Each year, at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference in the fall, computer manufacturers introduce their new ruggedized laptops designed for in-vehicle use by law enforcement officers and deputies. View a photo gallery of several of the models that arrived for 2009, such as the Amrel Rocky RT-M, Dell Latitude E6400 XFR, Getac V100, Itronix GD6000 and Panasonic Toughbook 30F.
Ruggedized Computers
Designed for mobile workforces, the GD6000 from ITronix is a notebook optimized for vehicle deployments. It meets fully rugged standards for temperature, vibration, dust ingress, and humidity. It can also survive punishing 30-inch drops and comes standard with a spill resistant keyboard, dual task lights, and the industry's best 13.3-inch outdoor viewable touch screen display featuring patent-pending DynaVue technology. The ITronix GD6000 also has options for GPS, WWAN, and a full-function vehicle dock.
Odds are if you use a computer in your patrol car, it's a Panasonic Toughbook. The Toughbook is by far the most popular mobile law enforcement computer. The Toughbook 30F notebook (pictured) and the 19F convertible tablet PC both have displays that are twice as bright as most rugged notebook displays. Yet, it delivers more than six hours of battery life. The 30F notebook features a 1.66-GHz Intel Core Duo Processor with a 2MB L2 cache, 512MB of RAM, and a 60- or 80GB hard drive. The CF-19 convertible tablet PC is powered by a 1.06-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a 2MB L2 cache, 1GB SDRAM that's expandable to 4GB, and an 80GB hard drive.
Getac isn't a household name, but the company is well known in the ruggedized computer market. The Getac V100 rugged laptop transforms with one quick rotation to a rugged tablet PC. It has an ultra-low voltage Intel Core 2 Duo processor and a quiet fanless design, as well as a 10.4-inch LCD display with an optional 12.1-inch widescreen. A full-size 83-key keyboard is included with an option to upgrade to a rubber or LED backlight keyboard. The V100 includes an integrated 1.3-megapixel camera and can be customized to include a built-in GPS receiver and antenna. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, Wireless LAN and 3G. The V100 is both MIL-STD-810F and IP54 compliant.
When you bestow the trade name "Rocky" on a line of computers, they had better be tough. Amrel's Rocky line of rugged computers lives up to its name. The line, which includes tablets and notebooks, is ruggedized to MIL-STD 810F and IP54. They can sustain rain, shock, humidity, vibration, salt, fog, altitude, and extreme temperatures. Yet, they are also light and fast. The Rocky RT-M, features an Intel Core 2 Duo processor (with 4MB L2Cache), 1GB of memory, a 160GB hard drive, and a 13.3-inch anti-reflective TFT display.
Dell's second generation fully rugged laptop, the Latitude E6400 XFR, arrives with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor with vPro technology, a state-of-the-art CPU that's uncommon in rugged computers. In addition to the latest Intel processor, the E6400 XFR has a powerful NVIDIA Quadro graphics card and a 120GB hard drive or optional solid state drive ($100 extra). The case is made of a non-metallic material used in missiles and aircraft. Called "Ballistic Armor" by Dell, this material won't stop a bullet, but it does provide exceptional protection from impact and from water and dust. The Latitude E6400 XFR is MIL-STD-810F compliant.