A tough tool for tough jobs
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

The NotePAC came to Asonix when the company took over the former Dolch product line from Kontron in 2007. Prior to that it was the Dolch NotePAC. It is an all-metal, ultra-rugged notebook designed and manufactured by GETAC (where it is the GETAC A790) for use in extreme environments. IP54 sealing means it can operate almost anywhere. The NotePAC offers superb connectivity that can be enhanced with an optional ISA/PCI expansion unit that fits under the device and provides two 3/4 ISA or PCI slots. The NotePAC offers several display options: there are 12.1-inch LCDs with or without touch screen, a larger 14.1-inch display, and also sunlight-readable options. Two bays offer additional flexibility as they can accommodate anything from floppy drives to optical drives, additional hard drives, additional batteries or a variety of wireless options. Onboard connectivity is superb and offers legacy support via serial and parallel interfaces.

Even more so than most ruggedized notebooks, the NotePAC has a boxy, utilitarian design that leaves no doubt about its intended purpose. The device also is almost three inches thick in order to accommodate all the possible internal expansion, and it weighs 12 pounds. This is a tool for tough jobs.

Note 08/31/2007: The Dolch, then Kontron rugged mobile computer products have a new owner in Azonix Corporation of Billerica, MA, a Division of Crane Corporation.