The Classmate PC is not a new concept by any means, but this has just been revised by Intel in order to deliver improved battery life while also offering a much more rugged enclosure to make it fit better in today's classrooms.

Although the clamshell design has remained pretty much the same, Intel is now offering a  six-cell battery that, along with the new 45nm Atom chip used inside this solution, will enable students to work all day on their Classmate PC, according to Intel.

This would certainly prove to be an welcomed additions for schools that do not have enough power outlets for all the laptops, while also reducing disruptions of the classroom flow caused by students that plug-in their computers.

But improved battery life is only a part of what this new design offers since Intel also made the Classmate PC a lot more rugged, now being able to withstand drops from up to 70cm while also featuring better protection against accidental spills.

Intel says this can withstand a spill of 100cc of liquid, or about half the contents of a juice box, by using better sealing materials, a special water channel designed for the quick-flow of water and by placing two draining holed at the bottom of this netbook.

An antimicrobial coating is also included to protect the children using the Classmate PC against microorganisms reducing the chances that students pass germs to one another when this laptops are shared by multiple pupils.

This netbooks will become available trough different vendors, although, at this time, an exact launch date isn't available. 

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