[Nhcoll-l] field laptop computer suggestions?

[Helen Alten]

Roger,
Thanks so much for this. I just did a search on refurbished toughbooks. 
They are 1/2 to 1/3 the price of new. Least expensive was $600. I liked 
the ones that had a touch screen. Sort of tablet cum laptop amalgam. 
There are three authorized refurbishers listed on the Panasonic site. I 
liked this one: https://www.ocruggedlaptops.com/refurbished_toughbooks.html
Helen Alten

On 08/01/2012 1:10 PM, Burkhalter, Roger J. wrote:
> The gold standard is the Panasonic Toughbook, a Windows machine built to military specifications to withstand just about any conditions (6 ft drop, shock, vibration, rain, dust, sand, altitude, freeze/thaw, high/low temperature, temperature shock, humidity, and explosive atmosphere). Many have built-in GPS and 3G/4G wireless. They, however, are not inexpensive. A Toughbook 31 starts at $3211.00. Perhaps you can find a used/refurbished one that meets your needs. If you are mostly data collecting, some tablets can work (Panasonic also makes a ToughPad for extreme environments) and they latest/greatest processor and tons of memory may not be needed.
>
> Roger
>
>
> *******************************************************************
> Roger J. Burkhalter
> Collection Manager
> Department of Invertebrate Paleontology
> Division of Collections and Research
> Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History University of Oklahoma
> 2401 Chautauqua
> Norman, OK 73072
> Phone: 405-325-1097
> Fax: 405-325-7699
> www.snomnh.ou.edu
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Lewis, Deborah A [EEOBS]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2012 11:12 AM
> To: herbaria at NACSE.ORG; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> Subject: [Nhcoll-l] FW: field laptop computer suggestions?
>
> Folks who do fieldwork,
>
> Can you suggest a rugged laptop for fieldwork as described by a colleague below (withstand high temperatures, long battery life, good outdoor screen resolution, etc.)? She didn't mention being somewhat water-resistance (e.g., getting caught in a rain shower), but that might be a useful feature, as well. If you've had bad experiences with laptops that were advertised as suitable, that would be helpful, too. If you wish to contact me off-list, I'm happy to receive your suggestions to pass them along to Dr. Toth and also compile the responses to post to the lists.
>
> Many thanks!
> Deb Lewis
>
> Deborah Q. Lewis, Curator
> Ada Hayden Herbarium                        Phone:  [1] 515-294-9499
> Iowa State University                            Email:    dlewis at iastate.edu
> 340 Bessey                                                 FAX:       [1] 515-294-1337
> Ames, IA  50011-1020                            Web:      www.herbarium.iastate.edu
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Toth, Amy L [EEOBS] [mailto:amytoth at iastate.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2012 10:00 AM
> Subject: field laptop computer suggestions?
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> We are looking to purchase a laptop for field use, and wondering if anyone has any suggestions of a sturdy, yet affordable option.  Standard laptops are probably not going to do the trick for us-- my postdoc Jenny Jandt tried to bring her own laptop out in the field this week, and it overheated and shut down several times.
>
> In a nutshell, we need a laptop that has long battery life (9 hours), ability to withstand high temperatures (Iowa heat wave in the sun-- so as high as 110F), a screen that is visible in the sun, and a lot of RAM (8GB would be ideal), and wireless internet.  Oh, and we only have a budget of $1000-- but from the looks of things we are finding online, we may have to go over that amount to get what we need.
>
> Any suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Amy
> __________________________________
> Amy Toth, Assistant Professor
> Iowa State University
> Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
> 309 Bessey Hall
> Ames, IA 50011
> office phone: (515)-294-3121
> amytoth at iastate.edu
> http://www.public.iastate.edu/~amytoth/Toth_lab/Home.html
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Helen I. Alten
Northern States Conservation Center
www.collectioncare.org
www.museumclasses.org