Understanding Rugged Mobile Computers

Here, at Group Mobile, we feel it's important for our customers to be able to make the most educated decision possible when purchasing new computers. We are also aware, with such a large variety of computers on the market, that it can be overwhelming at times determining which computer fits your situation best. Group Mobile's Rugged Computer Guide will teach you about the different types of rugged computers and the features that make them different from conventional, commercial-grade computers; as well as other considerations such as vehicle docking and mounting, integrated wireless and cellular broadband, GPS, cameras, bar code scanners, backlit keyboards and other capabilities that are often mandatory in mobile or outdoor computing.

Group Mobile's Rugged Computer Comparison Charts offer side-by-side specification comparisons of the brands and models we carry based on rugged rating and form factor. Have a few you are interested in? Choose the appropriate category to view our product comparisons. 

If you have more specific questions or are not completely sure of which rugged system works ideally with your goals, please contact one of our mobile computing specialists and they will be happy to assist you with whatever you may need.

Considerable Discount on GD8000!

HUGE Savings on this GD8000 Fully Rugged Laptop Computing Solution!

Sale Price $2,921

(Suggested Retail Price $5,521) 

Save over $2,600!

Group Mobile's GD8000 Mobile Computing Solution is ideal for field service and other mobile professionals that need a laptop and the essential accessories for working in the field and other challenging work environments. It offers both savings and convenience by bundling everything you need to stay powered-up and connected at a reduced price.

The GD8000 Mobile Computing Solution includes:   

• General Dynamics Itronix GD8000 rugged laptop Vehicle power adapter   
• Spare Lithium-ion battery
• 3 Year No-Fault Max Service Warranty

The GD8000 is designed for the toughest user and tested to meet, and even exceed military standards. It is powered by the Intel® low-voltage Core™ 2 Duo processing architecture and features a 160GB shock-mounted hard drive with a heater, 1GB DDR3 RAM, and a 13.3-inch DynaVue® display with touchscreen for excellent viewability in all lighting conditions. This configuration has impressive communications capabilities including Bluetooth and GPS. Read More

The GD8000 Mobile Computing Solution is specially priced and available for immediate shipment. Other configurations are also available.

Don't miss out on this substantial discount! 

For more information regarding rugged mobile computing visit www.groupmobile.com or call us at 1-866-RUGGED-8.

Do Rugged Computers Cost More or Less?

On a fairly frequent basis, Group Mobile provides a price quotation to a prospective customer on a ruggedized computer…and when we follow-up the prospect says something like, "Well, the decision was made to buy commercial computers since the ruggedized computers were higher in price. We felt like we could save quite a bit of money and if the plastic computers break, we can just buy new ones and we would still save money over buying ruggedized equipment."

Then invariably, a few weeks or months later, the same person calls back and says something like, "I guess we are ready for those ruggedized computers now. We tried the commercial plastic computers and they were failing every couple of weeks. Our guys were 'down' and without their computers for days at a time. It was costing us a fortune in lost productivity, not to mention the hassle of losing data and having to constantly re-load our software on the repaired computers."

So why does this scenario repeat itself over and over again? We can only blame ourselves…the people who are involved in manufacturing and selling rugged, mobile computers. We have not done a great job of educating people about the necessity of ruggedization when using a computer in a vehicle, in a factory, in a warehouse, in a service bay, or out in the field. Construction companies, utility departments, service, repair, inspection, delivery companies, police departments, etc, think nothing about spending thousands of dollars for the equipment specialized for their job or their business, but balk when it comes to buying specialized computers. They are just not fully aware that commercial grade computers are not designed for vehicle, warehouse or field use.

We all know that there is a difference in price and cost. The price is what you pay up front for an item. The cost is what you spend over the course of the life of the item. Rugged computers are priced higher but cost less. The primary reasons for this are less down time, less lost data, fewer repair costs and increased worker productivity. Obviously, this is only true when said computers are to be used in or on a vehicle, in a dusty dirty environment, in a hot or cold environment, outdoors, or on-site. In every job there is a right and a wrong tool for the job. Commercial portable computers are perfect for indoor, white-collar, taking home at night, or flying on a business trip. Rugged mobile computers are the right tools for those with jobs in demanding environments. Rugged computers actually cost less! Read More...

Helpful Tools at www.groupmobile.com

There are a number of tools on our website designed to help you find what you need. Click the links below to check them out. And don’t forget, you can always Contact Us directly if you would like one of our Rugged Computer Specialists to offer their expertise in finding the solution that’s right for you!

• Request a Quote Form
• Brand/Model Comparison Sheets Rugged Computing Guide
• Mobile Computing Self-Assessment
• Rugged Ratings Guide
• Vehicle Computer Mount Questionnaire
• Best Sellers List

For more information regarding rugged mobile computing visit www.groupmobile.com or call us at 1-866-RUGGED-8.

Self-Assess Your Mobile Computing Needs

A rugged mobile computer is essentially a portable computer that’s been engineered to stand up to the toughest conditions. There are many different kinds of rugged computers and they come in a variety of different sizes, form factors and prices.

If you’re thinking of buying a rugged mobile computer, but not quite sure which computer will best meet your needs here is a quick Systems Requirement Questionnaire you can review and complete. It will only take a few minutes and it will guide you to what a rugged mobile computer can offer.

To speak to a rugged mobile computer expert, call us at 1-866-784-4338; or visit us online at www.groupmobile.com.

Solutions Bundles at GroupMobile.com!

