This Christmas Avantek will reveal a range of ruggedised laptops which it believes will offer solutions in four key areas for workers on-the-go – connectivity, portability, durability and viewability — with features insipred by military-style computing equipment.

“Anybody who uses a computer ouside is essentially using it in a hostile environment and their computer must be able to withstand the issues associated with that,” said Avantek general manager, Dave Cawsey, speaking at today at the 2007 Influence Forum at the Hunter Valley in New South Wales.

According to Cawsey, computer-makers should focus on evolving laptop models rather than PCs because the market for the latter is slowly diminishing.

“Nobody is tied to an office anymore and my view is that the desktop is dying – in two years, everybody will have a laptop,” he said.

Avantek, which implements wireless computing solutions, has for some time been looking to the military for answers to the problems which standard computers face, and has used this focus in its new range of laptops which will be released before Christmas.

“Most of the technology we use today started life in the military. The internet, smart card readers, and finger-print readers all started here,” said Cawsey. 

The company’s new range will include GPS along with standard wireless internet connectivity, plus a buit-in handle (a choice of either hard and rigid or soft and removable) for carrying, iliminating the need for a laptop bag. They will also feature ruggedised chassis made from hardened materials that can withstand hard use such as the fall from a table.

Each model is also water resistant in case they are sprayed or caught in the rain, according to Cawsey.

In addition, each model will include an extra-bright screen that can be viewed in all lighting conditions as it features display technology which allows users to use their computers in both direct sunlight and ambient light without using extra battery life, according to the company.