Reader input required: how would you test a ruggedised handset?
By Ben Robinson on Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 at 2:24 PM PST In Research, Reviews, Ruggedized
So the other day I hit upon a great idea – I’m an outdoorsy kinda guy, I like my mobile gadgets, and I always shed a small electronic tear when one of them gets damaged. So rather than weep, I figured I should turn that frown upside down and test out some devices that just might come out on the good side of a harsh physical test….
But lo, what devices would I choose? Well I got out the interweb lasso, and chased down the Nokia (NYSE: NOK) 5140 (Old skool but cool), the Samsung Solid (new boy, but not a toy), and the JCB Toughphone (The world’s ruffest and tuffest – apparently).
Now, down to the reader input part – I want your ideas on the best real-world tests to expose these candybar hard-nuts to. Over the course of the new few weeks, the best ideas will get filmed, and we’ll see how these ninja-tuff handsets do against the perils you come up with!
So get commenting, and let us know what you’d like to see
[Note: keep it sensible folks, any tests that will be either offensive to people, animals, or delicate inanimate objects won't make it through - the idea is to give these devices a thorough test in the 'everyday environment']
Drop it in front of you while running, and step on it… That’ll do a job on it from personal experience…
drop it down 2 or 3 flights of stairs, let it “fall” out of your car driving on the interstate. Once I had a motorola a1200 that withheld getting run over by my car. let a 3 year old play with it… make sure it’s not active so they don’t start calling people, that was a fun time.
Sandtest: bury it in sand
Watertest: use a waterpistol and give it a couple of squirts.
Shocktest: Throw it in the washdryer together with a couple of rocks
Pressuretest: ride your car over the phone
Cut and tear test: use a breadknife and have fun!
Drop it from at least a couple of stories up.
Drop it in the toilet (or such, maybe just the sink)
Throw it against a wall/drive it over with a car
Let it rest in a hot car (or heat in an oven)
bury it in cement …leave it there 2 or maybe 3 days and then brake the cement and if it still work`s ……..throw it a glass with sea water…:))
take it a hiphop concert. drop it like it’s hot
take it a rock concert. shake it all night long
take it on a trip and put in the most outer suitcase alone.
if these are not ‘tough’ enough. try competing against the Blendtec