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GETAC B300
Getac upgrades its B300 ultra-rugged notebook to be fastest, most secure, and toughest in its class for mission-critical applications
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)
On June 12, 2018, