When The Going Gets Tough...

You have heard about all-terrain boots and trousers. And now there's all-terrain gadgets. Meant for those who like to get their itchy feet on dangerous grounds. So, if you happen to be an adventurer — or just want your thingamajig to outlive the occasional drops and plunges — here are four gadgets that you can count on.

LaCie XtremKey
Touted as ‘10-ton truck resistant', the XtremKey, a USB storage device, from LaCie boasts a 2-mm-thick metal casing and is sealed with wear-resistant screw threads. And it is not just a bull without brains. Available in capacities ranging from 8 GB to 64 GB, it provides instant compatibility, fast transfer speeds and cross-platform convenience to both PC and Mac users. Prepare to shell out $79.99 (Rs 3,630) for a 16-GB variant.

Olympus Stylus Tough-8010
You've just bought your dream camera, and it turns into a nightmare when you accidentally drop it in the pool. But if it's the Olympus Stylus Tough-8010, you needn't bother. Shockproof, freezeproof and crushproof, the Olympus Stylus Tough-8010 is meant to take the rough with the smooth. Featuring a 2.7-inch LCD and 2 GB of internal memory, this 14-megapixel digital camera allows users to record high-definition movies 33 ft under water. Priced at $379.99 (Rs 17,250), the Stylus Tough-8010 also offers 5X optical zoom and a useful One-Touch HD Movie button.

Panasonic Toughbook C1
Panasonic has forged a ‘tough' reputation with its Toughbook series of laptops and tablet PCs. At 1.49 kg, the new Toughbook C1 is the world's lightest 12.1-inch convertible and is supposed to withstand a 30-inch drop, not just once or twice, but multiple times. It has a shock-mounted 250-GB hard drive and a spill-resistant keyboard, besides an Intel Core i5 Processor and 2 GB of RAM. Unfortunately, though, this toughened tablet has a starting price of an astronomical $2,499 (Rs 1.13 lakh).

BlueAnt T1
Though a bit bulkier than its predecessors, the BlueAnt T1 — a rugged Bluetooth headset — has a great voice user interface and delivers good quality audio. While the proprietary Wind Armour Technology ensures clear audio in wind speeds up to 35 kmph, the removable silicon covers protect the headset from accidental impact. It retails for $79.99 (Rs 3,600) on BlueAnt's online store.


(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 06-06-2011)