IP67

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Symbol Technologies

PDT 8056

http://www.symbol.com

Price: US$1,200-US$1,500

Connection: 802.11b, GPRS, optional Bluetooth

Weight: 1.3 lbs

Drop test: Multiple 5-foot drops to concrete

Storage temperature: -25[degrees] to 70[degrees]C (-13[degrees] to 158[degrees]F)

Operating temperature: -10[degrees] to 50[degrees]C (14[degrees] to 122[degrees]F)

IP rating: IP54

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Symbol Technologies

PDT 8100

http://www.symbol.com

Price: US$1,200-US$1,500

Connection: 802.11b, CDPD, GSM/GPRS

Weight: 14.5 oz

Drop test: Multiple 4-foot drops to concrete

Storage temperature: -25[degrees] to 50[degrees]C (-13[degrees] to 122[degrees]F)

Operating temperature: -20[degrees] to 50[degrees]C (-4[degrees] to 122[degrees]F) for grayscale display; 0[degrees] to 50[degrees]C

(32[degrees] to 122[degrees]F) for color display

IP rating: IP54

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Psion Teklogix

NetPad

http://www.psionteklogix.com

Price: US$2995 for Wi-Fi only; U853,215 for GSM/GPRS

Connection: 802.11b or GSM/GPRS

Weight: 1.3 lbs

Drop test: Multiple 5-foot drops to concrete

Storage temperature: -25 to 60[degrees] C (-13 to 140[degrees]F)

Operating temperature: -20 to 55[degrees]C (-4 to 131[degrees]F)

IP rating: IP67

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

MOBILE BUSINESS BENEFITS

Rugged devices do a great Job of helping mobile workers--particularly those working outdoors or In extreme environments--access data and applications. The trick is calculating when the application and environment justifies the sometimes steep cost of a rugged device.