|
|
General Dynamics Itronix GD6000
Major performance boost for 3rd gen vehicle-rugged notebook with all-light viewable display
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, photography by Carol Cotton -- view PDF version)
The General Dynamics Itronix GD6000 is an advanced vehicle-rugged notebook computer with excellent performance and a number of features the competition will find hard to match. Based on the tried-and-true VR-2 platform, it is a third-generation product that builds on the inherent quality and reliability of its predecessor, but offers state-of-the-art performance with a 2.56GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor.  The machine is primarily intended for vehicle use, but has application in a wide variety of industries that require strong processing and wireless performance in a machine that is rugged enough for most jobs.
The "GoBook" name is gone, passing up on brand equity earned over years with generations of rugged GoBook computers. What hasn't changed is the 13.3-inch touchscreen display that offers excellent outdoor viewability thanks to the patent-pending DynaVue technology. The difference DynaVue makes compared to a standard transmissive display, or even one with anti-reflection coating, is amazing and greatly adds to the utility of this machine.
Wireless performance is strong due to an integrated quadra-helix antenna system for fast and accurate fixes, and specially designed wireless modules. There is good onboard connectivity, as well as expansion potential via externally accessible card slots and a media bay.
Existing customers will appreciate the new model's full compatibility with all prior VR-Series docks and peripherals, and the class-leading performance of the GD6000 is a strong upgrade and expansion incentive. New customers will find in the GD6000 a machine that provides consumer notebook performance and features, but industrial grade toughness and reliability for vehicle operation.
The GD6000 was released in January, 2009. It is a technology update to the company's GoBook VR-2, and also the first General Dynamics Itronix machine to drop the venerable GoBook name. Unchanged is the strong resolve to expand the market by offering a state-of-the-art machine that is compact enough for the mobile workforce as well as tough and durable enough to be deployed in vehicles. This requires careful balancing of size, weight, performance, cost and ruggedness. Target customer profiles dictated design and features, and this latest update keeps the computer ahead of the curve.
The primary target markets of the GD6000 are vehicle applications in field service, military, other government areas, public safety, and utilities. With its large and bright display, full complement of features, and full notebook power, the machine can handle all sorts of maintenance, logistics, GIS, and general operational applications.
GD6000: updated technology, more speed
Designed for versatility and class-leading performance, the "vehicle rugged" GD6000 is powered by a 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 processor with a 1066MHz Front Side Bus and 6MB of L2 cache. Many experts feel that L2 cache is the most important performance factor on an x86-based Intel processor, and this processor's 6MB L2 cache is state-of-the-art. The chip is manufactured using Intel's 45nm hafnium-based technology that allows for smaller processors, yet more power without additional heat. It also supports Intel's Trusted Execution Technology, a new Intel initiative aimed at preventing software-based sensitive information theft. Standard memory is 1GB of fast DDR3 SDRAM, upgradeable to 4GB. The standard hard disk is a 120GB unit that operates at 5,400 rpm and can be ordered with an optional heater for operation in very low temperatures (replaced, as of February 2010, with a 160GB with heater). The multimedia pocket comes with a DVD-RW/CD-RW drive that fills most users' needs.
Speed and performance are moving targets for computers. Processors get faster, but operating systems, applications and websites also grow larger and more complex, soaking up the new power. General Dynamics Itronix has always prided itself in providing superior performance, in the process winning several Editor's Choice awards in Pen Computing Magazine's High Performance Rugged Notebook category. The GD6000 carries on that tradition with a processor that is faster than those used by most of the competition.
In order to objectively measure the GD6000's performance we installed and ran Passmark Software's PerformanceTest 6.1. This benchmark suite runs about 30 tests covering CPU, 2D graphics, 3D graphics, memory, and disk and then computes scores for each category and an overall PassMark score. The rsults are in the table below. For comparison we added the benchmark numbers of a first generation version of the GD-Itronix semi-rugged notebook series, and two competing notebooks using Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 and T7500 processors. When perusing the results, note that the processors used in these machines were designed for high performance notebook computers. Their 27 to 35 watt TDP
|
