Asus has announced the new B51 notebook which is being touted as a ruggedized machine that can withstand harsh treatments such as drops, shocks, spills and scratches. The B51 is built with a lightweight strong magnesium alloy chassis and buffered against shock with rubber bumpers along its edges. It also has a protective film to shield it from scratches.

Like all ruggedized notebooks in its class, the B51 was said to have passed military specifications namely the ‘MIL 810F Method 516.5 Procedure IV’ which simply means that it can withstand fall from a height of up to 75 cm (about 2.5-feet). Even the data stored in the hard drive will be protected from corruption by a sponge protection system which also protects its keyboard.

Asus has introduced a new series of concept computers with outer casings that are supposedly to be made out of bamboo (yes, the plant). If this is ever implemented, I think Asus will be in a win-win situation. Bamboo, of course, is environmentally friendly, very cost efficient, proven to be stronger than steel (in the more »