General Dynamics' GoBook MR-1 gets official

We already had a pretty good handle on General Dynamics' ruggedized, Flipstart-like GoBook MR-1, but the company's now gotten official with it, and is providing a few more specs and clarifications. While the MR-1 shares much in common with the Flipstart, it has gotten a few significant upgrades, including a 1.2GHz Core Solo U1400 processor, some new wireless options (including WWAN by the end of the year), and a hard drive boost to 80GB, with 16GB and 32GB SSD drives also available as an option. Of course, perhaps the most significant upgrade is its newfound ruggedness, which meets or exceeds MIL-STD 810F specifications for temperature, drop, and vibration tests, as well IP-54 specs for dust and humidity. Getting the biggest boost, however, is the device's price, which will come in a hefty $4,450 when it's released in September.

[Rick @ Jun 12th 2007 5:29PM]

What they need is the F-16 edition....titanum case from a recycled F-16...drool

[Tracy in Cary @ Jun 12th 2007 5:48PM]

The price actually doesn't sound out of line for MIL-STD-810F. The "F" is a tough standard. Whereas "E" just said it had to survive getting water poured directly on it, "F" has to actually work while completely submerged.

If I remember reading those standards right. It was a while back.

[RookieOne @ Jun 12th 2007 7:34PM]

no it doesn't. 810F is a huge document. You are 810F compliant with respect to particular portions of the document. In this case, it's 810F compliant to Shock, Vibe and Temperature. Notice its only IP54 rated. IP54 Rated means that it will handle dust and humidity and being sprayed by water will only allow a minimal amount to enter the case. An fully functional device operating fully submerged is IP67 rated.

[tj @ Jun 13th 2007 12:24AM]

I don't have much knowledge about computers but with this price I can buy 5-10 new P4 (which is faster processor) and I use one laptop a year and try to drop it or spill some water on it. If it stills working, I will use it for another year or go to the second one and keep repeating the same manner so I will end up atleast 10 or more with out any problems.

[Tracy in Cary @ Jun 13th 2007 12:14PM]

TJ: You're not understanding the audience for these things.

We use rugged laptops as part of field research projects where we've spent thousands of dollars setting up equipment (shipping, labor hours, planning, etc) to do a study. If the laptop breaks because a storm came through or somebody drove over it with a truck you're not just out the $1,000 for the laptop, but perhaps $15,000 in other expenses. Not to mention all the work that has to go into planning to do it again which may include waiting for weather conditions to be correct AND dealing with getting permission from the property owner that occasionally does not want us there at all.

Remember time IS money!

[Matt H. @ Jun 13th 2007 1:00AM]

Good call, but there are some instances and jobs were you can't afford to have a computer fail, police, fire, medical, military.

There are used Toughbooks on ebay that would get you similar durability for a tenth of the cost, they might even be able to play DOOM!

[seanC @ Jun 13th 2007 11:26AM]

My uncle work(ed)(s) on this as an engineer. He was describing how they created a different method for getting high-contrast LCD displays in direct sunlight. Didn't quite understand all of it but it had something to do with removing layers of the 'normal' LCD display and using touchscreen layers as replacement.