Made for the challenge, whatever the decade

Celebrating 30 years of TOUGHBOOK

We’re looking back at how the world of work changed, and how those lessons helped shape what we build today.

30 years of learning in the field

Thirty years ago, work looked very different and mobile work, as we know it, barely exisited. The technology was basic, the expectations were lower, and most laptops were never meant to leave the safety of a desk. But the work was slowly changing and with it the tools workers needed.

Over the past three decades, we’ve learned our lessons from users out in the field, on the frontline, in some of the most challenging environments. Every device generation was built based on learnings from the last, shaped by real world use and real user feedback. We’re looking back at how the world of work changed, and how those lessons helped shape what we build today.

The shift from desk to field

The 1990s were a decade of transition, as work began to move away from desks and offices and take its first steps into the real world.

Laptops were still in their infancy, becoming essential tools despite their fragility and limitations. Early on, it became clear that devices had to be as rugged as the environments they were used in, with protection against the elements built in from the start. That thinking is part of our DNA.

Mobility becomes business-critical

By the 2000s, mobile working was no longer a nice-to-have. It was business-critical.

Engineers, emergency services, and field teams needed access to systems, data, and communications wherever the job took them. Devices evolved with greater reliability, longer battery life, early mobile data connectivity, and the introduction of capacitive touchscreens, making mobile technology more practical and intuitive in the field.

Data, security, and always-on expectations

The 2010s brought an explosion of data, connectivity, and integrated digital workflows.

Frontline teams were expected to capture, process, and act on information in real time, often in environments where reliability and security really mattered. Devices evolved with stronger security, more flexible configurations, and better support for always-connected work. This was also the decade the tablet form factor came into its own, marked by the launch of our first Windows tablet the TOUGHBOOK G1, which went on to become one of our most popular devices ever.

Resilience in a world that won’t slow down

The 2020s tested organisations in ways few could have predicted.

Work became more distributed, more digital, and more demanding, while expectations around uptime, sustainability, and lifecycle value increased. Devices had to support rapid deployment, remote management, and long-term use without constant replacement. At the same time, faster connectivity through 5G, early uses of AI, and a shift towards as-a-service models began to change how technology was deployed, managed, and kept working at the edge.

What’s next...

Learning, evolving, and looking ahead

The next chapter of work will be shaped by AI, automation, and faster change than ever before.

But the fundamentals remain the same, technology must support people at the Edge, learn from how it's used, and evolve without adding complexity or risk.

Here's to the next 30 years and beyond!