Why rugged devices cost less?
A. The VDC (Venture Development Corp) study found that the sticker price is only the beginning of the costs associated with ownership of mobile devices. Over the lifespan of the equipment, maintenance and support costs, as well as intangible costs, consumer-grade were 10 to 40％ higher than rugged devices. By the second year of ownership, the VDC study found the initial price savings of consumer-grade computers disappeared under the weight of 44％ higher IT support requirements, and lost productivity. By the five-year mark, organizations with rugged mobile computers saved an average of $1610 compared to those with consumer-grade devices. The consumer units, with their lower initial cost, ended up costing $12,631 over five years, compared to $8569 for rugged devices.
