"Shock-Resistant Hard Drive. Toughbook internal hard drives are mounted in shock-absorbing polymer compounds, which protect the drive--and the data--from the impact of a fall or other jolt, according to Panasonic.

Spill and Dust Resistance. Sealants prevent liquid and dust from getting through the cracks in the keyboard and touchpad. An overlay panel on LCDs in some Toughbook models provides added protection against moisture and dust, the company says.

Magnesium Casing. Some Toughbooks feature full or partial magnesium casing, which promises extra protection against bumps, knocks, and falls.

Sealed Ports and Slots. To protect vulnerable areas where liquid and dust could easily enter--such as PC Card slots--Panasonic has added hinged aluminum alloy covers with environmental seals to certain Toughbook models.

Outdoor-Readable Displays. Some Toughbooks feature screens designed to be read outdoors or in. By comparison, the majority of commercial notebook screens look washed out when viewed outdoors.
No Fan. Internal fans are designed to cool notebooks, which can become overheated after hours of use. Panasonic claims its "unique" sealed case construction allows its Toughbooks to work without a fan or vents--which can expose internal components to dust and dirt. Not surprisingly, though, the lack of a fan can cause overheating in some ruggedized notebooks. For instance, Itronix's GoBook II was infamously dubbed the "quesadilla cooker."

Tested for Ultra Reliability. The most macho of Panasonic's Toughbooks have been designed with MIL-STD-810F test procedures to measure environmental reliability levels, according to the company. The U.S. government created the MIL-STD-810F specifications to test equipment against drops, shock, moisture, dust, exposure to extreme temperatures, and more. " -- PC World

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