Tough-Enough Tech

Sometimes I hate this tech stuff. Honestly, I do.

Even my absolute, all-time favorite gadgets -- the Runco CinemaWall Plasma TV, the Lotus Elise pocket sports car, the Voodoo Omen PC and MBL audio components -- are merely the best compromises I can find.

Sure, I love the idea of a movie theater in my home, a race car in my garage, a personal computer finished in gold, and a sound system that would have frightened a deaf and aging Ludwig Van Beethoven.

But even these best of the best gadgets are still mostly total ripoffs.

There are always problems: A plasma screen fails. The steering wheel is too small. No matter the PC, Microsoft Word still has those idiot "style sheets" that mess up my documents. And even if you spend $250,000 on speakers you still have to run $30,000 of cable to and from the units.

It's a high-end rat's nest.

The upshot of my gadget rage? The electronics in my life take a terrible beating.

I'm like that evil, messed-up neighbor in Toy Story. I specialize in a brand of extreme patina that roughs up my electronics like a Kenny Rogers fast ball.

I beat 'em. Scratch 'em. Leave 'em outside.

You name it, my gadgets suffer.

So when I come across a new player in the so-called ruggedized gadget market, I pay attention.

I may be tough on tech, but I still want the stuff to last.

Ruggedized electronics are computers, phones and other peripherals built to be water-resistant, shock-resistant, dust-resistant and all-around tough enough to take the abuse of someone like me, a solider in the field or maybe even a zoo animal.

The established players in ruggedized gadgets are large electronics companies like Panasonic and Sprint Nextel (S), which offer a line of military-grade computers and phones as niches within their overall product lines.

But about a month ago, I discovered a small outfit, Tripod Data Systems, which makes a very sexy, uber-tough personal data assistant called the Recon.

Hanging Tough

Now, a word about ruggedized gear: If you are looking for the next incarnation of slim-tech like the Motorola (MOT) Razr, or you are counting your pennies, ruggedized electronics are not for you.

My Recon, for example -- which came in a decent matte-gray finish -- is about the size of not one, but a half-dozen cans of Spanish anchovies, which puts the unit at two pounds.

And this PDA costs -- drum roll, please -- $1,698.

Oh, and you'll also need a spare battery or two, about $90 each, to make the thing really work.