What Makes a Laptop Military Grade?

When civilians hear the term “military grade laptops” they likely immediately think of toughness. We know that members of the military are toughness and capability in any environment. Their equipment must be just as tough and capable as they are in order to keep up with the demands of the job. But what does the term “military grade” actually mean?

When shopping for a rugged laptop, whether you are in the military or not, “military grade” is often used as a term to define toughness. Of course, without understanding the technology and features that go into military grade laptops, it is difficult to shop for a rugged laptop that will meet your needs.

Which Features Go Into Military Grade Laptops?

As mentioned, you will often see products that claim to be “military certified” or “military grade products” without expanding on what that means. However, those terms aren’t just marketing buzzwords. In fact, the United States Military has developed a series of tests for products to be able to achieve the title of “military grade”.

A common military grade certification you will see on a rugged laptop is MIL-STD-810G. This tests the durability of electronics in difficult conditions. Devices need to withstand repeated drops from four feet high. You can find many of these tests online like this Panasonic Toughbook CF-31 drop test video.

After achieving the grade for drop testing, products will also be put to the test in hot and cold temperatures, wet conditions, dusty conditions, and more. The military needs to be able to count on these devices when deployed because, in most cases, walking to the store to buy a new laptop is not a realistic option.

Alongside those basic military grade features, there are a number of additional convenience features manufacturers will add to their devices in order to make them even more suited for an active work environment.

What Are Some Examples of Military Grade Laptops?

The Panasonic Toughbook line of laptops is one of the most recognizable lines of military grade laptops in the world. These devices are chosen by the military, police, fire departments, construction companies, and other businesses in tough industries.

The first thing you will notice about these laptops is that they are built to take a beating. Even the smallest model, the Panasonic Toughbook CF-54, weighs in at 4.4 pounds. Larger models, like the Panasonic Toughbook CF-31, weigh more than seven pounds.

These laptops are also bulkier than consumer laptops you would find at an electronics retailer due to shock protection, often in the form of rubber casing. In addition, manufacturers use larger batteries to offer a longer life - as most people who require a rugged laptop are likely not sitting next to a wall outlet during the day.

Do You Give Up Quality for Toughness?

When many people see a rugged laptop for the first time they often assume that the laptops do not have the same processing power as top-of-the-line consumer laptops. However, that simply is not true. While the Panasonic Toughbook CF-54 won’t win any awards for style, it still has plenty of power to keep up with the top laptops on the market.

The Panasonic Toughbook line of laptops are designed to take a beating but that does not mean that modern features are not available. For example, the Panasonic Toughbook CF-33 features a detachable keyboard that allows user to operate the device in tablet mode and dock to a keyboard when needed. The display settings can be changed to operate with gloves on as well.

For power, users can opt for the Panasonic Toughbook CF-54 which can be configured with a 7th gen Intel i5 processor. Batteries can also be hot swapped without the need for shutting down the computer.

You don’t have to choose between computing power or quality parts just to get a rugged laptop. The Panasonic Toughbook lineup offers both for users who need the best devices in challenging environments.

Should You Buy a Military Grade Laptop?

Now comes the big question: should you buy a military grade laptop? These tough devices are not designed just for people in the line of duty. Anyone who has to do their job in an environment that isn’t suited for typical consumer electronics may find that a military grade laptop is the right choice for them.

These do tend to come at a higher cost for these devices, but the protection features packed in help to justify the price tag. Without question, a military grade device will outlast a consumer device in harsh conditions. The replacement cost of choosing consumer devices would far exceed the cost of a rugged laptop designed to withstand drops, moisture, and dust.

Want to learn more about military grade laptops like the Panasonic Toughbook CF-20, Panasonic Toughbook CF-33, or Panasonic Toughbook CF-54? Our expert product advisors at CDS Office Technologies would be more than happy to assist you. Contact us today!