Choosing Your Government Laptop: A Buyer’s Guide

Purchasing for Federal, State, or Local Government

It’s no secret that government workers are under more pressure than ever before to safeguard their equipment and provide exceptional work. The laptops that power their work, whether it’s remote or on the job, must meet a range of standards for security, durability, and performance; especially for professionals that use their devices in the field or remotely within their home offices.

In this guide, we guide you through the complex landscape of choosing your government laptop, helping you navigate the specialized system requirements that your IT department details. Purchasing a laptop in today’s cyber-security driven world requires careful consideration and knowledge of agency and department-specific compliance requirements.

When selecting a government laptop for your work, it’s important to consider a couple of areas of functionality to get the best features for your needs, while also avoiding areas of unnecessary cost if they won’t improve your work quality or ease of use. We’ll cover these features and areas of consideration, as well as several common questions about the top types of laptops that are often used for governmental work in this article.

At Affinity, we are here to help you find the right hardware for your operations, headquartered in upstate New York and helping you choose the best solutions for your needs wherever you are in the world. We believe that technology doesn’t have to be over-complicated.

Features to Consider

Among the many features to consider when purchasing your laptop, we’ve narrowed it down to just a handful of important considerations. While some of these features may seem like they’re more intended for their quality of life rather than functionality, it may be just as functional in some applications. So, to keep everything as industry-specific as possible without missing anything, we recommend prioritizing features that align with your agency’s specific requirements.

Look for processors that support government-approved encryption and security protocols, and consider your specific applications for these devices. For example, an extended battery life may not be necessary – just nice to have  when working remotely for a day – or it could be the difference of a successful or failed mission if you’re in the field.

Other features are common to governmental laptops that are almost always a must-have, such as port selections that support legacy peripherals, like sign-in or encryption keys that you plug into the machine. Narrowing down these specifics of what applications you’ll need the machine in will help you make the right choice when it comes time to purchase.

Don’t feel comfortable making a decision on your own? Contact Affinity, and one of our specialists will help you determine the right fit for your needs, helping you narrow down the right product for your specific, unique needs in a laptop.

Security Compatibility

Many government agencies manage sensitive information that requires multi-layered protection that safeguards the machine from modern security threats, both in the digital and physical world. This means that it will require a level of security beyond basic encryption. Getac brand laptops feature advanced security features that make it the optimum choice for most options. Consider opting for a model that has these features:

• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Security Chips to authenticate passwords and keys.
• Theft Protection Bios Agent to prevent data loss.
• Physical Cable Locking to prevent theft.
• Fingerprint Scanner to authenticate users periodically.
• Optical Disc Storage for reading and storing additional media.
• FIPS 140 Compliance for specific degrees of tamper evidence and resistance.

Durability

When demanding work is done in demanding conditions, having durable equipment that’s as tough as you are isn’t an option, it’s a necessity. Whether you’re looking for a device that will stay reliable in summer heat and dust or below-freezing snowstorms, Getac laptops outlast the competitors. With reduced downtime, less frequent replacements, and reliable performance, it’s no wonder that Getac is the top choice for many first responders, military personnel, and law enforcement. Consider a machine that has these features:

• Shock and Drop Resistance from heights of 12 to 72 inches.
• Vibration and Humidity Resistance to prevent vehicle rumbles and temperature cycles at 95% humidity from affecting performance.
• High and Low Temperature Resistance for performance in all conditions.
• Water and Sand Resistance to prevent dust or blowing rain from getting into the internal housing of the machinery.

In more difficult conditions, weight, ergonomic design, and s hock-mounted hard drives may be an important consideration to make if you believe it may be exposed to particularly rough treatment and need a government laptop that will make the cut. It’s also critical to ensure you have a laptop that will adhere to the appropriate MIL-STD-810H and MIL-STD-461FG standards where appropriate.

Wireless Connectivity

Wireless connectivity is an important part of staying connected even in the field. While remote workers are less likely to need this because of their dependence on a single network, workers in the field will rely on this daily to make sure they stay connected even when their regular cellular or wireless networks are unavailable. Getac laptops are not only rugged and durable, but also deliver enterprise-grade connectivity with these features:

• Cellular Network Data Access for on-the-go connection in any condition.
• FirstNet Connectivity for first responder communications.
• GPS Capabilities to provide a safety net for field work.

Touchscreen

Touchscreen capabilities are essential for enhancing the productivity of many governmental applications, especially for field data collection and inspection tasks. Displays that function reliably with gloves and in a range of environmental conditions is an important feature above and beyond a standard commercial touchscreen and touchpad surface on the machinery.

• Touchscreen and Touchpad with an oversized electrostatic pad allows for accurate, fast data entry with stylus compatibility.
• Screen Display for easy viewing conditions in a range of environments.
• Swivel Screen for co-working and screensharing with team members.
• Retina Displays for outdoor visibility even in direct sunlight.

