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Durabook S14I
Class redefining semi-rugged laptop boasts 4-foot drop spec, IP53, 8th gen Intel Core power
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)
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On October 17, 2018, Durabook Americas introduced the Durabook S14I as the "most durable semi-rugged computer available." Now, "semi-rugged" has always been a vague, awkward term, something between a fragile standard notebook and an expensive "real" rugged laptop.
Well, the new Durabook S14I may not settle the "semi-rugged" discussion, but it certainly does have a laser-sharp focus. That focus is to take on, and best, the two heavyweights in the "semi-rugged" class, the Getac S410 and the Panasonic Toughbook 54.
Right upfront, do not confuse the new Durabook S14I with the existing Durabook SA14. The S14I is thinner (1.5 vs 1.85 inches) and much lighter (5.1 vs 7.5 pounds) than the Durabook SA14 which is now in its 7th generation. and there's a reason for that. Joe Guest, President of Durabook Americas, stated "Our customers are demanding more from their semi-rugged devices, as they expand the definition of the modern workplace. The design of the Durabook S14I challenges users to take the device out of the office and into the field, where they can work without compromise." And this is where the claim "most durable semi-rugged computer available" comes in.
How so? For two reasons. First, if you walk around with a notebook in the field, open it and look something up, or show someone something, and it falls, it will fall for about four feet before it hits the ground. Four, not three like the other semi-rugged contenders are limited to. Second, out there in the field it'll inevitably rain. Well, the competition is rated IP51 and IP52, good for handling a spilled soda or coffee, but not ongoing rain. For that you need IP53, and the S14I has it.
So the new Durabook S14I is thinner, lighter and tougher. Can it match or beat the competition in tech as well? Tech is, of course, a moving traget and state-of-the-art is never more than an upgrade away. But for now the S14I can. The Toughbook 54 is still at the 6th and 7th generation of Intel Core processors, the Getac S410 at the 7th and 8th generation. The Durabook S14i matches the latter, but is all 8th generation. This means it's all Windows 10, no Windows 7 "downgrade."
Here is the choice of the three state-of-the-art quad-core, octa-thread Core processors the Durabook S14I is available with:
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PROCESSOR OPTIONS
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Core i7
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Core i5
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Core i5
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Model
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8650U
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8350U
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8250U
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Gen
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8th
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8th
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8th
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Cores/Threads
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4/8
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4/8
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4/8
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Base Clock Speed
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1.90 GHz
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1.70 GHz
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1.60 GHz
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Turbo Speed
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4.20 GHz
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3.60 GHz
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3.40 GHz
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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
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15 watts
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15 watts
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15 watts
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Smart Cache
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8MB
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6MB
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6MB
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Graphics base speed
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300 MHz
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300 MHz
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300 MHz
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Graphics max speed
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1.15 GHz
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1.10 GHz
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1.10 GHz
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Intel vPro
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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Intel TSX-NI
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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Intel SIPP
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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Intel Trusted Execution
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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Note that Intel's "Kaby Lake Refresh" 8th generation Core processors are the first to ever offer quad-core mobile CPUs. Depending on the application, that alone can make a large difference in performance. And since a lot of software can take advantage of multiple cores, 8th gen chips can get routine work done with a considerably lower base clock speed, which means more power and the same or better gas mileage.
Speaking of the latter, the spec sheet suggests "up to 12 hours" of operation on the S14I's primary 6-cell 4,700mAh battery (no watt-hour spec is listed). The battery is hot-swappable, and there's an optional user-removable second battery of the same capacity that can go into the unit's multimedia bay.
For storage, there are either SATA hard drives or SSDs available, both up to 1TB. OPAL2.0 SSDs are available for enhanced security via special encryption. DDR4 RAM up to 32GB. The multimedia bay can accommodate either a Super-Multi DVD writer, a combination of ExpressCard and PCMCIA slots, or the aforementioned second battery.
The Durabook S14I's display measures 14 inches diagonal, which is standard for this type of laptop. Its 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution is much better than the marginal 1366 x 768 that used to be the norm for semi-ruggeds. Brightness isn't given for the standard screen; an optional sunlight-viewable 1,000 nits display with touch (what kind?) is optional. There are stealth and night vision modes that may be required by some customers and agencies.
With a class-common footprint of 13.8 x 11.1 inches (including the integrated handle) at 1.5 inches thick, the S14I is reasonably compact, albeit thicker than most consumer laptops. Compared to the existing 7.5 pound SA14, the S14I is a lightweight at just over five pounds (which, however, is still a little heavier than the competition). It has a full-size, island-style, waterproof (and optionally backlit) 88-key keyboard.
Like all Durabook laptops, the S14I has very good onboard connectivity. There are two USB 3.1 ports (3.1 is twice as fast as 3.0), two USB 2.0 ports, VGA and HDMI for video, an RJ45 gigabit LAN jack, a docking connector and even a by now fairly rare DB9 RS232 serial port. There is a standard SDHX card reader. On the wireless side are dual-band 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 via an Intel Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 9260, 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0 module, and customers can opt for GPS and 4G LTE Advanced mobile broadband. The system also comes with an integrated 2-megapixel webcam with a privacy shutter.
As stated earlier, the S14I's ruggedness specs do redefine the "semi-rugged" level with the four foot drop spec and IP53 sealing, where the "5" means protection against dust and the "3" protection against ongoing water spray within a 60 degree angle. Operating temperature is an adequate 32 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit (optional optional -4° to 140°F (-20° to +60°C) is available. Durabook Americas claims MIL-STD-810G certification for various other ruggedness criteria. We'd like to see more specific references to that in the specs for a laptop specifically designed for durability.
The press release mentioned that the S14I starts at US$1,849. That starting price is higher than that of the Getac and Panasonic equivalents, but we'd have to know exact equipment levels to compare apples with apples. Overall, a first look at the release, specs, and pics suggests that with the new S14I Durabook Americas now has a very strong offering in the hotly contested market of semi-rugged laptops. Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, October 2018
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