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Pioneering the differences
We've been developing and refining ruggedised portable products since 1994, with much of that experience gained in the development of Military grade 'Super Rugged' computers.
Consider just a few of the refinements that today set the benchmark with respect to the features most buyers expect to find in a rugged portable computer - then consider that we've had more experience than most creating products that are today some of the most durable, most reliable, most 'rugged' portable computers you can buy:
- Heavy-duty, Magnesium Alloy chassis
(that look strong because they ARE - the photos of the 2.4 tonne 4WD parked on a 13" Opentec RPC are not faked!)
- External device ports that are isolated from the motherboard
(to keep the outside OUTSIDE - ask the Australian Army how reliable Opentecs are in the Outback, where many other products simply fail due to dust-induces electronics failures)
- Fully sealed, water and dust proof keyboards
(to deal with more than the occassional splash - and the photo to the left with the PDA in the water is, again, not faked)
- Fan-less (passive) cooling systems on top end 'military rugged' ranges
(because fans, waterproof or not, are just another thing to fail - check out THE CHALLENGE section to read more on this)
- Heavy-duty screen hinging mechanisms
(because when hinges break, screens - the most expensive component of the computer - generally fail as well)
- Integrated motherboards and daughterboards designed to prevent components coming adrift during excesses of vibration, or after repeated shocks
(because even one leg of a CPU connector coming adrift will render your computer useless)
- High-brightness, high contrast, daylight readable LED-backlit LCDs
(because you simply can't see standard TFT screens properly in full sunlight)
- Sealed, shock-mounted hard drives and long-life battery packs that don't need any special tools to remove
(because Murphy's Law says you'll never have a screwdriver with you when you really need one)
Consider these things, and you start to appreciate why the products we supply are fundamentally different.
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When we launched a print campaign in 2006, we tried to make a point by being a little 'untraditional'. All our ads since have been just as 'untraditional'.
Our engineering values, though, are traditional enough:
'Build to a specification based on market demand and customer feedback, then market it for what it is, not what you'd like people to see it as being.'