Anyone have an idea of a computer that can handle terrible trauma of temperature, dust, humidity and rough and tumble conditions? ssd drive, plenty of ram…
UPDATE: I asked someone about this and they relayed some expected conditions for such a computer, which would have almost no ventilation: An almost zero processor without amost zero monitor possibilities. Basically an MS-DOS machine that you shouldn’t presume to do anything with. I’m hoping there’s something that’s better than that! And they’re so expensive. Yikes!
UPDATE: Of course, as all long time HSH readers know, there are insurrmountable difficulties for HSH getting 501(c)3 status, meaning also that I can’t solicite donations here in North Carolina, which means, because of the same difficulties, I also can’t even do up a PayPal donation button, promote Mystica Monk Coffee, sell HSH Honey, cash checks made out to Holy Souls Hermitage, or even publish books. Hopefully this will all be cleared up within the year. However, if you force a donation on me against all my protestations, I wouldn’t insult you by not taking it. I don’t think the law requires me to insult you! My mailing address is at a UPS Store:
Father George David Byers
102 College Station Drive
Suite 3 – PMB 233
Brevard, N.C. 28712
If you need a phone number for a delivery form, use the UPS Store number, which is (828) 883-4701.
UPDATE: This is a laptop I’m talking about. Just to say, this isn’t a software problem. The hermitage stove is pretty rustic, and there’s always a layer of soot over everything. I don’t mind that at all, but the computer hates it. Also, the humidity is pretty high in the rain forest, especially now that I’ve stopped using the wood stove as much as I was using it during the winter also for heating. The humidity can be 99%, daily, steamy humidity. Computers don’t like that either. The keyboard is useless, so I use an external keyboard, when that works! The blue screens of death are caused, I think, by hardware tinkering. I think that junked parts were inserted when the last owner sent it back. This is one of those “refurbished” computers. Never again. I’d rather have a used computer plain and simple over against a “good as new” but “refurbished” and “genuine preowned” computer. Yikes!
Accompany me, Father George David Byers, S.S.L., S.T.D., as I begin life as a Catholic Priest-Hermit by choice. Holy Souls Hermitage is dedicated to the sanctification of my fellow priests, bishops, deacons & seminarians going through the purgatory of this life or the next. Prayer and sacrifice go up, of course, for both Benedict XVI and the next Successor of Saint Peter. 
How can I obtain a password? Where do I submit one?
I saw an article on the Internet about such a computer that is made for the military for use in rugged conditions.
I’ve been having horrific trouble with the computer, and this post went up before it was finished. Instead of erasing it, I put a password on it. Please God, I will publish a fuller version with another title, and then I’ll erase this one. Yikes!
Dell makes a series of Inspiron computers that are so-called military grade. Here is a link to their page: Dell Rugged Computers. This would seem a good option and it should handle really rough conditions.
D.v.
Hopefully I’ll be able to look those up this evening. I’m using a dell, and I like dell, if, as I find out, it’s a new dell. I have a docking station, which has been a real blessing in so many ways, including USB ports. Did I mention I was also a bit prone to not being too careful with things? I hope these would be able to use the docking station. Thanks for the heads up, DV.
From an email:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+15.6%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+4GB+Memory+-+320GB+Hard+Drive+-+Charcoal+Gray/5026109.p?id=1218608957417&skuId=5026109&st=hp%20notebook&cp=1&lp=2
This is the environmental model. The “military grade” costs $3,000 but I think it is more than you need. This has a docking port and pretty nice features for about $2,000.
Click thingy here….Yikes!
Fr. George,
Panasonic produces a series of rugged laptops called Toughbooks. They are popular with law enforcement agencies because they can withstand extreme environmental conditions.
Newegg.com sells refurbished Toughbooks starting at $1600.
Amazon.com also sells Toughbooks.
I also found this really cool site called ruggeddepot.com that specializes in computers and peripherals for extreme environments.
Good call, TMB. I have to ask my friends in the State Police is they’re getting rid of anything. The greatest officer in the world (who helped me save the neighbor’s life last year) surely has an opinion about what’s best. He tends to be less technologically friendly than myself. I think he’s totally destroyed three vehicles to date, including a Camaro, which is totally cool! I think the guys in the shop know to give him the most rugged equipment.
When you do get a new laptop, please consider being a bit careful with it when it’s not in use. You could store it in one of those large tupperware-like containers with dessicants, that would reduce the deleterious effects of soot, dust and that most alien menace (at least to a Coloradan): humidity.
that would be like getting a different personality… Yikes!
I’m thinking that a super cheap version that breaks down after a year would be cheaper also over the long run. Replacing them is cheaper than going for the top of the line. Yikes!
I did check things out with the sheriffs and police, but they sell in bulk to the feds, who resell lots of them ten at a crack.