Aug/Sept 2008

Our impression

One of the truisms of the mobile computing world is that the more rugged a device is the greater the cost. However, the more rugged it is, the less risk there is of unplanned failure in the field.

Getac's B300 is aimed squarely at those types of arduous operation where standard notebooks simply would not cope. It is designed to allow it to be taken into inhospitable environments and harsh weather conditions.

At 3.5kg, Getac's B300 is no lightweight nor, at 6cm deep, is it slim. What it lacks in portability, however, it more than makes up for in ruggedness.

The casing is magnesium alloy, resilient to small drops and hard knocks, with a built-in handle that tucks away neatly when not needed. The lid and keyboard are locked together with a robust clasp that helps seal the unit again dust and water ingress.

The unit is IP54 and MIL-STD-810F compliant, and as you'd expect in a rugged notebook, hinged covers protect all the ports and connectors. Ports are sensibly group together to minimise exposure in the field. Internal components are also tough: the 120GB SATA hard disk is shock-mounted to protect against data loss during unexpected free drops and vibration.

Standard communications options include wireless 802.11a/g/n LAN connectivity and Bluetooth V2.0. Options include 3G and GPS.

In comparison with some modern notebooks the B300's 1,024x768 pixel resolution screen might seem old-fashioned. However, it does have a leading-edge option: sunlight-readable technology, which vastly improves readability in strong sunlight. Getac claims this the best in the industry and it certainly worked very well in the very bright sunshine we tried it in. It adds £370 to the price, but for outdoor working, it really does make a difference.

It boosts the standard screen brightness from 200 Nits up to 1,200 Nits (Nits is the shorthand term for candela per square metre, which describes the luminance of a screen). To avoid the need for users to have to wear sunglasses indoors, there's a button to tap to reduce the brightness. An ambient light sensor also regulates the brightness automatically to save battery power.

Intriguingly, our BT300 also had the optional night-vision mode, so it could be seen by anyone wearing night-vision goggles. While this is clearly aimed at military applications, Getac says it might also appeal to civilian enforcement authorities.

Of more general use is the optional backlight on the keyboard, which comprises large and clearly marked keys. There's a touchpad below, plus a biometric fingerprint scanner device.

Battery life is rated at up to 12 hours from the provided 9-cell battery. To get this performance, the notebook has to work in power-saving mode, with a low level of screen brightness. The automatic power saving feature works with both hardware and software.

This was the first time we'd had a chance to try a biometric fingerprint sensor. They are intended to protect both data on the device and unauthorised access to any corporate systems. It takes about five minutes to teach the notebook to recognise your fingerprint. After that, it won't fully boot up without the fingerprint authorisation. It's a clever combination of enhanced security and relative ease of use.

Our verdict

This is a tough notebook, designed to cope with the most arduous conditions. The 4:3 aspect ratio VGA display is less advanced than that of some rivals', but the sunlight-readable feature is outstanding, and the fingerprint sensor is very neatly implemented.

Specification

Getac B300

Processor Intel Core2 Duo L7500 1.6GHz processor; 4MB L2 cache

Memory 2GB DDRII DRAM; shock-mounted removable 120GB HDD; 384 MB video RAM (Shared); optional 2nd HDD 80/120 GB

Operating system Windows XP Professional SP2

Display 13.3in TFT XGA screen with optional sunlight readable/touch screen display and night vision mode

Keyboard Waterproof membrane keyboard; optional water-proof LED back-lit membrane keyboard; optional water-proof LED back-lit rubber keyboard

Dimensions 303.5 x 263 x 60mm

Weight 3.5kg

Power Rechargeable Li-ion smart battery (7650mAh), up to 12 hours life; optional 7650mAh battery in media bay

Interfaces Pressure sensitive touch screen; touch pad with scroll bar

Expansion slots Super multi DVD drive module

PCMCIA Type II x2; four in one card reader

Communications Giga LAN and 802.11a/g/n capability; Bluetooth 1.2; optional 3G and GPS; Trusted Platform Module security chip v1.2

2 Serial Ports; 3 USB 2.0 Ports; IEEE 1394 Port; 80-pin port replicator; RJ11 56k modem; 110/11/1000 Ethernet port; Kensington lock; microphone; headphone; external GPS; antenna connector; external VGA port; 90W auto sensing adapter.