Ease of Use

While ease of use isn’t something you’d typically consider essential in a laptop, but it often correlates to improved productivity and faster data management, which overall minimizes training time and improves communications. Ergonomic features, easy-access function keys, and quick-access buttons are all great features for field personnel that will not only improve workflow but also performance. Look for features such as:

• Ergonomic Designs such as keyboards and hand dome support, to improve workflow.
• Safety Measures such as handles to minimize the risk of drops during frequent transport.
• Convenience Features such as a shoulder strap or quick-access keys can allow personnel to access their computer with ease even if they are frequently performing other activities.

Performance

Governmental laptops must stand up to the demands of the job, and when reliable communication and access to information can assist in the safety of personnel or the success of a project, it’s essential to put as much focus on performance as possible when purchasing the machine. A little more processing power or better graphics capabilities are worth the purchase if they prevent bottlenecks and delays during operation. Thermal management systems can also help maintain performance of machines that are often left in vehicles or exposed to harsh conditions. The best laptops offer features such as:

• Smartcard and Magnetic Strip Readers for secure data entry and collection.
• Mobile Printers for paper documentation of events or data on-the-go.
• Interface Capabilities that suit your IT department requirements and job-specific applications, such as fingerprint authentication, cameras, phones, and RFID or barcode readers.
• Continuous Connectivity even on difficult terrain or on the road.
• Dual Processing for basic execution of programs and application multitasking.
• Expandable Memory to accommodate running applications and prevent slow-downs, even if the device has enough RAM.
• Extended Battery Life and Hot-Swappable Batteries for extended up-time without plugging in the device.

Custom Configuration

At all levels of governmental work, every job is guided by policies that are constantly in flux as new policies are established and the ever-changing environment of the job. Because of this, customization is an essential part of any new laptop you purchase, as you don’t want it to become obsolete in a few months. Ideally, the right laptop will last you for years with consistent on-the-job performance, helping you do your job comfortably and with improved efficiency and workflow.

By evaluating the capabilities of modular designs that Getac offers, whether it’s specialized communications modules or hot-swappable battery support, it pays to have flexibility built into your machinery from the start.

You may also want to look for equipment that is able to integrate with existing equipment and systems to reduce training requirements or delays in changing software or hardware. Some laptops even offer modular mounting support to all you to integrate seamlessly with a variety of vehicle and field mounts.

Value

When determining the value that your device brings, a larger up-front cost can be a difficult factor in purchasing a new laptop. Instead, consider the total cost of ownership, which includes the complete lifecycle costs including maintenance, support, downtime, and replacement frequency. Ruggedized laptops like the ones offered by Getac have extended service lives and reduced failure rates compared to other governmental laptops, which is why they are considered the better choice with superior value.

How Getac Makes the Choice Easy

With purpose-built laptops ready to address your specific needs in government work and capable of withstanding a diverse range of challenging environments, Getac makes the choice of a new rugged field laptop easy. Not only are these laptops customizable, but they offer unparalleled support and features specific to different types of field and office work in the government sector. From law enforcement and data science to military applications, Getac has a device ready to out-perform in every condition.

At Affinity, we’re here to help you determine the right product for your needs. Our job is to help you identify your requirements and place you with a device that meets those needs; while providing extended support and service to simplify the process and help you integrate Getac’s devices into your new workflow.

Get in touch today and see the difference our team can make in helping you choose the right government laptop.

Are Rugged Laptops Worth It?

Yes, rugged laptops are often worth the additional up-front expense because their total cost of ownership is far lower than conventional laptops, especially in field work applications. Not only that, but Getac consistently outperforms commercial-grade laptops with a lower failure rate than the industry average of 11%. Getac’s score? Below 3% across all machines.

Better than their repair guarantees and replacement warranties, and bumper-to-bumper guarantee, the lifespan of the device is far greater than standard commercial devices. While most devices last 2-3 years in the field, Getac’s rugged laptops average 5-7 years of service before being traded in for better models.

Affinity: Here to Help You Choose

At Affinity, we’re here to help you choose. We deliver industry-specific and job-specific expertise that transforms technology procurement from a vague transaction into a strategic partnership. We bring expertise and a consultative approach to the table, rather than a product catalogue. We help you evaluate the actual field conditions, integration requirements, and agency-specific security and compliance mandates to help you find the perfect device for your needs.

Furthermore, we also help you navigate complex procurement requirements, including compliance documentation, ensuring regulatory adherence for the best and most streamlined experience.

Need long-term support? Our team also provides warranty services and technical assistance to help you integrate your new Getac device into your existing workflow, so you’re never left guessing. We’re here every step of the way, and between our warranty guarantees and Getac’s bumper-to-bumper support guarantee, you’ll be glad to make the switch to the most reliable rugged field laptop on the market.

Contact us today to schedule a no-obligation consultation with your procurement specialist and we’ll help you discover how purpose-built rugged technology can enhance your capabilities while simplifying your workflow.