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The world's most rugged Android tablet? Getac says so

Getac's "extreme" Z710 tablet: withstands drops from up to six feet, dust- and liquid-resistant, withstands freezing temperatures, runs Google Android. Yee-haw.
Written by Andrew Nusca, Contributor
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It's rugged computer day today on ZDNet. (Why? Because Panasonic's got a new one out, too.)

Just how rugged, you ask? MIL-STD 810G rugged. IP65 rugged. Warzone, rainforest and back-of-the-UPS-truck rugged.

In other words, rugged. (Not like that silly $40 smartphone case you purchased that makes your sleek phone look like a medieval torture device.)

Getac this morning unveiled what it calls "the world's most rugged Android tablet," which is the kind of superlative that makes me think of one of those little green Android guys clad in a full suit of Arthurian armor. (Sir Gawain and the Green Droid, anyone?)

With a 7-inch Gorilla Glass capacitive (yet industrial glove-friendly!) touchscreen display, SiRFstar GPS sensor and less-than-two-pound weight, it's a solid bet. Add the shock, dust, and moisture resistance, and it's the kind of computer that won't make you freak out if you get caught the torrential downpour that just began over ZDNet's New York headquarters a minute ago.

More specifications for those interested:

  • 8.5 by 5.6 inches, and "just over" one inch thick
  • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, and that RF pass-through SiRFstar GPS
  • HD webcam and a 5-megapixel still camera
  • Configurations for barcode scanning and RFID
  • Certified to operate in extreme temperatures ranging from -4 degrees Fahrenheit to 122 degrees Fahrenheit

Who would use such a thing? ZDNet readers unshackled by cubicle chains, of course: folks in the public utilities, logistics and automotive industries.

The Getac Z710 starts at $1,499; the 3G-equipped version starts at $1,799. It's available beginning this October.

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