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We've buried them in sand and they don't over heat, nor did the touchscreens, mousepads or keyboards fail or malfunction.
We've parked a 2.45 tonne 4WD on them to check for crush resistance.
Now we're integrating them into some of the world's leading portable computing and communications solutions to add even more value to field based professionals who absolutely rely on their portable computers.
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In 2006, we asked ROAM Magazine (now T3) to challenge makers of portable computers and PDAs who claimed to have 'rugged' products to participate in a Durability Challenge. Only one other vendor participated in the challenge, after several pulled out when they found out who they were being pitted against.
TEST #1: Being buried in sand
This exercise involved the two notebooks being buried in the sand dunes at Kurnell, on the south side of Sydney's famous Botany Bay. They were then buried in wet sand on the beach adjacent.
The Opentec RPC notebook
Not having fans to clog, or any pathway via which sand could enter its interior, and with resistive touchpad and (optional touchscreen), the Opentec notebook continued to function without fault. It didn't overheat, and despite being caked in sand, its mousepad and touchscreen were still able to be used.
The Competitor's notebook
The product tested overheated and shut down as a result of the fans clogging with sand and the unit overheating as a result.
TEST #2: Immersion in salt water
This exercise involved sitting both notebooks in the surf at Kurnell. This is what most manufacturers would consider 'unfair wear', but while not recommended, any IP54 rated device should cope with accidental dunkings or heavy rain (these devices are supposed to be used in teh outdoors, right?).
The Opentec RPC notebook
While not designed for full immersion, the RPC nonetheless did not leak (being IP54 rated). However, the test technician purposefully left the removeable battery partially untightened, which allowed salt water to penetrate and short circuit the Li-Ion battery. When the notebook was reconnected to 240VAC power though, it booted up without any problems, because the on-board transformer remained undamaged.
The Competitor's notebook
The other product tested suffered a catastrophic failure as a result of water entering the chassis.
TEST #3: Being dropped 3 metres onto a concrete driveway
The Opentec RPC notebook
The RPC was dropped from 1m, 2m then 3m, before a fault occured that cause the unit to power down. The fault was simply that the HDD had come slightly loose. After being reseated in the HDD bay, and after a 20 minute healthcheck by our technician, the unit booted up, good as new.
The Competitor's notebook
After being dropped from a height of only 2m onto concrete, the unit tested failed and would not reboot despite corrective action by a technician.
THE VERDICT:
Said the technician conducting the field trials, "Not only did I fail to destroy it (the Opentec RPC), to try would simply have been gratuitous vandalism!"
To be this durable, a product has to be built UP to a standard, not DOWN to a price. But that intrinsic engineering advantage ensures Opentecs will continue to do their jobs in places other products have been tried AND FAILED!
CONTINUE THE TOUR >>
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