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COMPWISE RUGGED-130
IN BRIEF: Built to last and with a screen that can be used in any environment, this machine is up to the toughest of tasks
It seems that the laptop is increasingly becoming a commodity item. However, there are sectors of the mobile market that still require something a little special, which is where the rugged laptop comes into its own. These need to be constructed to withstand extremes of temperature and environment. So whether its for a company that needs to keep its staff out in the field for long periods of the day, or for the police force who need to make notes at the road side, a rugged laptop needs to be able to cope.
HI-TECH CONSTRUCTION
The Compwise Rugged-130 (£2899 ex. VAT) offers a high degree of protection, but also adds a number of user-friendly twists that make it a great deal easier to use.
The laptop has a reinforced shell that’s built to a number of military and industry standards, so that it’s resistant to dust, oil and grease. Covers protect the ports from the environments and the keyboard, which is often the most prone area, is water-resistant. Capable of surviving temperature extremes of -20° to 50° Celsius, the Rugged-130 can be used in any location or weather with ease. We were impressed with the high build quality of the laptop, and while we weren’t able to test whether it could survive such extremes, we were satisfied with its usability. Considering it comes in a chassis that weighs 2.7kg, the Rugged-130 offers portability as well as durability.
In order to keep the innards of the laptop away from the environment, the Rugged-130 is a sealed unit. To this end, the use of high-end components needs to be avoided. However, looking beyond its design and build, the Compwise is comparable to other laptops. The use of Intel’s 1.1GHz Pentium M (ULV) processor produces less heat, but still offers more than satisfactory performance. This was borne out under test by a MobileMark 2002 score of 129, which is more than powerful enough to run applications on the move. Supported by 512MB DDR SDRAM, we found that the system was responsive and more than up to the task of daily computing.
TOUCHSCREEN
Rather than a standard laptop screen, the Rugged-130 is fitted with a 12.1-inch touchscreen, which allows users to enter data without the need to use the keyboard. The drawback with most touchscreens is that they aren’t as bright as standard screens. They have a poor viewing angle and tend to darken over in natural light. Fortunately, we found this wasn’t too much of a problem with the Compwise, and the display remained readable even on a sunny day.
With a built-in GPRS module, users can access the Internet wherever they may be. A separate docking station offers the full array of expansion ports, leaving the main unit of the laptop with the bare essentials required. With a battery life, under test, of 242 minutes from the standard 9-cell battery, the Rugged-130 offers a reasonable amount of life away from mains power. Compwise offers a range of peripherals that enhance the way it can be used on the move, such as the external battery charger and secondary battery pack, which helps to offer a full day’s working.
Overall, we were reasonably impressed with the Compwise Rugged-130. The combination of a strong but lightweight shell, a reliable specification and battery life makes this an ideal addition to any workforce looking to mobile computing to make their tough tasks easier.
PRICE: £2899/£3406 (EX/INC. VAT)
PROCESSOR: INTEL PENTIUM M 1.1GHZ
MEMORY: 512MB DDR SDRAM
HARD DRIVE: TOSHIBA 40GB
SCREEN SIZE AND TYPE: 12.1-INCH TFT
DISPLAY RESOLUTION: 1024 X 768 PIXELS
GRAPHICS CARD: INTEL 855
DIMENSIONS: 276 X 239 X 43MM
WEIGHT: 2.7KG
PC CARDS (TYPE II/III): 1/0
WIRELESS LAN: 802.11B
ETHERNET: YES
MODEM: YES
USB PORTS: 2
FIREWIRE: NO
STANDARD WARRANTY: 2 YR
WARRANTY UPGRADE: N/A
CONTACT: 020 8350 1420 WWW.COMPWISE-RUGGED.COM
RATINGS AND TEST RESULTS
BATTERY LIFE: 242 MINS
MOBILEMARK 2002: 129
3DMARK 2001: 1253
VALUE FOR MONEY: 5
PERFORMANCE: 6
FEATURES: 6
MOBILITY: 6
BUILD QUALITY: 8
OVERALL: 6
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