ioSafe, a technology producer of disaster proof storage hardware, launched the ioSafe Solo in January and this week we took the opportunity to test one out to see how well it would hold up. The ioSafe Solo is a rugged external drive designed to keep your stuff safe in the event of a disaster such as a fire, flood or the building literally falling around it.

The ioSafe is not shockproof however and is not designed to be dropped from great distances or thrown around. It is however built to withstand intense heat (up to 1550 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes), complete submersion (up to 10 feet for 3 days!) and is encased in a rugged enclosure making it like the Sherman tank of external drives.

The latest offering from Motorola is this Windows Mobile-powered smartphone, the MC9500. This one is for tough industrial situations where you need a rugged Phone. The MC9500 also sports an accelerometer so you can tip the device toward a delivery customer and have the screen flip around for signing and has five swappable keypads.

Charging requires it to hook up into a modular, “form factor agnostic” charging system with LED indicators on the 4800 mAh batteries that show the current level of juice in the batteries. Some other features include a 3-megapixel camera, EV-DO and HSPA modules, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and a 3.7? 640 x 480 display.

Verbatim announced today that it is shipping its new TUFF-CLIP USB drives, which are available in 4GB and 8GB sizes. These are aimed at those who brave the outdoors. The drives are outfitted with an integrated carabiner clip that allow them to conveniently clip to your backpack, belt loop or key chain.

The 4GB version is only available in turquoise, while the 8GB model is available in black only. Both TUFF-CLIPs have a password-protected folder to keep data secure on Windows systems, along with a freely accessible folder.

Stealth Computer has unveiled their latest notebook, the NW-2000. This one is a rugged hybrid laptop/tablet based around Intel’s 1.06GHz Core 2 Duo. When I say tough, I mean Mr. T tough. Fool. It features a 13.3-inch sunlight viewable resistive touchscreen and MIL-STD-810F, shock & vibration compliance.

Some other features are: 2GB of RAM (maximum 4GB), 160GB shock-mounted hard-drive or optional SSD, and a spill-resistant keyboard. This baby can handle a drop from 91cm onto a wood-covered concrete surface 26 times in a row and still function. How’s that for tough?

Rugged notebooks are typically more about function over form. They are often big, boxy machines that look like a suitcase more than a typical notebook computer. Rugged machines are also typically larger and heavier than standard machines.

Getac has announced its latest rugged notebook called the 9213. The machine is built with a magnesium chassis and a shock mounted hard drive and LCD. The notebook is designed to handle bumps, drops, and mishaps that go along with using a notebook on the road. The machine also has a spill resistant keyboard.

Nokia’s not a company that’s known for ultra-survivable and rugged gear, but I guess they figured out that rugged phones are a good idea. The 3720 candybar features a 2 megapixel cam with LED flash, triband EDGE, FM radio, microSD expansion, and Bluetooth 2.1.

The phone is built to meet IP54 standards. What this means is that “ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment; complete protection against contact”. That means that it may get dirty as anything, but it’ll keep functioning and it can also withstand “splashing” water.

AT&T just launched the Samsung A657, adding another push-to-talk handset to their lineup. The candybar is a tough one that comes with a rubberized shell that meets US military standards for shock, moisture, temperature and other rough stuff. No camera here though.

And since it’s rugged, why not throw in a flashlight. They did. That way while doing all of the rugged, rough and tumble things you do, you’ll be able to see what’s around you at night. Some other features include Bluetooth, 3G support, GPS mapping and a microSDHC memory card slot.

Check out this wrist-worn PC, if you’re looking for something slightly Sci-Fi and nerdy. It’s the ultimate ultraportable. From Glacier Computer, the Ridgeline W200 is a wearable version of the company’s Ridgeline, which can usually be found in your vehicle. The case is rugged, light weight magnesium alloy and it weighs in at 10.2 ounces with a 3.5-inch color display, touch screen, backlit keypad, and a swappable battery pack.

You’ll also get support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS modules. It comes with Windows CE or Linux, sporting features like tilt and silent reckoning for putting the device in standby.

Motorola introduced its VE465 semi-rugged clamshell handset, available on Alltel’s website. But there’s no word on pricing details just yet. Those living in Canada can check out the VE465 on Telus if inclined, where it shall be known as the “Motorola VE465 Active Edition”.

Some specs include: CDMA 800/1900/1700/2100 connectivity, 1.9″ TFT internal display with 176 x 220 pixels and 65k colors, 1.05″ CSTN external display with 96 x 80 pixels, Brew OS, Stereo Bluetooth, Music/video player, 1.3 megapixel camera, USB 2.0, and a microSD memory card slot.

The rugged laptop is a strange beast that forsakes some of the portability of a normal laptop to allow the rugged system to be used in environments where a standard laptop would not be able to operate. Dell recently introduced a new rugged laptop called the E6400 and last year unveiled the rugged D630 that met many military specifications.

Today GD Itronix has announced its own rugged laptop called the GD8000. The machine can be had in a 13.3-inch version that meets military specifications and offers capacitive touch technology in the screen. The manufacturer claims that the machine can withstand 30 gallons of water blown at 40 mph without failing and well as vibrations caused by a helicopter.

Lighters are great and all, but they are too prone to fail. Typical lighters can run out of fuel, or the flint may need to be replaced. Once they get wet, that’s it. That’s not good if you need to use it in an emergency. Sometimes you need a more rugged lighter. Like the Brunton Helios Stormproof Lighter.

Priced at $49, it has a windproof adjustable high-temp flame that can withstand winds up to 80mph. Its Piezo electric switch provides up to 30,000 ignitions. And when the lid is closed, Helios is completely waterproof. It refills using the Brunton FuelTool which costs around $12. That’s probably the only downside.

GPS devices re nice and many of the automotive GPS devices can be used when you are walking as well. The catch is that the typical automotive GPS device is far from rugged and one drop onto the driveway can kill the machine.

Getac has announced a new rugged GPS/PDA device that can withstand drops and more. The device is ruggedized to meet MIL-STD 810F and is IP54 certified. The machine offers 8-hour battery life and has a 3.5-inch touch-enabled screen with an option for a screen readable in full sunlight.

In many places a normal computer simply can’t survive. Places like a construction site or in wet or humid environments. Trimble has a line of rugged computers though that are designed for outdoors use in a work environment where the normal laptop couldn’t survive.

The new Yuma computer is rugged and has an ingress protection rating of 67, which breaks down to a 6 for dust and 7 for protection against water. Trimble says the computer can be submerged in up to 1m of water and still work. The machine is also protected against shock so it can be dropped without exploding like your typical laptop.

The Timex Expedition WS4 looks pretty ordinary, but it isn’t. Some of it’s features include an altimeter, barometer, thermometer, chronograph, alarm and compass. This isn’t some slim sissy watch for a nerd wrist. This one’s for real men. Rugged type dudes. Adventurers.

Being a Timex watch, the WS4 will take a licking and keep on ticking. It’s also water resistant up to 50 meters and comes with a rubber strap which can be mounted to a fabric strap, so you can wear on the outside of your heavy gear should the need arise.

AT&T decided to add another model to its rugged push-to-talk-compatible lineup, in the form of the Tundra from Motorola. This one has been available on Rogers for awhile. Some features include: 3G, 2 megapixel camera, stub antenna, AGPS, QVGA display, and microSD expansion.

It’s built to Military Standard MIL-STD 810F specifications to withstand the toughest abuse. So go ahead mistreat this bad boy. It just keeps going and asks for more. Great phone for those who like to be rough with their gadgets.