Getac-Toughbook knockoff?

[gear junkie]

Are they any good? We've been buying them rather than the toughbook but many times the government just goes with the lowest bidder.
http://www.getac.com/getac/English/products/b300.aspx

[Bob D.]

Are they any good? We've been buying them rather than the toughbook but many times the government just goes with the lowest bidder.
http://www.getac.com/getac/English/products/b300.aspx

Federal Acquisition Rules require them to go with the lowest qualified bidder.

How many USB ports? Didn't see anything about USB listed.
Win XP Pro = Good (better choice than Vista anyway)
80GB HD - Too small
512MB RAM - Not enough, need min 2GB for XP Pro
Built-in BlueTooth - Good
Touch screen is handy. I use many laptops with touchscreens in the field and love them, no mouse to drag along as I hate glide pads (PITA).

[rbuser]

I don't know if I'd call the Getac a Toughbook knockoff, they made rugged notebooks before Panasonic but were in the military space. They started through a joint venture of GE Aerospace and MiTAC. MiTAC is one of the largest laptop manufacturers, but usually the laptops carry someone else's brand. A major feature of the Getac is their display technology. Panasonic offers a screen with 1000 NITs output but only anti-reflective coatings on the outer most glass. GD Itronix offers one with only 500 NITs output but with a circular polarization method. Both product about the same effective contrast rate in bright outdoor sunlight. Getac offers an LED display with 1200 NITs output, circular polarization and anti-reflective coatings all in the same computer. The results is over 6x the effective contrast ratio (readability) in bright sunlight. From what I've seen, the B300 seems to have a very high satisfaction rate.

[gear junkie]

I don't know if I'd call the Getac a Toughbook knockoff, they made rugged notebooks before Panasonic but were in the military space. They started through a joint venture of GE Aerospace and MiTAC. MiTAC is one of the largest laptop manufacturers, but usually the laptops carry someone else's brand. A major feature of the Getac is their display technology. Panasonic offers a screen with 1000 NITs output but only anti-reflective coatings on the outer most glass. GD Itronix offers one with only 500 NITs output but with a circular polarization method. Both product about the same effective contrast rate in bright outdoor sunlight. Getac offers an LED display with 1200 NITs output, circular polarization and anti-reflective coatings all in the same computer. The results is over 6x the effective contrast ratio (readability) in bright sunlight. From what I've seen, the B300 seems to have a very high satisfaction rate.So in non-computer terms; what does this mean and how is the end user benefitted?

[Bob D.]

So in non-computer terms; what does this mean and how is the end user benefitted?

Simply put, more bang for your buck.

Upgrade NOW before its too late. :D