For this question, we can give you an absolute, definitive answer: maybe.
If you are among the rarified few who have no problems with budgetary constraints, this is a no-brainer; SSDs are clearly superior. Fewer moving parts, greater high-temperature endurance, lower power consumption, and just general all around superior ruggedness are a few of their virtues. Not only will your mobile computer solution suffer less damage, but operators will deal with fewer reboots induced by physical shocks.
On the other hand, if you’re like the rest of us, and live in the real world of limited financial resources, you should consider traditional spinning drives. They are MUCH cheaper, and have been successfully used in rugged solutions for years.
Before you determine the specs for your hard drive, take a clear-eyed look at the true needs of your application, and consult your rugged computer professional. If you do decide to use SSDs, keep in mind that single-level cells (SLC) are more expensive, faster, and reliable than multi-level cells (MLC).
Got a question about rugged computing? Send them to editor@amrel.com
