GoBook II scores wireless hat trick

The latest addition to Itronix Corp.'s line of ruggedized notebooks, the GoBook II, boasts two major new features that make it especially attractive for government buyers.

First, the removable hard drive enhances security by keeping sensitive data in the hands of trusted users, even if several people share the notebook.

Next, the GoBook II supports three types of wireless connectivity simultaneously: 802.11b, Bluetooth and wireless wide-area networking standards such as Cellular Digital Packet Data and General Packet Radio Service. According to Itronix, the notebook can seamlessly switch from one type of network to another without interruption in service. In fact, the process is transparent to the user.

In addition, Itronix's common radio model architecture allows users to upgrade to new wireless technologies as they become available.

When we set up the GoBook II in our 802.11b environment, it found our wireless network right away, and we were able to quickly connect to the Internet.

The GoBook II weighs 7.9 pounds and exceeds Military Specification 810F ruggedization standards. It is built to withstand hazards such as rain, snow, wind, dust, fire, shock, vibration and chemical exposure. Its die-cast magnesium case houses a 12.1-inch color touch-screen display suitable for outdoor viewing and a keyboard that glows in the dark.

Our unit came with an AT&T GPRS radio, 1.7 GHz Intel Corp. Mobile Pentium 4 processor, 512M of Double Data Rate DRAM, a 30G hard drive and a V.92 modem.

The swappable media bay came with a DVD-ROM drive, but it can also accept a CD-ROM, CD-RW, floppy drive or second battery. Ports include USB, PS/2, serial, VGA, external speaker, external microphone, one USB and Ethernet. All ports and drives are sealed with rubber plugs or covered by sturdy doors lined with foam.

The PC Card slot is one of the few we've seen that can accept a Type I card and the more common Type II and Type III cards. A Type I PC Card is typically used for various types of memory enhancements, including RAM, flash memory, one-time programmable memory and electronically erasable programmable memory.

The trade-off is that the slot can only accept one Type II PC Card at a time, unlike most notebooks, which can accept two Type II cards simultaneously.

The notebook does not have a parallel port, but you can purchase an optional adapter for a parallel port connector.

Our unit shipped with Microsoft Corp. Windows 2000 Professional. You can also order it with Windows XP. A limited three-year warranty is included.