Taking it with you is only good if it survives the trip. This is where rugged computing steps in—but wrapping a laptop in a metal case is only part of the process.
Take a look at Rugged Notebook's Rough Rider Max. The water-and shock-resistant, dustproof laptop passed the MIL-STD-810F military environmental tests. Its 14.1-in. screen is readable in sunlight, and it's even available with a touchscreen.
The system includes up to 2 Gbytes of double-data-rate SDRAM coupled with a 1.6-GHz Centrino Mobile processor featuring a 400-MHz front-side bus. Wireless communication is optional. As with most rugged systems, the keyboard is a waterproof membrane.
The system can survive a 3-ft drop onto a steel plate, and it should last at least two days in a rather salty fog. Don't try this with your average laptop.