Word-Of-The-Day: Ruggedized (...as in $125,000 contract increase to $400,000 Annually)

Why is your MesaZona featuring one word today? Mebbe just Curious ....but scroll down
rug·ged·ized

ˈrəɡəˌdīzd

adjective (North American)

adjective: ruggedized; adjective: ruggedised

designed or improved to be hard-wearing or shock-resistant.

 

"ruggedized computers suitable for use on the battlefield . . . 

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Here's putting that word into hyper-local context: it's Item 5-b on tonight's Mesa City Council Study Session:

18-0649

5-b

Contract

Dollar-Limit Increase to the Term Contract for Supplemental Computers, Ruggedized Laptops and Tablets for Various City Departments as requested by the Information Technology Department (Citywide) In September 2017, Council approved the annual contract amount of $275,000 for supplemental purchases of computer hardware and services.  The initial amount for the supplemental purchases was based off of spending from the previous 2 years. Due to a higher than anticipated number of IT purchase requests from City departments, the Information Technology Department is requesting an increase of $125,000 annually, for the supplemental purchases to meet the ongoing technology needs of the departments. The Information Technology Department and Purchasing recommend increasing the dollar-limit using the State of Arizona, National IPA and US Communities cooperative contracts with Dell Marketing LP Apple Computer, Inc. Panasonic Solutions Insight Public Sector by $125,000, from $275,000 to $400,000 annually, based on estimated usage.

Rugged computer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A rugged (or ruggedized, but also ruggedised) computer is a computer specifically designed to operate reliably in harsh usage environments and conditions, such as strong vibrations, extreme temperatures and wet or dusty conditions.^[1] They are designed from inception for the type of rough use typified by these conditions, not just in the external housing but in the internal components and cooling arrangements as well.^[2] In general, ruggedized and hardened computers share the same design robustness and frequently these terms are interchangeable.^[3]

Typical environments for rugged laptops, tablet PCs and PDAs are public safety, field sales, field service, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, transportation/distribution^[4] and the military.

Laptops

A rugged laptop is built to operate reliably in dusty or wet environments and conditions. These laptops have a thicker and stronger housing compared to a regular laptop. These ruggedised laptops are mainly used for industrial, construction and military purposes

Tablets

A rugged tablet computer may be semi-rugged or fully rugged. The semi-rugged might have a protective case, rain-resistant body. Fully rugged tablets are engineered from the inside-out to work in extreme temperatures and other harsh conditions. . . Many rugged ones have options such as a barcode scanner because they serve in the logistics and transport sector.