It's a fact that your computer data is only as safe that the device you keep it in. For those who work in harsher environments than, say, an office or classroom, a typical laptop isn't going to cut it. A ruggedized laptop is usually called upon in such situations as a construction site, beach, or military zone. The Getac V200 ($5,177 direct) is classified as a fully-rugged laptop, as opposed to a semi- or business-rugged one. It's practically indestructible, having been subjected to a comprehensive suite of military tests. Inside this fortress is a solid list of laptop components, including a low-voltage Core i7 processor, touch-screen, big battery, and the brightest screen money can buy. But given its price tag, whoever is forking out the money for this laptop had better have pockets as deep as those of the government.
Design
Like many ruggedized laptops, the V200 is shaped like a briefcase and measures 2 inches thick—about the height of two netbooks stacked together. There's no flair or colors to choose from; the design was meant to look like a tank. The thick slab of magnesium metal used to make the chassis accounts for a good portion of its height, as it didn't give way when I parked my 190 pound frame on top of it. It's also the reason why the laptop weighs 6.6 pounds, when the average 12-inch laptop weighs half that. Because it's a fully rugged laptop, the V200 underwent a grueling series of military torture tests, which involved, for instance, vibrations, exposure to extreme temperatures, and drop tests at various heights (a complete list of the tests are filed under the MIL-STD 810F and IP54 specifications). Semi- and business-rugged laptops, like thePanasonic Toughbook CF-52 ($3,300 list, 4 stars) and Dell Latitude ATG series ($3,126 direct, 3.5 stars), are subjected to a revised version of these tests (Panasonic sells fully- rugged laptops as well).
The 12.1-inch widescreen will seem cramped compared with the Getac B300's 13.3-inch widescreen. It's not meant for heavy multitasking, but you're not squinting at it either. Rated at 1,200 nits, the screen is at least four times brighter than that of the average laptop and ideal for outdoor viewing. A swivel hinge and touch layer on the screen mean that this laptop can also be used as a convertible tablet, in case you're in a vehicle or on foot and reaching for the touchpad is an inconvenience. I didn't run into any problems while using my fingers to navigate in Windows 7 Professional.
When it comes time to type up those reports, the keyboard, with standard size keys, is a pleasure to use. The square touchpad isn't as roomy as that of the Panasonic CF-52 and Dell ATG, but it didn't feel cramped while surfing the Web. Getac cleverly placed five quick-command buttons in the front bezel, with which you can toggle the screen brightness, lock the OS, turn off wireless, and launch a virtual keyboard or Getac's proprietary settings tool.
Feature
Every single port is covered by peel-off rubber doors that act as barriers against seepage. This includes the three USB ports, one of which doubles as eSATA. This combo port, and its faster transfer speeds, will come in handy especially when you run out of space on the laptop's 80GB solid state drive (SSD). A VGA and Serial port reside in the back, but there's no HDMI. It includes an ExpressCard slot, media card reader, and a legacy PC card slot, as well as Ethernet and a modem jack. Antenna-wise, it runs the gamut: The V200X is equipped with 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth, and GPS. Lastly, a swivel 2-megapixel Webcam sits above the screen.
Performance
The 2.0GHz Intel Core i7-620LM processor is a low-voltage, dual-core model, meaning its speeds are slightly reduced in favor of battery efficiency. It ranks between the ultra-low voltage processor found in theDell Latitude XT2 XFR and a standard-voltage one found in a consumer ultraportable, like the Sony VAIO VPC-Z1390X($3,800 direct, 4 stars). A less technical way of saying it is that the V200X is capable of running the most resource-intensive applications (video and photo editing packages, databases, and high-level stuff), yet crank out enough battery life for most of the day. The combination of the SSD drive (fast data transfer rates) and Core processor technology yielded one of the highest PCMark Vantage (7,980) scores. Photoshop CS5 scripts (15:11) and Handbrake (3:53)—a video transcoding test—weren't as impressive, but they'll run at a decent pace nonetheless. The laptop ran warm on certain occasions, like running too many hardcore applications at once, where temperatures got up to 97 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the time, heat was manageable. It uses integrated graphics only, so I would lay off the 3D-intensive stuff (i.e. games, 3D maps, and Autocad).
Because you're paying premium dollars, Getac included the biggest battery available, an 87WH (9-cell) brick that can easily be pulled out from the right side of the laptop. The big battery lasted a decent 4 hours 40 minutes in MobileMark 2007 tests. Its bigger brother, Getac B300, tallied a higher score (6:45), but it's also using two-year old technology. The Panasonic CF-52 (5:15) is in a similar position: Good battery life, older technology.
A fully-rugged laptop isn't for everybody. There's a lot of money that goes into making a laptop can be sent to hell and back with all your data intact. For some agencies, the data and a functioning laptop is more important than any dollar amount. That said, the Getac V200 is one of the toughest laptops in the world, as it is subjected to the most stringent of military torture tests. It's one of the faster rugged laptops around, thanks to an Intel Core processor and an SSD drive, though heat is a side effect. I can't recommend anything else for the time being, since I haven't reviewed many rugged laptops recently. But if your firm has this kind of money to spend, the Getac V200 won't disappoint.
Spec Data
| Type Business, Small Business |
| Processor Name Intel Core i7-620LM |
| Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Professional |
| Processor Speed 2 GHz |
| RAM 4 GB |
| Weight 6.6 lb |
| Screen Size 12.1 inches |
| Screen Size Type Widescreen |
| Native Resolution 1280 x 800 |
| Graphics Card Intel GMA HD |
| Graphics Memory 64 |
| Storage Capacity (as Tested) 80 GB |
| Rotation Speed SSD |
| Networking Options 802.11n |
| Primary Optical Drive External |
| Wireless Display Capability (WiDi) No |
| WiMax No |
| Battery Type 87 Whr (Watt hours) |
| Tech Support 1 year parts and labor |
| MobileMark 2007 – Standard Battery Productivity Load (hrs:min) 4:40 |
| MobileMark 2007- Performance score 246 |
| PCMark Vantage 7980 |
| 3-D BENCHMARK TESTS - 3DMark06 - 1,024 x 768 - Default 1650 |
| 3-D BENCHMARK TESTS - 3DMark06 - Native – 0X/4X 1426 |
| MULTIMEDIA TESTS - Handbrake 3:35 min:sec |
| MULTIMEDIA TESTS - PhotoShop CS515:11 min:sec |
| MULTIMEDIA TESTS - CineBench 11.5 1.56 |
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