How Rugged Computers Have Developed Over Time [aboutcomputer99.blogspot.com]

How Rugged Computers Have Developed Over Time [aboutcomputer99.blogspot.com]

Question by ecyb: how do i work my lacie rugged 500GB? i just bought the lacie rugged 500GB so i could transfer my information from my macbook to the new macbook pro. However when i plugged it in it says disk not readable by this computer. i have no idea what to do to fix it or make it work or how to even work it. so any help at all would be wonderful. i really hope this wasnt a waste of money. please help! thank you! Best answer for how do i work my lacie rugged 500GB?:

Answer by MATT
You need to install the LaCie Sync and LaCie Backup Assistant software first, i hope i helped

[rugged computers]

Ruggedized laptops (sometimes known as toughbooks) have been around for a very long time now and yet due to their expense (they are often much more expensive than normal notebooks) they are usually only bought by companies and individuals who have a specific need for a computer that can operating in challenging environments.

Very often these environments are sandy, dirty, wet or generally rough such as in vehicles tackling rugged terrain. It's no accident that rugged laptops are used by explorers, scientists and the military when they're out in the middle of the wilderness but in need of computing power.

Even so, the technology that has been created to be used in these laptops has made its way into the consumer world as it has become more inexpensive to manufacture. For example, hard drives are now far more resilient to damage through dropping and this is as a direct result of having to create rugged laptops that will survive bomb blasts and other sudden mo vement.

Hard drives are still incredibly sensitive devices and will probably remain so whilst they are designed the way they are. The heads and the platters are still subject to damage through impact and so they need to be protected from that impact where possible.

There are a number of ways to do this, the preferred one being based on the size of the laptop and the amount of space there is available. Generally, if there is a bit of space around the hard drive, there will be damping added that will absorb impact before it even gets to the delicate stuff. In larger machines they can be backed up with springs which will absorb even more impact. This system is often enhanced with an extremely clever set of sensors that can actually detect when a laptop is dropping to the floor.

These sensors are similar to those found in mobile phones that are able to tell you which angle you're holding it at. If you've ever used software like Google Sky Map you'll know what I mean. Move the mobile phone around and it will tell you where objects are in the sky based on your movement and location. These sensors can also tell the phone how fast it's being moved so when used in a laptop, it can make a good guess when it's hurtling towards the ground.

So, just before it's about to hit the tarmac, a bit of software sends the heads of the hard disk out of the way and 'parks' them so when impact occurs, they can't damage the platters (which is where most damage can occur).

Now, this technology actually made its way from laptops to mobile phones, not the other way round but you get the idea!

It's now found in many devices having already been seen in Panasonic Toughbooks (the benchmark for ruggedized laptops) for many years and as usual, it all began with a need in specialised industry that has eventually worked through to help the end consumer.

Find More How Rugged Computers Have Developed Over Time Issues