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A rugged (or ruggedized, but also ruggedised) computer is a computer specifically designed to operate reliably in harsh usage environments and conditions, such as strong vibrations, extreme temperatures and wet or dusty conditions.〔(Rugged laptop computer for use in military ground vehicles and helicopters offered by General Dynamics Itronix - Military & Aerospace Electronics )〕 They are designed from inception for the type of rough use typified by these conditions, not just in the external housing but in the internal components and cooling arrangements as well.〔(What you need to know before purchasing a rugged mobile computer ), ''LXE'', 2004.〕 In general, ruggedized and hardened computers share the same design robustness and frequently these terms are interchangeable.〔(Hardened Laptops: A New Meaning Of Extreme ). eweek.com, March 1st, 2004. Retrieved 10-2-2013.〕 Typical end-user environments for rugged laptops, tablet PCs and PDAs are public safety, field sales, field service, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, transportation/distribution〔(Supply Chain Management ). Panasonic.com. Retrieved 10-2-2013.〕 and the military. They are used in the agricultural industries and by individuals for recreational activities, as well, such as hunting or geocaching. ==Construction== Virtually all rugged computers share an underlying design philosophy of providing a controlled environment for the installed electronics. The electronic components themselves may be selected for their ability to withstand higher and lower operating temperatures than typical commercial components. They incorporate features such as fully sealed keyboards to protect against intrusion by dust or liquids, and scratch-resistant screens that are readable in direct sunlight.〔(How ruggedness reduces TCO for mobile computers ), ''VDC Research'', 2009.〕 Rugged units are more expensive in terms of annualized hardware costs. However, one research study found that in environments where rugged computers are commonly used, total cost of ownership was 36 percent lower for rugged notebooks and 33 percent less for handhelds and PDAs, compared to conventional non-rugged versions. The lower overall cost is due to lower failure rates, the related impact on productivity, and other factors.〔(TCO Insights on Rugged Mobile Computers ), ''VDC Research'', 2007.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Rugged computer」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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