14 DAY TRIAL // Together with the rugged GD Itronix Windows 7 tablet announced a bit earlier, AVADirect has also started to retail rugged notebooks manufactured by the same company.
The laptops in question are built on the GD Itronix GD8200 platform and are powered by Intel's second generation Core processors, also known under the code name of Sandy Bridge.
The CPU used for powering this rugged machine is an Intel Core i7-2655LE, which was developed especially for being used in embedded systems and it includes four processing cores with HyperThreading support.
These have a base clock of 2.2GHz (2.9GHZ maximum Turbo Boost speed), and the chip also packs an integrated HD 3000 graphics core that is used to drive the 13.3-inch LED-backlit touchscreen installed in the GD8200.
Unlike most other displays that are installed in laptops nowadays, the GD8200's screen has a 4:3 aspect ratio and its native resolution is set at 1024x768.
Customers can pair the fast Intel Core i7 processor with up to 8GB of DDR3 system memory and various storage options, including solid state drives, HDDs and hybrid drives.
The rest of the features list includes Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth connectivity as well as a wide list of optionals, including a fingerprint reader, GPS module, and mobile boardband connectivity, to name just a few.
In the standard configuration, the GD8200 notebook comes equipped with a 7200mAh battery pack that can deliver up to 8 hours of autonomy, but users have the option of extending this value by installing a secondary battery.
This goes into a swappable media bay, that can also hold a DVD burner, and increases the battery life to an estimated 12 hours.
Pricing for the GD Itronix GD8200 rugged notebook starts at $4154.08 and it can be customized on the AVADirect website.