Laptop for field work?

[dotpLaura]

Hey everybody

I need some random computer purchasing advice. I am spending 6 months in Honduras and need a laptop that can stand up to an extended mule ride, dust, being dropped off small mountains, et cetera. And I need it cheaper than, you know, a top-line Toughbook.

I've heard good things about ThinkPads, drop-off-cliffs-wise, but I can't afford a new one. Is there anything vaguely economical that will neither die the first time I try to carry it in a backpack, nor crash when I demand something unreasonable, like word-processing, from it?

thanks
L

 

[DJ-CHRIS]

Try to get an old toughbook, it's the only one which will stand up.

Touchpad's are also durable, you can find them for a decent price used as well, how much are you looking to spend?

 

[Trotter]

Check out onthegopc.com. They sometimes have ThinkPads, and at really good prices.

 

[jaross]

is that toughbook the PIII that was crushproof that was for the millitary or something?

another thing you could do is get a Tablet PC and a waterproof case from Otterbox. it also has "Drop protection"

here is a link: http://www.otterbox.com/products/pc_cases/tablet/index.htm
its for fujitsu tablet computers. that would be a pretty good option for you, as there are few options, and if the toughbook is what Im thinking it is, it costs $4,000 and is very dated and slow.

here is a pic for ya:

edit:
guess the toughbook isnt what i thought it was. looks pretty nice, but expensive and pretty big and heavy compaired to an otterbox case.