Today's notebooks are regularly used in non-traditional environments that weren't commonplace even five years ago, such as in a car, train, or even outdoors. If you're going to invest a chunk of your earnings in a laptop, it may as well be one that can withstand the rigors of the daily commute or the standard lumps, bumps, and spills of on-the-go use.
 
Due to the increasing number of mobile professionals, today's business notebooks have been designed with durability in mind, and consumer models are beginning to play catch up. So is it necessary to purchase a business notebook to get the best durability? Not necessarily. According to David Daoud, a market analyst at IDC, the durability gap that once existed between the two markets is rapidly shrinking.
 
"Except for super-budget notebooks, PC vendors are expanding their durability features to consumer boxes," Daoud said. "Dell, HP, and Toshiba are among those who have been working on strengthening all of their notebooks with durability factors by making them increasingly resistant to drops, shocks, spills, and dust."
 
Although multiple manufacturers are producing notebooks that are designed to be resistant to dust, impact damage, and extreme temperatures, the definition of durable is a matter of perception. "Because there aren't any common, industry-wide standards, each vendor will claim that it has the most durable products," said Daoud. In other words, it's up to the mobile professional to determine what kind of risk their notebook may face and base their purchase on that particular risk requirement.
 
That's were LAPTOP comes in. We break down the methods of protection that five industry leaders provide and let you make the final decision as to what suits your mobile computing needs.