When organizers of Racing The Planet, an endurance competition that challenges competitors to traverse some of the most difficult terrain on earth, were looking for computers to use in the field, they tested many. But laptop after laptop failed when confronted with blazing heat, extreme cold, blowing sand, and downright harsh treatment. When somebody mentioned a small, tough computer built for the kind of punishment kids can deliver, event organizers decided to give it a try. Today, the Intel-powered classmate PC is the mobile device of choice at the Racing The Planet event, used by competitors, medical teams, and press alike to communicate with the rest of the world from some of the most brutal spots on earth.

“We travel light and fast during the races, and we simply cannot use gear that doesn’t work,” says Mary Gadams, CEO of Racing the Planet. “At this point in time, there is no better device out there that satisfies Racing The Planet’s requirements. If you’re looking for something lightweight and easy to use, this is it.”

In 2008, classmate PCs will go the distance in such extreme locales as Chile’s Atacam, China’s Gobi and Egypt’s Sahara deserts, as well as Antarctica’s wind-whipped plains.