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Why Go Rugged?

TOUGHBOOK - TOUGH, RUGGED, BUILT FOR THE OUTSIDE WORLD

Importance of Notebook PC Reliability

The PC is undoubtedly a critical business tool for many organisations. As notebooks PCs become an essential business tool the reliability of the devices become an even more important consideration.

In a deskbound environment there is an inherently lower risk of damage to a device. When a device becomes mobile, as in the case of a notebook PC, the risk of damage increases and correspondingly the need for reliability also rises. The more reliant users become on notebooks PCs, the more those devices need to be dependable.

When notebook PCs are used in outdoor conditions the importance of product quality and durability intensifies. Can a typical notebook PC built under strong cost pressures on components and design elements be sufficiently durable and reliable for outdoors users? Standard notebook PCs will have a more difficult time in outdoor conditions and will see higher rates of component failure and damage.

In a recent case study undertaken by IDC sponsored by Panasonic - Ruggedised Mobile Computing: Telstra Case Study, failure rates of non-ruggedised devices were found to be 25% per annum over a four-year period compared with a failure rate of just 1.5% for ruggedised devices.

As such the purchasing decision of notebook PCs must go beyond the upfront cost of the device and into the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) taking into consideration the revenue lost due to downtime, failure rates, costs for technical support and reduced customer service.

Supplier considerations when going rugged

Selecting the right manufacturer, supplier or integrator partner is just as important as getting the product choice right and sometimes far more important in the long term.

When evaluating potential suppliers, in addition to hardware credentials be sure to take into consideration the following key factors:

Manufacturer Representation

• Does the manufacturer have direct representation in Australia?
• How long has the manufacturer or agent been responsible for the technology in Australia?

Financial Stability

• How financially secure is the local supplier?
• How long have they been operating in this market?
• What infrastructure do they have throughout Australia?

Support Infrastructure

• Do they have local technical resources, administrative and support staff dedicated to a national service and support program?

Service and Spare Parts

• What level of spare parts does the company hold in Australia, including components such as mother boards, screens and spare drives?
• If not held locally, what is the lead time for supply from overseas?
• Does the manufacturer or import agent provide local service and support through an established service facility?

Track Record

• How long has the manufacturer been making fully rugged computers?
• What medium and large scale deployments has the company completed in Australia in the last three years?
• How many units have they supplied in Australia and how many customer reference sites have they provided you?

Channel

• How many Australian resellers of the technology are there and how many distributors handle the product?

Panasonic is a truly global company with sales in excess of eighty billion dollars and a massive commitment to the Australian market, with over 400 full time staff nationally and a dedicated local team of sales, technical and administration staff to support the Panasonic Toughbook operation.

Panasonic has a worldwide reputation for the depth and diversity of our research capabilities, manufacturing expertise and product offerings. Toughbooks lead the mobile PC industry in reliability. With the resources of Panasonic behind them, Toughbooks feature the latest technological advancements and provide your company with its best defense against mobile worker downtime.

An investment in the right solution goes far beyond the upfront cost and hardware specifications.