My personal laptop is a Sony, but I have to agree with the linked article. If you want a notebook that can take some abuse you will want a panasonic toughbook. I filter purchases for laptops where I work. On a co-worker recommendation last year we bought a large number Panasonic Toughbooks. Prior to this we were using Dell’s almost exclusively but no more if I can help it my guys love these Panasonic notebooks I have yet to have one come back. We had one on a shelf about 7 feet up hooked and serving files as a mini file server. Some cables got jarred and this thing fell to the concrete floor below. Expecting a blown screen rushing to the unit hearing a room of full of ohh shits and that ones toast we picked it up and this thing survived screen and all. Man what a machine. I saw it hit and it landed upside down screen corner first and did not blow. I do not recommend you try this at home but ohh boy was that thing tough.
Note: These opinions are my own and do not represent my employer and may not be used in any advertisement and cannot be considered an endorsement of my employer. [Business Week]