N22A a notebook that you can abuse

Zatni Arbi ,  Contributor ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 04/20/2009 1:33 PM  |  Sci-Tech

Watch out, Panasonic! Someone is trying to overtake you, and they may have already done it.

For many years, Panasonic ToughBooks were widely regarded as the most rugged notebooks in the world. They do not look overtly pretty, but you can bump them left and right. And because they are specialized notebooks, it is unlikely that you can find any of them in Mangga Dua.

But, now Panasonic has some competition. When I was at the office of PT NEC Indonesia in Jakarta recently, I learned that NEC has also released a ruggedized notebook that could be converted into a Tablet PC. They were very generous to let me play around with their US$3,000 ShieldPRO N22A, which is NEC's second generation industrial-strength notebook.

As you could imagine, I had a lot of fun learning about all the features of this armored portable computer. And, as I am writing this review, my daughter is also doing her own testing to see whether the battlefield notebook can be used to update her Facebook.

My review unit runs on an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. It comes with 1 GB of RAM, 80 GB of hard disk space, three USB ports, an Express Card slot, a card reader, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FireWire, a Gigabit Ethernet adaptor, VGA-Out, a serial port, audio-in and audio-out, a monaural speaker, a very effective touchpad, a slightly cramped keyboard and a fingerprint scanner for access. It also has a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for data protection.

NEC offers the ShieldPRO with either a 40 GB or 80 GB hard disk. The smaller-sized hard disk will continue to spin even if you work inside a freezer.

As you can see, the list of features is quite impressive, however some of the specifications seem to belong to yesterday. Still, I enjoyed the time I spent trying to figure out where things were and how I should to open the port caps and compartment covers. In the absence of a user manual, I needed some time to locate the switch for turning on the Wi-Fi.

The touch sensitive LCD screen measures 12.1" diagonally and has a maximum resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels. Its 4:3 aspect ratio also gives it the look of older notebooks, but, I personally prefer this aspect ratio to the widescreen format that has become the mainstream these days. Some people think that the resolution should be higher, but I also think that the XGA is the right level for this kind of notebook.

Since it can be used under direct sunlight, NEC has incorporated a very bright TFT LCD panel into the ShieldPRO, to ensure that we still can read the screen in these conditions. It is capable of producing 750 candelas per square meter (cd/m2) at maximum brightness. By comparison, a typical CRT monitor produces 350 cd/m2.

There is no Webcam, but the battery pack and the hard disk can be replaced easily. If we turn the display 180 degrees and push it back on top of the keyboard, the notebook becomes a Tablet PC. Six Tablet PC buttons are available to let us rotate the display, invoke the screen keyboard, etc.

Most notebook vendors now boast a keyboard that can survive a coffee spill. However, to survive outdoor harshness, a rugged keyboard has to be able to withstand a downpour. The N22A has been tested under a sprinkler and has passed that test. The ports' hinged caps are very tightly sealed to prevent water from getting inside.

Because it is so water-tight, it is also understandable that this notebook does not have an optical drive. If you are a mechanic and you need to load a DVD on engine repairs, for example, you will need to attach an external DVD drive. There is no internal fan, either, since air cannot be pumped out of the compartment anyway.

The top of the casing is made from a magnesium alloy. Two colors are available - black and red. On every corner of the casing there is a rubber pad to dampen the impact of a fall. Rahmatina from the Enterprise Solution Division (ESD) of NEC Indonesia told me that the N22A can fall from a height of 90 centimeters in a powered off condition without sustaining any damage.

The question now perhaps should be, who would use such tough notebooks? In Japan, the N22A is used by the fire department and many other field workers. The defense and military, police, support teams in racing pits, auto rally drivers and mountain climbers also use this type of portable computer.

Built like a Desert Storm Humvee, this hardware will last for a decade unless you shoot at it with a high-powered rifle. But, trust me, new software and applications are bound to force you to replace it within four to five years. Currently, NEC installs Windows XP Professional SP2 on these notebooks.

I only have a short list of wishes. First, the Wi-Fi is still 802.11a/b/g, while most late model notebooks are already equipped with Draft n compliant Wi-Fi as well. Second, I think a GPS satellite sensor can be useful in many situations. Third, the processor is an Intel Core 2 Duo U7500, which has a clock speed of 1.066 GHz. A faster processor would certainly be welcome However, these are minor downsides. And while it is not the top of the class, the processor is powerful enough to do most of the tasks the notebook is intended to perform. In addition, NEC will add GPS if you order a large quantity of the N22As.

The area that the ShieldPRO N22A is still lagging behind Panasonic ToughBook is integrated support for 3G or HSPA broadband data. Most ToughBooks today already have Qualcomm's Gobi processor integrated, so we can use them across the world regardless of technology deployed by the local operators.

When talking about enclosure ruggedness, there is actually an international rating standard called Ingress Protection (IP). Developed by National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), it is applicable for every electrical device that has to be protected against intrusion of foreign objects, including our fingers.

The first digit following "IP" tells us the level of protection against foreign solid bodies. The index ranges from 1 to 6, and 5 means that the equipment is protected against an amount of dust that would interfere with its operation.

The second digit, which can be any number between 0 and 8, shows us the protection against the intrusion of harmful moisture. While 0 means there is no protection at all, an 8 indicates that the enclosed device can be completely and continuously submerged in water without any ingress. A rating of 4 indicates protection against water splashes while a rating of 5 means that the device is protected against water that is projected from a nozzle.

Panasonic ToughBook 19 is rated with IP54 while the N22A has IP55. The N22A can also be used in extreme temperatures from -20 to 50 degrees Celsius. We can take it to the mountain top where the temperature is below zero, or use it in the scorching heat of the desert.

Overall, the N22A is a great ruggedized notebook that has been designed and built to withstand a lot of abuse. It delivers enough computing power for common tasks in the battleground as well as in a caf*.

Strangely, despite the all the combat-level protection, the unit weighs only around 2.5 kg with its standard battery. It is not too heavy for your shoulder as you wander around the mall.

And then, if you have noticed people at Starbuck no longer glance at sleek and glossy netbooks or notebooks, maybe it is time you bought an N22A. Choose the one in red and be sure to throw it on your table with a loud bang. I bet you'll get a lot of attention.

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