When it coms to automotive diagnostics software you’ll want a laptop that can withstand the harsh environment such as a automotive garage.
Diagnosing an engine is no easy task and requires the use of specialized tools, software, and know-how. A reliable laptop that can stand up to constant use and abuse is essential for any professional mechanic or technician working in the auto industry.
The automate industry has been a growing industry and if you are not enhancing to the latest technology, you could miss out on a lot of opportunities.
But how do you know what to look for in a laptop for automotive? There are so many different things that go into making the perfect laptop for diagnostics, that it can be hard to find the right one. In this article, we will talk about some of the best laptops on the market and what makes them great.
- Should I Purchase Refurbished?
- Diagnose Your Car The Right Way
- Panasonic Toughbook FZ-55
- Panasonic Toughbook CF-54
- Dell Latitude 5430 Rugged Laptop
- Lenovo ThinkPad T470 Business Laptop
- Panasonic Toughbook CF-19
Should I Purchase Refurbished?
When purchasing refurbished rugged laptops , you should always look at the quality of the refurbishing. A good refurbished will be able to repair your laptop and make it as good as new, while a bad one can cause more damage than good.
Here at Rugged Books Inc we are one of the only brands that can offer refurbished rugged laptops that are tested and certified to be working properly before being resold. We also have a warranty for all of our products, so if something does go wrong with your laptop then we will repair it at no extra cost.
We are also R2 certified, which means that we can offer you a guarantee that our laptops are free from hazardous materials and electronic waste. This is important because if you’re purchasing a refurbished laptop then there is always the chance that the previous owner could have been irresponsible with their recycling, causing it to be unusable or unsafe for use.
Generally all rugged laptops and tablets are MIL-STD-810G and IP51 certified.
Diagnose Your Car The Right Way
If you want to diagnose your car, you need a good laptop. This is what your should look for when buying a laptop for automotive laptops.
- The most important feature is power. You can’t diagnose your car if the diagnostic software doesn’t run on your laptop! If there’s not enough processing power, it will be too slow to use.
- A lightweight, portable design is also key as many mechanics are on their feet all day moving from one part of their shop to another; this means they don't want something heavy weighing them down or taking up too much space in their toolbox when they're done working with it for the day (assuming they even keep it in their toolbox at all).
- A long battery life ensures that when you need power most—like when diagnosing an old vehicle with worn out electrical systems—you won't have trouble finding an outlet nearby so that all systems are “go." A long lasting battery also makes sure you aren't spending half your shift trying not get stuck somewhere without being able to charge anything because both devices ran out simultaneously!
1. Panasonic Toughbook FZ-55
The Panasonic Toughbook FZ-55 is one of the best laptops for automotive diagnostics. It has an Intel Core i7-8665U 1.6GHz processor and up to 64GB RAM, making it perfect for heavy processing tasks like auto repairs. Its 512GB SSD makes sure you can store as many files as possible, while its 14" FHD (1920 x 1080) display allows you to view everything clearly from any angle.
The Toughbook FZ-55 has a backlit keyboard, which makes it easier for you to see what keys you need to press in dim lighting. It also has an active stylus so that you can draw on the screen, making it easier for mechanics to document their work or technicians to share photos of cars with customers.
Specification
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Storage: up to 2TB SSD
- Memory: up to 64GB
- CPU: Intel Core i7-8665U vPro
- GPU: Intel Graphics 620
- Battery: 8 hours
- O/S: Windows 10
- Condition: New
2. Panasonic Toughbook CF-54
Another great option for semi-rugged laptop is the Panasonic Toughbook CF-54. It is a great option because of its automotive diagnostics because of its light weight size and durability. It's also affordable, which makes it great for small auto mechanics or people who are just starting out in their careers.
This Semi-Rugged laptop from Panasonic comes with up to 1TB SSD and up to 16GB in memory. While the battery capacity of 75% this refurbished rugged laptop can last for most of the day. All refurbished products are given a 90 day warranty completely free with an option in increase to a two year warranty.
Specification
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Storage: up to 1TB SSD
- Memory: up to 16GB
- CPU: Intel Core i5-6300U vPro
- GPU: Intel Graphics
- Battery: 8 hours
- O/S: Windows 10
- Condition: Refurbished
3. Dell Latitude 5430 Rugged Laptop
The Dell Latitude 5430 Rugged Laptop is a great choice for any technician who's on the go.
With an Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor, 16GB DDR4 SDRAM, 512GB SSD and 14" Full HD anti-glare Display (1920x1080). It also features an Intel Iris Xe Graphics card that will ensure your laptop is able to run smoothly even after multiple hours of working on it. It has a 8 hour battery life which means you'll be able to work all day without having to worry about plugging in the charger. It also features a built in fingerprint reader that allows you to login with just one touch.
Specification
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Display: 14" Non-touch
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Memory: 16GB
- CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- O/S: Windows 10
- Condition: New
- Warranty: 3 Years
4. Lenovo ThinkPad T470 Business Laptop
If you’re looking for a laptop that can handle any diagnostic task thrown at it, the Lenovo ThinkPad T470 Business Laptop is a great option. This laptop has an Intel Core i5-7300U processor and 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which means that it’s fast enough to run diagnostic software without slowing down. It also comes with 256GB hard drive space so you have plenty of space for storing your diagnostic files and other important information about your car.
The 14-inch full HD IPS display lets you see every detail clearly on the screen so you can diagnose problems faster than ever before! And if that wasn’t enough, this laptop also comes with an Intel HD graphics card that gives it plenty of power to play games while working on diagnostics at the same time!
Finally, Windows 10 allows users access to all their favorite programs while still providing high levels of security against viruses or other attacks from hackers trying do harm via remote access capabilities like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections.
Specification
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Display: 14" FHD
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Memory: 16GB
- CPU: Intel Core i5-7300U
- GPU: Intel HD Graphics 620
- O/S: Windows 10
- Condition: Refurbished
5. Panasonic Toughbook CF-19
The Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 is the best laptop for automotive diagnostics because it comes with many features that make it ideal for this type of work. It's built to withstand extreme temperatures, ranging from -4°F (-20°C) to 113°F (45°C). It also has a spill-proof keyboard and trackpad that ensure no matter what gets spilled on them, you can continue working without any problems.
Additionally, this laptop has a VGA port and an HDMI port which allow you to connect it to other hardware devices like external monitors or projectors so that you don't have to carry around multiple devices when diagnosing cars at different locations throughout the day.
Specification
- Resolution: 1024 x 768 Multi Touch-Screen
- Display: 10.1" XGA
- Storage: up to 512GB SSD
- Memory: 8GB
- CPU: Intel Core i5-7300U
- GPU: Intel HD Graphics 620
- O/S: Windows 10
- Condition: Refurbished
Final Thoughts
With these five laptops, you can be sure that you’ll have a device that can handle automotive diagnostics. These are all rugged enough to withstand the harsh conditions of an auto shop and powerful enough to perform all kinds of diagnostic tests. The best part is that they’re not too expensive either—we hope this guide has helped you find the right one for your needs!
If you are still having trouble finding the perfect computer for you contact us, we would love to help
