Panasonic Toughbook 52 User Manual

2008

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www.larstan.com

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 

LaneF.Cooper StephenLee

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AssessingTheBroad BusinessCaseForRugged Computing

This paper outlines the key demand drivers for reliable computing while describing the elements for different levels of “ruggedness.” It reports on the spectrum of mission-critical mobile users who have different levels of needs for rugged computing. It provides guidelines for “certification” and testing to accurately assess vendor claims and appropriately map the correct rugged form factor to the required functionality.

AssessingTheBroadBusinessCaseForRuggedComputing

Assessing the Broad Business Case for

Rugged Mobile Computing Devices

While the concept of rugged computing has been pioneered by users working in extreme environmental conditions, there is growing evidence that a broader business market is developing for this category of mobile computers. The new trend is driven by three factors:

• The number of mobile workers as a percentage of the overall workforce is growing;

• New broadband wireless technologies (EVDO

and HSDPA2 and Gobi in particular) increase the opportunities to connect to key information resources from more places and at any time; and

• Increased usage of mobile computers in a greater variety of environments exposes these devices to greater risk of physical harm.

According to analysts at Boonton, NJ-based Insight Research, employers are now actively promoting the expansion of their mobile workforce, especially as new technology developments enable continuous communication with employees outside of the office. This observation is further supported by a study from the Washington, DC-based Telework Coalition, which found that:

• 89 of the top 100 US companies offer telecommuting;

• 58 percent of companies consider themselves a virtual workplace;

• Only nine percent of employees worked at headquarters; and

• 67 percent of all workers used mobile and wireless computing.

Workers, in short, are on the move. They are increasingly doing mission-critical work when they are away from the office. While it may have been feasible in the early days of mobility to use dial-up facilities— and later find Wi-Fi hotspots in coffee houses or hotel lobbies— the mainstreaming of mobility creates a new requirement for anytime access.

This helps to explain why demand for wireless broadband services is expected to grow at a compounded rate of more than 60 percent through the rest of the decade, while wireline services will grow at only 10 percent over the same forecast horizon, according to Insight analysts. Business users— and a growing number of consumers— find that they cannot afford to wait when they need to connect with colleagues, customers and suppliers.

Evolution, Data Only or Evolution, Data Optimized

High-Speed Downlink Packet Access

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AssessingTheBroadBusinessCaseForRuggedComputing

“Anytime” connectivity implies an “anywhere” requirement. As people access their network resources more often, they are also doing it from more places; some of those places are not always computer friendly. That is why, in a separate survey conducted by Harris Interactive, 70 percent of U.S. adult laptop users (in a sample of 2,300 respondents) strongly agreed that they would not feel comfortable storing their laptop in an overhead bin while traveling on an airplane because of fear that it might become damaged. The survey further found that:

• Among adults who regularly use a laptop computer, 47percent use their laptop outside of a typical office environment on a daily basis;

• 25 percent regularly (i.e. 3 days a week or more) use a laptop while traveling or somewhere else outside their home or work;

• Among laptop users, 68 percent report their laptop is most at risk when traveling as a result of being dropped and knocked against a hard surface or getting crushed under the weight of other objects; and

• 39 percent reported experiencing some form of mishap (drop, knock, and spill) with their laptop.

These findings are in line with research conducted in 2005 by Framingham, MAbased IDC, which showed that dropping while carrying was the “number one” cause of accidental notebook damage. Liquid spills and falls from a table or desk rounded out the top three mishaps leading to accidental damage.

…Understanding the True Total Cost of PC Ownership

Many buyers have focused on purchase price alone when procuring notebooks. A closer look at the numbers— and the quality of the end-user experience— is turning this conventional wisdom into seriously outdated thinking.

According to a recent market research report authored by analyst David Krebs at Natick, MA-based Venture Development Corporation, nearly 50% of the total cost of operating an enterprise mobile computing device is caused by lost worker productivity when the device fails.

He concludes that the upfront cost of hardware adoption accounts for only 16% of mobile computer total cost of ownership (TCO). This implies substantial savings with the purchase of rugged equipment, because operating costs will be much lower over the long-term than with non-rugged mobile platforms.

This could explain why a study conducted by ABI Research in December of 2006 forecast that a new durable notebook category (also known as business-rugged) will grow at a compound annual rate of over 16% between 2006 and 2011.

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AssessingTheBroadBusinessCaseForRuggedComputing

"The combination of rugged features in more consumer-grade mobile devices is at the very core of product differentiation and the growing need to cater for field force enablement. Fully ruggedized products in traditional vertical markets such as oil and gas, mining, and the military will continue to be strong...[but] there will be growth for these products in not so traditional markets." — Stuart Carlaw, Analyst, ABI Research

The die, it seems, has been cast, and ruggedness is no longer just for environmentally extreme industrial and military users anymore. It is moving into the mainstream of the global 2000 and beyond. As a result, a broad spectrum of mission-critical mobile users is emerging with different levels of rugged requirements.

Projections like these and others have caused a flurry of activity as non-rugged consumer and commercial-grade PC manufacturers rush in to tap this highgrowth market opportunity. In so doing, claims are being made that can be confusing to executives seeking to field a mobile work force with cost-effective and highly reliable computing resources.

What they are learning, as they deploy new more rugged mobile computing equipment, is that one size does not fit all, even within an organization. It is therefore important to have an understanding of the key elements that determine the level of ruggedness that is needed by users, and that is available from the vendor community.

…Overview of Rugged Computing

Rugged computing has traditionally sought to bring the promise of information technology to harsh environments, including:

• Outdoors in the elements, with extreme temperatures, humidity, and precipitation;

• In the presence of large quantities of airborne liquids or particulates such as in industrial, construction, or desert environments; and/or

• In vehicles (including aircraft, on- and off-road land vehicles, and marine installations), which are characterized by high vibration, mechanical shocks, and violent altitude and attitude changes.

The recent surge of interest in rugged mobile platforms has prompted new entrants into the field who claim a wide array of capabilities as “certifiably” rugged. In truth, manufacturer’s claims of ruggedness are subjective and not uniformly understood. Currently, there is neither a single industry standard, nor an independent testing authority, for rugged computing products.

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