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GammaTech rugged T7Q launches at $2k and up, promptly steals your iPad's lunch money
For people out there doing actual work (like tech blogging, for instance), there's the need for a tablet like the GammaTech T7Q Windows slate, starting at $2,000. Standing out like an M9 tank among the daily driver tabs, the sealed magnesium unit meets military specs for environmental nasties -- while packing a 7-inch resistive-touch TFT WSVGA LCD, Intel Atom N2600 or N2800 processor, 5MP camera with geotagging, compass, gyroscope and an mSATA SSD. It can also be accessorized to the nines with items like RFID, magnetic stripe readers and GPS through an assortment of connectors and expansion slots. To top it off, there's three different lock-down methods for your your data: TPM1.2 security, built-in BIOS safeguards and a Kensington lock connector -- plus Computracing ability piled on, for good measure. Sure, this guy is intended for oil rigs and desert archaeological digs, but hauling one out at Starbucks might give you a whole new level of shabby-chic cred -- if you've got the cash.
Gammatech's brawny 12-inch convertible Durabook adds Ivy Bridge brains
The Durabook convertible's always been a tough jock, but now it's got some Ivy Bridge finesse as well, with the new U12Ci. Ruggedized to military MIL-STD-810G specs to resist drops, shocks, spills, dust and power nastiness, the new Intel chipset will add more speed and improved battery life to its tough-as-nails surface. The kid brother to the U12C keeps that same 12.1-inch 1280 x 800 panel, with a choice of Core i5 or i7 chipsets, USB 3.0 and the option to add up to 16GB of RAM. Prices start at $1,000, so if you're hitting the trenches or your local Starbucks, head down the source link for more info. Ten-hut!
GammaTech's Durabook S15C is deceitfully rugged, unashamedly mobile
Shopped for a rugged laptop of late? If so, you've probably become overwhelmed with grief, likely due to the fact that 99.95 percent of them are both a) huge and b) unsightly. GammaTech's got a better idea: craft a rugged, shock-proof lappie that actually looks like every other 15.6-inch laptop on the market. Fancy that! The outfit's new Durabook S15C is its latest in a long line of field-tested machines, with this guy using a magnesium alloy case that's 20 times stronger than ABS plastic. We're told that it's tested to Mil-Standard 810G for drop and shock resistance, and there's a flexible HDD cable that'll absorb shock from drops. Moreover, an anti-shock mounting technology around the LCD helps to protect the screen from accidental damage, and if you're curious about the innards, here goes: there's the option for Core i5 / i7, a pair of dual-channel DDR3 RAM slots, an internal optical drive, a 15.6-inch Full HD display, three USB sockets, a serial port, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and WiFi. Mum's the word on pricing, but considering that you'll need to dial 'em up to place an order, we highly doubt all that ruggedness will come cheap.
GammaTech debuts Durabook D14 E-Series with 1TB of storage
We got ourselves pretty well acquainted with one of GammaTech's Durabooks early last year, and the company is now finally back with another model that breaks a bit of new ground in the world of rugged laptops. While there may well be tougher laptops out there, GammaTech's new Durabook D14 E-Series is apparently the first fully rugged laptop to come equipped with 1TB of storage, which still has to count for something these days. Other than that addition, however, the laptop is fairly similar to the company's previous D14RM model, and packs a 14.1-inch screen, a Core 2 Duo processor "greater than 2GHz," up to 8GB of RAM, and your choice of RAID-0 or RAID-1 configuration options for those dual 500GB hard drives. No official word on a price just yet, but you can pretty safely bet on paying a premium over the $1,500 that the standard D14RM demands.
Durable faceoff and torture test: Panasonic's Toughbook 30 vs. GammaTech's Durabook D15RP
It seems like a bit of a rip-off -- if you want a laptop that won't shatter when its shiny little form slips out of your fingers as you run to your next meeting/target you have to pay a hefty premium to get something dull and durable. And, if that weren't bad enough, you then have to live with something big, boxy, and ugly. Panasonic's Toughbook line defines what many think of as a rugged laptop, but its bulk, heft, and cost give it niche appeal. It's not the only option out there for a notebook that can take a beating, though, with the semi-rugged Durabook from GammaTech offering a package that's a little more comfortable to use and, perhaps more importantly, a lot less expensive. But, which of the two is right for you? (Assuming, of course, that either is.) Just how durable are these things? And, which one didn't fair so well in the water test? Read on to find out.
Twinhead Durabook D13RY and D14RY rugged lappies
If you like your laptop beefy and drop kick-able, you might be into Twinhead's new Durabooks, the D13RY and D14RY. The laptops feature magnesium-alloy cases, spill-resistance and anti-shock mounts. As for specs, the 13.3-inch D13RY and 14.1-inch D14RY feature 60-100GB HDDs, 802.11a/b/g WiFi, Bluetooth options, and combo drives on up to super-multi DVD drives. Apparently these laptops include an "exclusive" optical disk tray, which protects against accidental tray ejection, drops and vibration. Both units are rated at US military 810F standards, so each can withstand 29-inch drops onto hard surfaces. No word on specific procs, pricing or availability.
