Lenovo’s providing ThinkPads, IdeaPads and desktops to the non-profit Center for Severe Weather Research. They’re using mobile Doppler radars, trucks full of Lenovo computers and a lot of brain power to improve how scientists predict tornadoes and other severe weather phenomenon.

The researchers are trying to ultimately save lives, but in order to do that they need to drive directly into the storms that almost everyone else is fleeing.

Rob Bushway from GottaBeMobile spent a day with CSWR founder Joshua Wurman, who showed off all of the cool gear they use to track and intercept storms. Besides all of the Lenovo gear, Wurman’s team uses several mobile phones, wireless broadband cards and satellite phones to stay connected. He points out that he uses multiple wireless carriers because none of them have comprehensive coverage in rural areas.

Rob was kind enough to put together a comprehensive video of how CSWR uses mobile technology.

The team uses the following notebooks:

ThinkPad T400 laptops Used in the instrumented Probe and Disdrometer vehicles, these laptops play an important role in transferring data collected through the dozen weather pods that are placed in the path of a storm. These pods measure weather data, such as wind speed and temperature. The laptops also power diagnostic software used to test and monitor weather stations in the field.

ThinkPad W500 laptops Attached to the mounts inside the Probe and Disdrometer vehicles, the laptops run navigation, tracking and mapping software.

ThinkPad W700 laptops These laptops are used for housing a variety of radar and mapping applications for analyzing and displaying graphically demanding data and video without being tied to a desk. The laptops are also being used for public presentations of preliminary science results as well as in the field for a first analysis of data.

ThinkPad X200s laptops For lightweight and portability, the team is using these laptops to conduct tornado damage assessments.

IdeaPad S10 netbooks Individual scientists are using the netbooks as a quick and convenient way to check Internet weather forecasts and email.

As you can imagine, the team works outdoors a lot. All of Lenovo’s Thinkpads are semi-rugged, which means they can stand up to minor drops, spills and dirt without missing a beat. One ThinkPad that’s particularly useful for outdoor and in-vehicle usage is the T400 with a 680-nit outdoor display. As you can see in the above photo, CSWR drivers need to be able to read the display while driving.

Lenovo sent us a T400 with an outdoor display so we could try one ourselves. I lined up my MacBook Pro, HP 2730p and the T400 on a bench in my garden and turned set all of them to maximum brightness. I could easily read the T400′s display , but using it at full brightness really taxes the battery. The 2730p has a matte display, which makes it more readable than the glossy MacBook Pro, but it isn’t nearly as readable as the T400. The MacBook Pro is pretty much worthless outdoors because the screen is highly reflective. 

Storm Chasers Use ThinkPads, Trucks Full of Mobile Tech is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

Lenovo’s designated eight ThinkPads for use in semi-rugged computing environments such as construction sites and police vehicles. Eight ThinkPads meet military specification (MIL-SPEC) standards, which mean they can stand up to vibrations, extreme temperatures, dust and other hazards. Lenovo’s now offering an optional 680-nit display for the ThinkPad T400 to improve viewability in outdoor applications.

Lenovo says that its ThinkPads pass more military specifications compared to Dell’s ATG laptops and Panasonic’s business-rugged and semi-rugged laptops.

Police Departments like the Conover Police Department in North Carolina are using ThinkPad laptops to turn their patrol cars into mobile offices. Reduced time spent at the station writing reports gives officers extra time on patrol to protect their community. Officers are using ThinkPad T Series laptops to write and print incident reports, issue tickets and conduct criminal background checks from their cars. For IT Director, Chris Niver, Lenovo’s engineering made ThinkPad laptops the easy choice.

Although not billed as a ‘ruggedized’ laptop at the time, the features offered far surpassed the other manufacturers. The fact that the ThinkPads came with a roll-cage design, shock resistant hard drive, built in security chip and the familiar red button as well as touchpad all as standard features really made my choice clear.”

The ThinkPad X200, X301, X200s, X200 tablet, T400, T500, R400 and SL300 notebooks each passed the following tests:

MIL810-F Method:

500.4 Low Pressure (altitude) – Tests operation at 15,000 feet

501.4 High Temperature – Simulates high heat conditions by baking the laptop up to 140°F

502.4 Low Temperature – Tests operation at -4°F

503.4 Temperature Shock – Fluctuates between -4 and up to 140°F to test operation

507.4 Humidity – Cycles 95 percent humidity through the environment

510.4 Sand and Dust – Blows dust for an extended amount of time

514.5 Vibration (operational and non-operational)

It’s good to see that Lenovo’s testing for ruggedness and users are sure to benefit, but some users will be better served with fully rugged notebooks, such as the Panasonic CF-15 series, which can withstand water and more severe drops and vibrations.

ThinkPads not designed to withstand rain and snow, but it’s hard to argue with the ruggedness provided at relatively low price points. The ThinkPad T400 with the 680-nit display starts at sale for as low as $649.

ThinkPads Get Tough, Meet Mil-Spec Standards is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.