Group Mobile has created mobile computing product bundles to provide an easy and affordable way for our customers to get all of the mobile printing products they need without any guesswork. These rugged computing kits have many of the essential upgrades and accessories needed to help make mobile workers more efficient and productive at a reduced price. More bundle options will be added often so check back for more solutions soon, or call us at 1-866-784-4338 to build a custom mobile computing solution.

For more information regarding rugged mobile computing visit www.groupmobile.com or call us at 1-866-RUGGED-8.

All About Warranties

Three Year Warranty
Almost all of the rugged computers come standard with a 3 year warranty, while most commercial, plastic computers come standard with only a 1 year warranty. Not only does this save you a lot of money in case of a failure, but it also speaks to the quality that is built in to a rugged computer. If they were not extremely reliable, the rugged computer manufacturers could not afford to provide a 3 year warranty.

Extended and Expanded Warranties
Warranty extensions can be acquired to extend the warranty from three years to four years or five years. Also, some warranties can be upgraded to include "no-fault" warranties, on-site warranties, or 24 hour turnaround warranties. Extended warranties can also be acquired on major peripherals and docks which are not included in the computer's warranty, or are only warranteed for one year.

Read more about Rugged Computing in our Guide here! For more information regarding rugged mobile computing visit www.groupmobile.com or call us at 1-866-RUGGED-8.

Submit your Product Review Now!

We’ve had a great response to our requests for Product Reviews. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far! If you haven’t sent in your review yet please take a few minutes to answer our quick four-question survey so we can add your thoughts to our Product Reviews Page.

Here are a few of the reviews we have received recently...

Trimble Nomad
Reviewed by Pat O. on October 12, 2010
"It performs excellently. The one suggestion I would make is to make the built in GPS directly configurable for older programs that do not work with the Intel GPS handler software. But it does work with older software."

Motion J3500
Reviewed by Lanie H. on September 10, 2010
"This is my second slate from Motion and it is a great tool. The touch screen option is a definite must."

Duo-Touch II
Reviewed by Steve R. on July 9, 2010
"I have dropped my Duo-Touch II countless times. It is a very durable tablet computer. The battery life needs to be improved."

For more information regarding rugged mobile computing visit www.groupmobile.com or call us at 1-866-RUGGED-8.

Group Mobile and OCI Partner to Offer Complete Computer Hardware and ePCR Software Solution for EMS Professionals

Group Mobile and OCI Software today announced a strategic partnership that will provide a complete patient care reporting (ePCR) system for EMS professionals. The relationship will combine OCI's AmbuPro EMS ePCR software with rugged laptops and tablet computers supplied by Group Mobile to provide EMS and other public safety professionals a turnkey solution to streamline patient care reporting and EMS operations.

About AmbuPro EMS® ePCR Software



AmbuPro EMS, developed for the EMS community by EMS professionals, is an advanced yet easy-to-use software and hardware solution for incident management and reporting. AmbuPro EMS instantly places vital patient information and incident history at the fingertips of fast-acting EMS personnel, supplying them with critical information for better decision making. The software improves compliance with regional and state requirements while streamlining claims and billing.

Click here to read more about AmbuPro EMS® ePCR Software. For more information regarding rugged mobile computing visit www.groupmobile.com or call us at 1-866-RUGGED-8.

Your Guide to Rugged Mobile Computers

Rugged Computers, also known as hardened computers, and ruggedized computers have been around since the late 1970s / early 1980s, so they basically have been around as long as the PC industry itself. It was quickly discovered and understood that commercial-grade PCs, designed for office workers or even highly-mobile, white-collar workers and frequent flyers, would not hold up in an in-field, in-vehicle, outdoor, or warehouse/factory type of environment. Rugged technology has been developed to allow what is a fairly delicate piece of sophisticated electronics, to be able to function and survive while on-the-go, in the field, and even in tough environmental conditions. Rugged computers have proven time and time again to save end users and organizations large amounts of money, time, and grief due to their durability, reliability, longevity, and 3- to 5-year full warranties… Read more…

For more information regarding rugged mobile computing visit www.groupmobile.com or call us at 1-866-RUGGED-8.

Refurbished Rugged Computers

Factory Refurbished Rugged Mobile Computers are rugged computers that were previously used as demo units or returns that have been processed by an authorized technician. They are an excellent choice for anyone working within the constraints of a smaller budget. Product is 100% functional and has passed OEM diagnostic testing. Each rugged computer should be complete with all plugables, accessories and OS, unless otherwise noted. They are cosmetically in excellent condition with normal wear and tear based on age and use of product, but may have minor case scratches.

Group Mobile often has refurbished rugged Panasonic Toughbooks and refurbished rugged General Dynamics-Itronix GoBooks among their available units. Visit our Refurbished List online to see what other rugged laptops, rugged tablets, and rugged UMPC’s are currently available.

For more information regarding rugged mobile computing visit www.groupmobile.com or call us at 1-866-RUGGED-8.

Total Cost of Ownership - Rugged Mobile Computers

In the Long Run, Do Rugged Computers Cost Less Than Regular Laptops?

A recent study published by Venture Development Corporation (VDC), an independent market research and strategy-consulting firm stated that “mobile device end users lost an average of 75 minutes of productivity each time the device failed. With the average device failing as many as 20 times per year, that can translate into as much as $4,000 in lost revenues per employee per year”. This study also found that the average annual failure rate for non-rugged notebooks was estimated at approximately 30% while annual failure rates for rugged notebooks were less than one-third the non-rugged rate, or approximately 9%. For more on this study, contact Group Mobile at gm-marketing@groupmobile.com and request that the TCO Study be sent to you.