Next Computing has announced another ultra-rugged notebook computer called the Vigor Evo HD. The new offering is a shock-resistant workstation that sports an integrated 17-inch LCD display. Also known as a "flextop", the Vigor Evo HD is a high-performance mobile system, powered by Next Computing's patented FleXtreme architecture.

FleXtreme supports open standards components, as well as COTS software and hardware, with multi-core processors, high-capacity storage, support for multiple operating systems, and multiple I/O functionality including PCI Express x16 slots.

The new Vigor Evo HD is specially designed to provide extensive computing power in rugged environments, such as military field operations or oil and gas mining and research sites.

"With the Vigor Evo, we have combined our experience in the deployable ruggedized market with the innovative architecture of the first line of flextop portable computers. The Vigor Evo brings to the market a number of firsts," said Bob Labadini, President and CTO of NextComputing.

"For example, it is the first rugged portable to incorporate up to 8 processing cores from Intel or AMD, it incorporates the highest number of PCIe or PCI-X 64-bit slots, up to four, and the entire system is encased in an unsurpassed floating chassis which provides maximum shock and vibration absorption with no metal to metal contact," he continued.

The device comes in a portable form factor, the size of a briefcase. It weighs only 6.12 kilograms, which makes the Vigor Evo HD the smallest and lightest high-performance rugged notebook to date. Next Computing's latest rugged offering comes with a mounting kit that allows users to fastern the device on mobile environments such as Humvee Jeeps and helicopters.

Powered by up to two dual-core AMD Opteron or Intel Xeon processors, the notebook also features up to four PCIe or PCI-X 64-bit slots, a dual-layer DVD writer, up to 3TB of storage space on a conventional hard-disk drive.