General Dynamics' GoBook MR-1 gives the FlipStart a thick skin

General Dynamics (who purchased Itronix a couple years back) thinks it's tough stuff, and now it's after that hip new UMPC market with those rough and tumble wares. The new GoBook MR-1 is essentially a FlipStart plus rugged, sporting rubber and brushed aluminum protection, port covers and a housing hump for the WWAN antenna. Don't go dunking this one in the drink, it's only semi-rugged, and we're guessing the $4,450 price tag might dissuade you as well from testing this one's robustness. Since it's just a repackaged FlipStart, there aren't many surprises on specs, though GD did pack in a Intel Core Solo processor instead of the FlipStart's weaker Pentium M offering, and put in a 40GB drive instead of the existing 30 gigger. All the rest is all FlipStart, including all the ugly and the two pound weight of the original. General Dynamics expects to start shipping this in September.

Read - Crave
Read - PC Mag

Update: General Dynamics clarified some of the initial info we had about this thing. Turns out the unit is is indeed "rugged," (not just semi-rugged) up to military specs 810F and IP54 and GD will include a Dynavue touchscreen option by year end. The MR-1 is built by the same people who put together the FlipStart, but from the "ground up," with different specs (like that Core Solo proc), a bundle of wireless options, an 80GB hard drive option and even an SSD alternative.

[Sinhumane @ Jun 4th 2007 3:18PM]

semi-rugged... but... will it blend?

[Conrad Blickenstorfer @ Jun 4th 2007 4:31PM]

That is a remarkably uninfomed and inaccurate representation, bordering on clueless. Then again, it is still under embargo. :-)

[Ryhan @ Jun 4th 2007 4:54PM]

I'm not particularly fond of the flipstart; particularly its design... couldn't they try to make this portable device less bulk(ish/y)?

[Vern Sumnicht @ Jun 24th 2007 7:31PM]

This thing sounds interesting. Obviously it will only appeal to those who are not price sensitive. However, seems to me the biggest weakness is the 1.2g intel processor at that price I'm expecting at least an Intel Duo-processor 2g+. At that price it should also come with 80 - 120 gigs of flash memory hard drive. If GD would add these upgrades I'll buy one for $5,000. Oh, almost forgot it would be logical to add Windows XP professional(I don't like Vista just yet) and Office 2007 professional. When you get up to this hurdle or better GD give me a call.