Batman: The Dark Knight, the most highly anticipated of the series yet, hit cinemas on Thursday.
Everybody likes Batman. He's a superhero we can relate to. Unlike Superman or, say, the Incredible Hulk, Batman isn't an alien or mutant. He's just a regular guy who makes himself "super" using mobile gadgets.
Batman offers a "what if" fantasy of gadget extremism. What if you were a billionaire and had control over a world-class military R&D lab that produced devices just for you?
Batman is in the crime-fighting racket. And he's better than other crime fighters because he's got better devices, computers, cars and weapons -- and has trained himself how to use them.
But most of us don't fight crime. We're IT professionals and lawyers and technology columnists. But that doesn't mean we can't be like Batman and transform ourselves into superheroes in our own professions by buying and mastering extreme devices.
Batman gadgets tend to be very rugged, bleeding edge and numerous. Batman would never hold back and buy sensible, practical gadgets. He goes all out and gets the most powerful, advanced and rugged gadgets possible. You can, too.
I'm not talking, by the way, about goofy Batman-themed trinkets and cross-marketing promos or elaborate Batman fanboy DIY projects. I'm talking about real mobile devices you can actually buy that will make you into a superhero of productivity, connectivity and mobility. Just like Batman.
As Jack Nicholson's Joker said in the first Batman movie, "Where does he get those wonderful toys?" Good question. Here's where you can get some wonderful toys of your own:
Bat-PC
If you're out there in harsh or dangerous conditions, an ordinary puny laptop could become the bane of your existence. Could you imagine if Batman used gadgets that stopped working in the rain? It would really dampen his crime-fighting abilities, not to mention director Christopher Nolan's cinematographic options. If you're really serious about doing a complete Bat-makeover of your mobile gadget lineup, you're going to need a seriously tough laptop. Dell's Latitude XFR D630 is the only Dell computer that meets military specifications for shock, dirt, water and temperature. On the PC spec side, it's a pretty standard laptop. But if some joker tries to shoot you, it'll probably stop a bullet.