Tue, October 16, 2007 — CIO — In military and industrial circles, the term rugged has a special connotation: the product is built with dangerous and hazardous environments in mind. Such products are often more expensive than standard equipment, because you pay for durability. You don't get slick and streamlined designs, though. You do get a smartphone case that looks like tiny Hummer droppings but that could also survive getting dropped out of a Hummer.

In some instances, these rugged products are tested and meet military standards, such as MIL-STD-810F. Products meeting these guidelines are designed to meet general expectations for toughness, including operating effectively in sand, dust, fog and wind. They also can withstand sudden temperature changes, fungus and heat up to 158°F, are resistant to vibration and laugh heartily at spraying liquids.

After you've replaced five or six company phones in a quarter, handing over these products to a particularly accident-prone employee might just make sense. You wouldn't be alone in thinking so. A growing number of companies don't believe the technology in which they invest is disposable; so they are supporting a steadily growing market. Rugged computing and telecommunications products were an $880 million market in 2006 and are expected to grow 12.7 percent to $1.6 billion by 2011, according to Venture Development Corp., a Natick, Mass.-based research company.

Government and military contracts are lucrative, so it is not surprising that most computer and technology manufacturers make rugged versions of their equipment. There are also specialty ruggedization companies that will ruggedize products either for resale or as a requirement for a customized contract.

Need some examples of these "extreme" computers and components? We'll show you nine of them to make you regularly check e-mail in snowstorms or type while climbing to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Tough Nuts to Crack—Buyer Beware

The word "rugged" in product descriptions doesn't automatically mean you get true rugged products. There is no list of specifications that classify a product as such, so unscrupulous manufacturers may play fast and loose with the term. Slapping rubber bumpers on laptops is a mostly a cosmetic nod and doesn't really provide the durability or waterproofing that you get with the real rugged McCoys. Some products meet only part of MIL-STD-810, complying for shock but not for vibration, for example.

Most companies listed here have been in the business since the '80s, but you should still investigate any company thoroughly before making a purchase. Ask to talk to some of their customers. Get demonstrations. Examine warranties and guarantees for the durability features themselves. And remember that these may not be products you can easily crack open and upgrade or customize in-house; doing so may void certain warranties.

Next: DAP Technologies Microflex 2240 Rugged Handhelds