Riding in a rig is not the ideal life for most consumer notebook computers. These machines do not like being rained on, dropped, jostled, or gotten dirty. Notebooks can be damaged by the strains of the road, and you may find that they cost a bundle to repair (and repairs leave you without a computer for a while).

If you rely on a computer while on the road and your laptop has had one fall too many, you might investigate "rugged notebooks." These computers are super-tough versions of consumer notebooks. Unlike their delicate cousins, rugged notebooks are designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions (like puddles, extreme temperatures, and the shock of a fall out of your cab).

Rugged Means Different Things
Rugged notebooks come in two classes: rugged and semi-rugged.

• Rugged models are completely sealed, impervious to the outside world. The toughest of the bunch handle shock, vibration, drops, extreme temperatures, humidity, grease, water and fire. According to Raymond Smithson, Jr., senior sales representative for RuggedNotebooks.com, rugged laptops can take up to a 3-foot drop without a problem.
  
• Semi-rugged models have elements of fully-rugged models but are more susceptible to dangers like water.

What's Inside Counts, Too
When you shop for a notebook — rugged or not — you should always consider functionality. Ask yourself these questions:

• What operating system is the notebook running?
  
• Will it support other software you use?
  
• Is the processor speed and RAM adequate?
  
• How comprehensive is its warranty, what does it cover, how do you get repairs, and how long will it take?

The Bottom Line
You get what you pay for, and rugged notebooks can be more expensive than consumer models. Pricing depends on the options you want, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 or more. After you've spent a thousand bucks repairing your old notebook, or waited weeks to get repairs, the investment could be worth it.

By investing in a rugged notebook, your chances of damage decrease, but you should always read the warranty's fine print to be sure you're getting a good deal.

Remember: Most notebooks are not built to be dropped. Consider your warranty options carefully, and read the fine print.

Panasonic Toughbook 18

This 4.4 pound notebook PC converts to a tablet with a simple twist. Open the magnesium alloy case, turn the monitor and fold to create a tablet. The Toughbook 18 uses Intel's Centrinoª mobile technology. It has a 900 MHz Ultra Low Voltage Mobile Intel Pentium M Processor. The notebook comes with a standard 256 MB of RAM, expandable to 768 MB. The 40 GB hard drive is shock-mounted. The touchscreen monitor is 10.4" with a 1024 x 768 resolution. Toughbook 18 is preinstalled with Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Professional Tablet Edition. The case has sealed port and connector covers and resists moisture, dust, vibration and shock. Battery life is approximately 7 hours, and integrated options include WAN, Bluetooth, Smart Card, a GPS receiver, and a backlit keyboard.

For more information visit www.panasonic.com/toughbook or call (800) 662-3537.

Rough Rider Junior

Weighing in at 6.2 pounds, the Rough Rider Junior is light and durable, with a die-cast magnesium alloy case sealed to lock out rain and dust. The notebook features Intel's Centrinoª mobile technology, with a 1.1GHz/1.2GHz Pentium processor. The 40 GB hard drive is shock-protected to withstand drops up to three feet. Junior comes with a standard 256 MB of RAM (expandable to 1 GB). This notebook comes with a 12.1" 1024 x 768 resolution monitor and optional sunlight-readable LCD. You can also opt for a touchscreen display, complete with stylus. Junior supports Windows 2000 or XP and wireless, and you can buy a docking station with built-in CD-ROM/DVD drive. The Rough Rider is built to handle extreme temperatures, and can be certified for temperatures as low as -4 degrees F, up to 122 degrees F.

For more information visit www.ruggednotebooks.com or call (866) 278-4433

Scribe Tablet PC

If you want small but tough, you might consider the touchscreen Scribe Tablet PC. The tablet weighs in at 4.1 pounds (without the second battery). The Scribe has a Mobile Pentium III 700 MHz processor with 128 MB of RAM (expandable to 256 MB). The 20 GB hard drive can be upgraded to 60 GB. The monitor has a 10.4" XGA TFT touchscreen LCD display with a 1024 X 768 resolution. If glare is a problem you can opt for a sunlight-readable panel. The notebook supports Windows 98/ NT 4.0/ 2000/ XP. This tablet resists shock, vibration, water and dust. Battery life is only about three hours but you can swap a fresh battery when it's getting low, while the machine is running. If you prefer to type instead of using a stylus, there is an optional wireless keyboard.

For more information visit www.ruggednotebooks.com or call (866) 278-4433.

Wrap it Up: Cases for non-rugged laptops

If you have a non-rugged notebook that you bring on the road, invest in a good carrying case that can absorb shock, and be careful to secure the computer before you get moving.

For the best shock absorbency, consider buying a hard case with a foam lining, like Pelican's unbreakable lightweight plastic resin models or the stylish Chrome Roadie Laptop case. Hard cases start at about $100, but you should shop around for the best deals. Some good places to start: www.computerbags.com and www.allcases.com.