Marine Computers

Marine Computers are specialty computers engineered for jobs that deal with moisture and salt-air environments and include offshore platforms. Damage from shock due to the moving parts or damage from the liquids are hazards a notebook computer will likely encounter. A standard notebook computer would only be able to take limited damage to absolutely no damage at all. What this equates to is that the standard notebook computer will usually be damaged beyond repair in an engineering environment. Rugged notebook computers are able to prevent damages just like they would in a construction environment.

Marine computers have a similar environment to mechanical engineering; however, marine and offshore platforms must deal with more moisture and water. Moisture can potentially cause long term damage to standard notebook computers. The moisture may affect the internal components of a notebook computer and prevent it from being fully functional. Since marine and offshore platforms are surrounded by water, the threat of water damage is even greater. Fortunately, rugged notebook computers were designed to prevent water damage. It should be noted that even though rugged notebooks are water resistant, they are not likely to survive if it is completely submerged in water. So avoid dropping any notebook in relatively deep water.

The ruggedized notebook computer was originally designed with the military in mind. Military mobile users will typically have to deal with unrelenting conditions where a standard notebook would not survive long, if at all. The threat of damage to equipment is constant and so there is a strong need for a notebook computer that can withstand damage in a military setting.

Rugged notebook computers have a reinforced exterior shell that protects the notebook computer from damage due to drops and other risks from shock. However, the reinforced shell adds bulk to the notebook computer which, unfortunately, limits the mobility to some extent. In the case of unrelenting environments, mobility is nothing without durability as a computer that has been damaged and nonfunctional is about as useful as a brick would be. Fortunately advances in technology have brought rugged notebook computers with a smaller form factor for greater mobility. There are even ruggedized notebook computers that are almost as small and portable as standard notebooks. These, however, are semi-rugged notebook computers which can withstand damage but not as much as a fully rugged notebook computer.

Marine Computers are water resistant because of the keyboard, which is designed to prevent any liquids from entering and damaging internal parts of the notebook. With this protection one can actually clean the keyboard on a notebook by running water on it in the kitchen sink. With that in mind, it is safe to say that spilling drinks or using the rugged notebook computer in the rain will not cause any problems to the notebook and it should function as though it was being used indoors. As previously stated, it is not designed to be completely submerged under water and is not recommended for this kind of usage.

Though rugged notebooks are designed to be used outdoors, a problem that some mobile users may find is trying to read the LCD screen in the sunlight. For most notebooks it is difficult to read the display in sunlight as the standard LCD screen was not designed to be readable in the sun and so many notebook computer users may purchase an accessory that will cover the screen to help make it more legible in the sunlight. The good news is that many rugged notebooks have the option of coming with a daylight readable display so you would not have to deal with the hassle of buying and carrying an extra accessory with you.

Rugged notebook computers provide excellent utility for marine and offshore platforms. Because of the demanding environment, mobile users on marine and offshore platforms should not settle for anything less than a rugged notebook computer.