Help a US soldier in Iraq (needs a laptop suggestion)

[DoctorQu]

My buddy just got shipped out to Iraq for a couple years, and he needs a laptop to email friends and family back home.

So I have $2000 to spend on a laptop for him that will withstand conditions in Iraq (its hot as hell there, and it will need to withstand quite a bit of manhandling. Nothing too serious, hes not taking it into battle, but conditions over there arent like in the office at home!

Anyway, any suggestions at all would really help me out a lot! I have no idea whats good or not in regards to laptops.

by the way, please email me at djtribbles@hotmail.com if you have any good suggestions. I dont check this forum much.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[cpuloser]

This Hp Rugged Laptop is wayover your pricing, but I'm sure that even if he did take it into battle, it will come home in one piece. Check it out here.


http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/notebooks/rugged/



i will attempt to find a durable yet cheaper one.

 

[cpuloser]

Or you can go for a cheaper Dell or Hp computer. The rugged one is a good choice though, just expensive.

 

[madogvt]

Can't help much, but here's a bump for some more opinions. I 've heard IBM makes some of the more durable laptops FWIW. Good luck.

 

[Czar]

of all the basic models get an ibm, not a dell because its all plastic

 

[LED]

For sure IBM's make the most rugged one that I know of and I think they contract out to the Military...

 

[zainali]

ask your friends to check out the aafes store. they had some dells for like $500 a couple of days ago ( check fatwallet.com) which were military only.

 

[DrCrap]

Do they have good RMA system in Iraq? (Does Saddam have good technical support?)

btw, for the boys in Iraq, you're doing a hell of a job there, don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

 

[flamingelephant]

I was given an older Grid laptop awhile ago........ I think they've changed names or been bought out but they still make them. Grid used to be the best rugged laptop made. Used for military and other abusive environments.... You could throw that thing off a 2nd story building and it would still work.... one of the keys stopped working, so I junked it. But it was nice and cool while it lasted

 

[Spikesoldier]

panasonic toughbook

/thread

 

[tiap]

Originally posted by: Spikesoldier
panasonic toughbook

/thread

that's easily the best choice for tough and durable but way over the price too.
Next for all round including tough is ibm t series. Check on ebay for new ibm's with factory waranty. Big plus is that their service is second to none anywhere in the world. They send you an overnite label and you will have it back in a few days, usually. You should be able to get a suitable one for no more than $1500.00
Here is an example

 

[mechBgon]

HP/Itronix > Toughbook :evil:

 

[batmanuel]

If it is for e-mail and probably light office use only, why not get an older model used ruggedized notebook from eBay or a technology liquidator? Someting like this, maybe. If you could find something in the 500MHz-1GHz range with about 128MB-256MB of RAM, you could install Windows 2000 on it and it would make a pretty decent general use machine without breaking the bank.