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My Recommendations:
If you want something tough as nails but you dont need the fastest computer around get an old Toughbook:
If you want a fast, powerful computer, MIl-spec tested and good enough for NASA, then consider a good Thinkpad such as the T420. It wont stop bullets like Toughbooks but they are lighter, durable, easy to repair pretty and powerful hardware. A Thinkpad with a Mini Dock Series 3 docking station is a great combo. If you happen to need something smaller then go for an X220:
If you need both extra durability and lots of hardware power, get a newer Toughbook with a docking station:
FerFAL
2 comments:
Just got done setting up 2 older toughbooks.
One is a CF30 Core 2 Duo running Vista Pro, 120gig SSD, 4 gig ram, and the other is a CF-29 running windows XP pro. Both machines run fine. The Vista machine is as quick and responsive as any for normal tasks. The XP machine was designed to run XP and runs anything from that era just fine.
There are lots of Toughbooks on ebay, either reconditioned or ready for you to do it yourself. If you decide to recondition one, all the parts you need are available on ebay. (Most surplussed Toughbooks are missing the hard drive and special caddy, and most have no optical drive.) The CF 30 will install an os from external usb dvd, but the CF-29 has issues with that.
Drivers are available, and there are great forums with helpful people if you need it.
Also, they run just fine on 12 Volts, even though the nameplate is for higher voltage.
nick
This may interest you.
If you know what you're doing, you can mount a linux distribution on a USB device and make a boot stick. Plug it into any computer, boot from USB and you're good to go. If you do it right it runs with no appreciable lag, saves all your info to the USB, and heavily encrypts the USB drive.
This could have several major advantages.
1. No particular hardware needed. Any old device will do. If you lose or break any particular element of your computer it doesn't matter. You can also run this from a friend's computer if needed.
2. Security. If people come looking for data for whatever reason, they will look for a computer. They will find a computer, and then conclude that they've found all your goods. They won't be looking for a thumb drive the size of a stick of gum, which could be hidden anywhere. Even if they find it, it's heavily encrypted.
3. Portability. Self explanatory. Run it on a cheap/minimal computer, then if you have to go, eject it and it's small enough to fit in an Altoids tin with lots of room to spare.
Just an idea to throw out there.
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