For those who need to work in extreme conditions, Panasonic has developed the rugged and waterproof Toughbook.

A variety of models and configurations are available. We looked at the 1.1GHz CF-18. This can operate as a standard notebook, but with the screen swivelled round, turns into a fully functional tablet PC. The 10.4in panel is small, but the TFT display is clear and crisp.

The system has a tough magnesium-alloy case and won’t be affected by water, dust or the odd tumble. However, the function buttons, including the power button, are on the outside front of the machine, just underneath the wrist rest, which means there is a risk of switching the machine on while transporting it.

Weighing just over 2kg and with a battery life of up to eight hours, it’s ideal for mobile users and comes with 802.11g wireless connectivity. All ports are watertight and covered by clip-on flaps, while the hard-disk drive is enclosed in a damper inside an aluminium case.