Getac Technology is a Taiwan-based company that manufactures rugged notebook, tablet and handheld computers. The key traits for rugged computers are longevity, reliability, continuity and compatibility.
Getac was established in 1989 as a joint venture between Taiwanese computer electronics manufacturer MiTAC and GE Aerospace Group, and is a subsidiary of MiTAC-Synnex. Getac manufactures rugged and semi-rugged notebook, tablet and handheld computers for military and industrial markets. The computers are built to handle the wear and tear of those industries' applications. Along with their rugged exterior, Getac notebooks have been noted for their brightly lit screens and durable design. All Getac computers use the Windows operating system, except the Z710 tablet, which runs Android.
In 2009, after acquiring Waffer Technology, Getac became the world's third-largest aluminum-magnesium alloy producer, a critical material for strengthening the computer cases.
V-series (V100, V110 and V200) – A series of fully rugged military-grade notebooks that have a rotating hinge allowing them to be converted into tablet computers. The V110 is the lightest and thinnest of the V-series, and has an 11.6-inch display. The V100 has a 10.4-inch display and weighs slightly less than the V200, which has a 12.1-inch display. The V110 has the largest drive of the series, while the V100 and V200 are faster and have superior backlit screens. In 2009, Getac created a multi-touch screen that works with ordinary gloves, using a resistive technology, on its V100 notebook series.
B300 – An ultra-rugged notebook with a bright 13.3-inch LED screen, running Windows, released in October 2010. The screen is readable in extremely bright conditions because of its 1400 nit display. The computer also has a night vision mode, allowing the user to operate it while wearing night vision goggles. It is wind, dust and rain resistant.
X500 – Released in June 2011, the X500 is a 12.4-pound military-grade ultra-rugged notebook designed for the most extreme user conditions, military-certified for shock, water and fungus resistance, and ready to combat electromagnetic interference. It has a magnesium alloy case, and the 15.6-inch LCD display has touchscreen capabilities and allows for bright outdoor viewing. It is considered Getac's most powerful notebook. A briefcase-sized X500 Server, a larger rugged notebook featuring a mobile server, is also available.
S400 – A semi-rugged notebook, built out of plastic, designed for use in situations that require more toughness and durability than a consumer notebook can provide, while being thinner and weighing less than a fully rugged model. It has a 14-inch LCD display with sunlight readability, is less than 2 inches thick, and weighs under 7 pounds.
T800 – The T800, a fully rugged tablet running Windows 8, was launched in April 2014, aimed at the mobile field workers market. It has an 8.1-inch screen and weighs less than 2 pounds. It is sealed against dust and water, and has passed military-grade tests for shock, drops and vibration. It features Getac's proprietary Lumibond touchscreen with sunlight readability, and uses Getac's SnapBack expansion system, allowing users to add items such as an extra battery or a smart card reader.
F110 – A fully rugged tablet running Windows 8.1, with an 11.6-inch LumiBond anti-glare touchscreen. Less than an inch thick and weighing 3.2 pounds, it also has a dual-battery system, to keep the tablet running longer.
Z710 – A rugged tablet running the Android operating system, with a soft plastic outer shell, and 7-inch LCD touchscreen. It weighs 1.7 pounds, is waterproof, and can operate in subzero temperatures. It comes with custom apps, and an optional bar-code scanner is available.
Handheld devices
PS336 – A rugged expandable handheld computer that has a 3.5-inch display and has been called "a sort of combination hardcore GPS unit and smartphone." It runs Windows Mobile software, and features an altimeter, compass and accelerometer, for surveying and mapping applications.
Ratings and reviews
The X500 won a Taiwan Excellence Awards Gold award in 2012. Wired gave it a 7 out of 10, saying that, contrary to underperforming rugged notebooks, the X500 is "amazingly tough" with "plenty of power under the hood," and the "performance is off-the-charts stellar." PC Magazine rated both the F110 and the V200 three-and-a-half stars out of five. The V110 was rated a 9 out of 10 by Maxim. TechRadar rated the V200 four out of five stars, and PC Magazine called it "practically indestructible" and said it "can be sent to hell and back with all your data intact." Gizmodo called the B300 "one hell of a rugged laptop," and GCN stated that it is in "the upper echelon of laptop performance across the board, rugged or not" and concluded it is "a fast, reasonably portable and highly rugged laptop." Inc. magazine rated the Z710 one of the four most durable tablets available, and the best tablet for extreme conditions.
