Can You Say Armored Laptop?
This review was originally written by Cisco Cheng. I have edited it bit (as Cisco actually reviewed the V200 model), and added some of my own embellishments and details from my experience and use. Most of the information is still applicable. I had about a half dozen of these for resale. It is a fact that your computer's data is only as safe as the device which you keep it on. For those who work in harsher environments than usual, like 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 B300 (over $3,000.00) 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 Dual Core 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 B300 is shaped like a briefcase and measures 3 inches thick—about the height of three 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 160 pound frame on top of it. It's also the reason why the laptop weighs over 6 pounds, when the average 12-inch laptop weighs half that. Because it's a fully rugged laptop, the B300 underwent a grueling series of military torture tests, which involved, for instance, vibrations, exposure to extreme temperatures, and drop tests at various heights. The 13.3 inch screen is touted to be the brightest of any laptop in the world. It's not meant for heavy multitasking, or gaming, 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. 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 very roomy but I 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 too.
Like many ruggedized laptops, the B300 is shaped like a briefcase and measures 3 inches thick—about the height of three 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 160 pound frame on top of it. It's also the reason why the laptop weighs over 6 pounds, when the average 12-inch laptop weighs half that. Because it's a fully rugged laptop, the B300 underwent a grueling series of military torture tests, which involved, for instance, vibrations, exposure to extreme temperatures, and drop tests at various heights. The 13.3 inch screen is touted to be the brightest of any laptop in the world. It's not meant for heavy multitasking, or gaming, 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. 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 very roomy but I 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 too.
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 factory standard 80GB hard drive.
A VGA and Serial port reside in the back, but there's no HDMI port. It includes an
Express Card slot, media card reader, as well as
an Ethernet and a modem jack. Antenna-wise, it runs the gamut: The B300 is
equipped with 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth, and GPS.
Performance
The 2.6 GHz Intel Dual Core processor is a low-voltage model, meaning its speeds are slightly reduced in favor of battery efficiency. The B300 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 laptop ran warm on some 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).
The 2.6 GHz Intel Dual Core processor is a low-voltage model, meaning its speeds are slightly reduced in favor of battery efficiency. The B300 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 laptop ran warm on some 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 over 6 hours. A fully-rugged laptop isn't for
everybody. There's a lot of money that goes into making a laptop that 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 B300 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 with a SSD drive many benchmark numbers jump out at you. I can't recommend anything else for the time being, since I
haven't reviewed many rugged laptops recently. But if you or your firm has this kind
of money to spend, the Getac B300 most certainly will not disappoint.
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