DailyTech - Design for More Reliable Mobile Computing

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Blog: Gadgets Design for More Reliable Mobile Computing
Brandon Hill (Blog) - December 11, 2008 12:03 AM

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5 comment(s) - last by japlha.. on Dec 12 at 2:36 PM

Notebooks need to stand up to abuse, and manufacturers are taking steps to meet this challenge

It’s imperative that companies have notebook computers that function properly 100% of the time with absolutely no downtime. Time is money, so anytime that a notebook is out of commission due to design defects or equipment malfunctions, a company’s employee(s) could be left reeling when away from the office or out of town on business.

In order to combat downtime and provide the most reliable notebook platform for the ultimate mobile warrior, here are a few ways to improve the durability of a notebook.

Chassis Construction

There are a number of ways to design a laptop, with the cheapest being to construct the main body and chassis out of plastic. While this is a cheap and lightweight building material, it doesn’t always stand up well to drops or any rigorous abuse.

Companies like Lenovo use magnesium-alloy top and bottom covers for its ThinkPad X300 and X301 notebooks. The material is both strong and lightweight, while at the same time providing great durability for road warriors that are always on the go. Other features Lenovo employs include carbon fiber/glass fiber screen housings and metal hinges which provide better support and longevity than traditional plastic hinges.

On a different front, Apple has chosen to build its latest MacBook and MacBook Pro system with a solid chunk of aluminum. This allows the company to provide a strong, creak-free chassis with minimal seams. By machining the chassis from a single piece of aluminum, there are fewer pieces to stress, crack, and fail over time and makes for a durable computing platform.

To read more on power consumption for mobile professionals and other mobile-related topics, head on over to Lenovo’s Ultra-Mobile Enterprise website.

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It's a shame

By wwwebsurfer on 12/11/2008 12:32:54 PM , Rating: 4

It's a shame to even think putting time-tested road-worthy Lenovo's Thinkpad line in the same page as an Apple machine. While using Thinkpads you can switch out a CD rom for an extra battery, and conversely switch out your main battery while running on CD-rom cell yielding near-endless run time. Try switching a battery on an Apple machine (hint: it involves sending it to a factory.)

Or how about 12 months from now when the battery needs replacing? OEM batteries for Lenovo can be had by the thousands online for dirt cheap prices. Apple? Oh yea, factory again.

Or lets say you want to give a presentation from your laptop. Oh, poor poor Apple user - left his $40 VGA adapter at home. Too bad Staples doesn't stock those... Lenovo builds real jacks into everything all the way down to their netbooks.

Travel overseas? Apple makes adapters, and charges you a leg for them. Lenovo power adapters use the common plugs found on everything from coffee machines (think hotel in Europe) to electronics.

How bout getting on the hotel internet. Some of the ultra-portable macs (air?) don't even have ethernet jacks while a good number of hotels don't have wireless.

And the security - G-force sensors freeze your disk saving your precious data. On board encryption makes sure your data is somewhat protected even if compromised. And lastly, their new disable via text message.

In fact the only thing Apple has going for it that Lenovo should think about adding is the magnetic disconnect for the power adapter. I've tripped on my Thinkpad endless times and the little plug has consistently broke-away correctly, but I think the magnets may be a tad more reliable. Provided they maintain consistent electrical connection 2-3 years from purchase.

RE: It's a shame

By Belard on 12/11/2008 4:12:47 PM , Rating: 2

He's talking about contstuction... Apple does make some of the better notebooks on the market. There are plenty of cheap junky notebooks like Acer, Hpaq and gateway/Dells that are flimsy and junky power connectors.

I'm a ThinkPAD owner (and sell them to clients when they need a notebook) and think its one of the better notebooks to get. ThinkPAD is more about standards with their batteries, accessories and Power Supplies. They are more business oriented. And so *I* don't agree with your comparision between the two. Remember, the AIR is NOT a business computer in the serious sense. Even thou the ThinkPAD X300 includes a optical drive and is just about as thin and big. Other features built into most ThinkPads.

- Alloy frame on the body (into the screen as well on 14" models)
- Keyboard has drip channels if you spill your tea on the keyboard.
- HD protection

And as another poster said... what about Panasonic Toughbook.

Parent

Another one.

By svenkesd on 12/11/2008 4:06:48 PM , Rating: 4

This is an ad.

Stop putting these in the blog section. Make a new ad section and put it there.

Please don't sell out.

Why even post this blog..

By Expunge on 12/11/2008 2:33:52 PM , Rating: 2

It's like saying the sky is blue.

And if your going to run with a topic like this why is their nothing mentioned about the military and the laptops they use in the field. Obviously those laptops have to stand up to the rigors of the mission.

Lenovo and Apple are the only companies mention? What about Panasonic's Toughbook series? How do those standup to abuse, neglect, heat, tough environmental conditions, etc.. Instead you give us this..

This blog is the FAIL. Try again when you do more than 20 seconds of research.

It's over

By japlha on 12/12/2008 2:36:37 PM , Rating: 2

Wow that finished fast.
I started reading thinking "Ok, good first point, Chassis Construction." Then something about Apple was mentioned, the end. I sure there is more that determines "Reliable Mobile Computing" than just chassis construction.

"If you look at the last five years, if you look at what major innovations have occurred in computing technology, every single one of them came from AMD. Not a single innovation came from Intel." -- AMD CEO Hector Ruiz in 2007