Comments on: Dell gets rugged to pump up sales

The Latitude XFR D630 is basically a Latitude D630 in full body armor built to withstand extreme temperatures, falls, moisture, dust, and more.

[idreamincode]

How is that NOT Sexy??!?

That is one sexy beast. I think some people just find certain types of laptops attractive, and I believe this one is hot! and rugged! Much better for things I do than that stupid Macbook Air.

[bryanwalker]

Dell Who?

Dell is gonna need a heck of a lot more than what they have been trying! Why not simply go back to OUTSTANDING customer service?
Dell sucks, from now on I will be purchasing HP systems!

[dzrtram]

How much?

No one I know is going to pay that much for a laptop computer. That's CRAZY!

[skrubol]

Target users..

Nobody you know is in their target demographic. Azonix makes ruggedized computers for the military that start around $10,000.

[groink_hi]

This is not just a laptop...

I've worked with the Panasonic Toughbooks for several years now, working with various utility companies and the U.S. government. Rugged laptops are NOT for the average user. To give you a perspective, these Toughbooks are used as servers in Iraq. No other server would withstand the terrain and heat these units are put through. You can drop them several feet onto a concrete surface. You can throw this thing in an oven at 350 and it may still run. I once even heard of it being shot with a bullet, and it still ran despite a bullet hole in the screen. While running and the ports covered, you can throw this thing into a pool of water. An officer I worked with even became irate mad and threw one of these laptops against a brick wall, breaking only the handle. But the damn thing keeps ticking!!!!

The $5000 laptop market may be expensive for 95-percent of the world. But you should see the R&D put into these units. For me, the price is right!

[AMRCC]

Compatible till the E series comes out...

E-series parts are not going to be compatible with D-series models.

[eggsngrits]

Is this the same as the Augmentix stuff?

Augmentix put a shell around Dell D6xx (don't remember which) machines. Horrible. Didn't look like it was able to withstand a stiff wind, much less a military test of any kind.

The Augmentix case looks like this one. Hmmm...

[ruggedlaptops]

Is This Really News

Are you sure you understand the rugged niche? 810F is military spec. Dell admittedly was not even interested in this niche only just a few short years ago.

Do a search. The information was widely reported. They are jumping on the wagon because of OLPC and 3rd world lappies that are the trend and happen to be semi-rugged, Everything will be rugged eventually...hardly a revelation.