Panasonic Toughbook 52 Assessing the Broad Business Case for Rugged Computing - Page 11

Assessing The Broad Business Case For Rugged Computing enable medical staff to access information from anywhere in the facility. Another objective was to be able to reach physicians and nurses in the facility without using the overhead paging system. Rick Allen, Director of IT Operations for Gwinnett, used a simple test to determine the type of business-rugged notebook computer he wanted to standardize on. "I knocked it off my desk, let it bounce around a little, picked it up and used it. We have not had to send any units out for repair," he says. Gwinnett's physicians and nurses use business-rugged notebooks to view medical records, order lab tests, get test results, view X-rays, request medications, view alternative treatment options, obtain contact information and communicate via instant messaging. More business-rugged notebooks are being deployed to support a fully electronic record-keeping initiative. ...Conclusion: Rugged Reliability is a New Mobile Computing Imperative Demand for various levels of rugged computing is rising across both traditional and non-traditional markets. The demand is driven by the growth in numbers of mobile workers, new wireless broadband capabilities and the fact that more frequent use of devices in different locations exposes computers to higher levels of environmental risk. Growth in demand for rugged computing is occurring despite the fact that unit prices of these computers are higher than traditional commercial offerings. Organizations are able to cost-justify investments in rugged computers because they are less likely to be broken during the normal course of events in a mobile environment and cost less to own over their useful life. Growing evidence suggests that the long-term total cost of ownership (TCO) is significantly reduced because of the reliability and longevity of the platforms. The ability to use the various levels of rugged computers to meet the specific needs of different classes of users, while providing access to network resources, allows organizations to secure additional productivity gains from employees. As a result, more organizations in a greater number of industries and applications are finding a solid business case for fully, semi- or business-rugged notebook computers in their operations. For more information on rugged computer technology in action...visit http://www.panasonic.com/business/toughbook/products.asp Copyright © All Rights Reserved for Larstan Business Reports 11