Envmntl/ruggedness Wireless LAN (802.11 a/b/g) Magnesium Alloy Casing;

IP54 and MIL-STD-810F compliant; optional MIL-STD-461E

Accessories Biometric fingerprint reader; built-in stereo speakers (waterproof)

Price: From £2,665 inc VAT

Evaluation: Getac PS535E – Fully rugged PDA

Our impression

Getac says the target sectors for its PS535E rugged PDA are engineering and construction, surveying, public safety, field service and utilities – just the types of operation where mobile devices can suffer a lot of in-service abuse, and need all the protection they can get.

Well, Getac has certainly given its best shot with the PS535E. All its products are distinguished by ruggedness, and the PS535E is a prime example of this. It has none of the flimsiness of consumer-style PDAs, and in terms of ruggedness it more closely resembles small form-factor ruggedised handhelds such as Psion's Ikon and Motorola's MC70.

Few if any PDAs on the market can boast they have passed the US Military MIL-STD-810F drop test and have an IP54 rating against dust and water penetration. Here again, the PS535E scores.

The magnesium alloy casing includes a screen cover to protect the unit from knocks as standard, and all the i/o ports are sealed and covered to help the PS535E achieve its IP54 rating.

The PS535E PDA credentials are revealed in its form factor, connection options and applications. Size-wise, it is easy to carry one-handed, measuring 144mm by 82mm by 29mm and weighing just 300g. There's no keyboard; everything is conducted via the touchscreen, with screen navigation via a centrally-mounted toggle. Getac's sunlight-readable technology is an option for outdoors working.

It has Windows Mobile 5 operating system and a 400MHz processor, with 64Mb flash memory and 2GB storage memory (upgradeable to 6GB for memory-hungry applications.).

Integrated Bluetooth technology, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi networking and a GPS receiver are standard.

There are secure Digital i/o slots to add additional devices such as memory and RFID. The Li-ION battery has an eight-hour life.

Our verdict

This is a highly appealing device, combining toughness and usability with portability and a good feature set. Ticking so many boxes in a single device is an accomplishment for which Getac deserves credit.

Specifications

Getac PS535E

Processor Samsung S3C2440A 400MHz CPU

Memory 64MB SDRAM memory 2GB NAND flash

Operating system Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Premium edition

Display 3.5in QVGA TFT LCD transflective, 262,144-color touch screen with sunlight readable display

Keyboard Membrane backlight keyboard

Dimensions 144.25 x 82.25 x 29.3 mm (5.68 x 3.24 x 1.15 in.)

Weight 300g

Power Li-Ion smart battery; 2400mAh; over 8 hour battery life at room-temperature; optional vehicle mount and charger

Interfaces DC; USB 1.1; microphone; speaker; line out;

MMCX GPS antenna connector

Expansion slots SD Card reader

Communications Bluetooth class 2 V2.0+EDR; WLAN 802.11 b/g; GPS

Envmntal/ruggedness Fully rugged; vibration & drop-shock resistant: MIL-STD 810F tumbling 1000 cycle; IP54

Accessories AC adapter (10W, 100-240V, 50/60Hz); USB data cable; Two stylus pens; pack of 10 screen protectors; optional external GPS antenna; cordless 1D laser; cordless HF RFID reader; carry case

Applications Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile;

Internet Explorer Mobile; inbox, calendar, contacts, instant message, tasks, notes, spell checker

Microsoft Windows Media Player 10; Mobile Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5

Price £649 inc VAT