While choosing various different kinds of rugged devices in the market, one may come across two categories of ruggedized tablet and laptop.
Tough rugged laptops, tablets, and accessories are sold by Miltec Rugged Computing solutions in Oman and other Gulf countries.
It is important for the buyers to know the difference between Semi Rugged and Fully Rugged laptops and tablets before buying.
These terms are used differently by different manufacturers as these devices are not standardized by any organization body. So, one company’s semi-rugged device may be another company’s fully rugged device. This article is based on the average ruggedness of these devices available in the market.
What is special in Rugged Design?
The devices that are built according to military and industrial standards, such as MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461 or DO-160 are rugged devices. These systems are stress-tested to withstand, function, and perform in extreme environments.
These devices are designed so that when used in a harsh environment, the outer body survives and the internal components remain untacked. The environment where these ruggedized devices are used may be a location that receives extremely high or low temperatures or a factory floor with lots of moving parts.
The Ruggedized tablet is the best example of such a device which is in high demand in Oman. The demand is mainly due to the high temperature of the fields during summers. These devices are designed to withstand the hot temperature of deserts.
Tough rugged laptops and tablets are mainly used by these industries – oil & gas, defense, aviation, public safety, industrial automation, healthcare, etc.
To consider buying a rugged device, one must try looking for certifications. These certifications are the golden ticket to rugged laptops and tablets. One should not consider a device to be rugged if it has not gone to any level of stress testing. For military and industrial use, it is compulsory for the devices to have military standards certificates.
When to use a Rugged Device?
Fully rugged laptops and tablets are mostly used by the military to support mission-critical weapons, communications systems, or radar. Industries also use these to support assembly line automation and collect field data.
These tough rugged laptops and tablets are often used when a company requires durability and powerful performance. Moreover, with the rise of edge computing the possibilities for the usage of rugged devices are endless.
What are the differences between Semi Rugged Vs Fully Rugged Devices?
Semi Rugged:
These devices are many used at the consumer level supporting law enforcement and business-related projects and applications. These devices can be considered commercial off-the-shelf systems with few rugged features. These computers may have undergone stress testing or certification to military and industrial standards. For example, a semi-rugged laptop or tablet may have a hard drive that’s mechanical shock resistant, or an outer covering that can withstand little rain.
Computers used by Oman police are mostly semi-ruggedized tablet or laptop. These devices may be dropped, exposed to rain or high temperature, or impacted during a high-speed chase. But the drawback of using a semi-rugged device is that it can’t withstand if the environment becomes too harsh. These systems get a significant performance decline or stop working altogether during such cases.
Fully Rugged:
The fully rugged devices are mostly used for military or industrial use. These are best for riskier environments. These devices are more durable than semi-rugged devices.
These devices are tested and certified to be dropped, impacted, or exposed to extremely high or low temperatures. These ruggedized devices also withstand endure heavy rain, direct sunlight exposure, or high level of humidity.
Moreover, in extreme environments, these devices don’t suffer from a performance decline. Hence these devices are best for mission-critical applications, which require continuous operation.
Miltec Rugged Computing Solutions specializes in offering both semi-rugged and fully rugged solutions in Oman and other GCC countries.
