Physically Fit

A growing business can't afford to replace its laptops very often, so durability, including materials used for the case and other protective elements, is crucial. The HP Compaq nc8430's [[link 198554]] case is made of a tough magnesium alloy that not only protects the laptop from wear and tear but helps cool it down when the core components heat up. A few other mainstream busi-ness laptops also have magnesium alloy cases, but the nc8430 includes an in-mold lamination process that protects the palm rest area from nicks and scratches. Instead of magnesium, the Gateway NX570X has a brushed-aluminum surface that scratch-proofs its palm rests. Many of the business laptops that we see also come with shock-mounted hard drives that use built-in acceler-ometers to park the heads of the hard drive in case of a fall or a sudden jolt.

Let's say you work on an oil rig, a construction site, or anywhere that's constantly exposed to the brutal elements of nature. You might need something tougher. The Dell Latitude ATG D620 is military certified (MIL-STD-810F) for semi-rugged use. Its magnesium armor is ampli-fied along the rim and base of the screen, fortifying the hinges to handle frequent openings and closings of the lid. Rubber port covers line the back and side panels of the laptop to prevent dust, sand, and water from seeping through.

Bare necessities and security Tastes vary when it comes to screen size and weight, and there is a combination for everyone. Whether you choose a 12-inch or 15.4-inch screen, it's a good idea to get a matte screen with an anti-glare film, as opposed to a transflective (glossy) type. Matte screens minimize reflection from fluorescent lights and sunlight. But if your line of work involves photography and video editing, I recommend a transflective screen because it provides better color contrasts. Look for a comfortable full-size keyboard with a good pointing device. The Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet, an Editors' Choice, is blessed with a matte screen, tablet ca-pabilities, and the best keyboard and pointing stick (TrackPoint) combination in the business. Most business laptops have a healthy dose of ports that cover USB 2.0, FireWire, S-Video-out, and VGA-out.

Security should also be a top priority when selecting a new business laptop. Malware, hackers, ne-farious Web sites, and other threats have the power to bring a business to its knees. You can find SmartCard readers that accept encrypted credit card keys in both the nc8430 from HP and the ATG D620 from Dell.

A little device called a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is gaining traction in the business sector. A TPM chip stores encrypted passwords and keys safely at the hardware level, usually located on the motherboard. Currently, companies such as Infineon, Wave Systems, and now Microsoft with its Windows Vista provide the software component for the TPM chip. You can custom-configure a TPM module into your laptop or have it come standard, as it does in the X60 Tablet from Lenovo.

Security solutions are more commonly found in software form. Security is extremely vital to a business, but most large corporations implement their own suite. For start-ups and small busi-nesses, all of the featured laptops offer at least a three-month subscription to security suites that covers an antivirus, antispyware, and a firewall component.—next: Future-Proofed Components >