Is there a cheaper version of a toughbook?

[stephen4785]

My new job will buy me a personal laptop and I can spend up to $800. I pick out and buy whatever I want and they reimburse me the following paycheck and I get to keep the laptop for ever.
I want to get a laptop that I can use for work and also use as an automotive scanner. Something that wont break when it's dropped. There's a tablet version of a toughbook that looks pretty neat. I was thinking about checking into it. It would also come in handy when my kids play with it.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Panasonic+-+Toughbook+CF-H1CSLRZ1M+10.4%22+Tablet+PC+-+Wi-Fi+-+Intel+Atom+Z540+1.86+GHz+-+Silver/3229732.p?id=1218391033266&skuId=3229732&st=toughbook&cp=1&lp=3

ANy other suggestions?

[YALE]

Try writing off the difference. Barring that, shell out the $100 for the tablet, and be thankful for the bargain, you tight bastard.

[goofygrin]

Get one with a solid state drive (or buy a cheap one and swap in a SSD). Most of the time the thing that breaks is the hard drive when a laptop is dropped. There are no moving pieces in an SSD, so no breaking when it drops.

If you can use a mac, one of the early second gen core 2 duo macbook airs might be perfect for you if you use a cover that will help protect it in case of drops. Small, lightweight, all solid state.

[stang2be]

I'd make sure that even though they are paying for it what rights to privacy you have, etc.

I'm not a fan of folks using personal stuff for work and think they should be kept separate but that's me

[Gargamel]

Laptop toughbook upgrade kit: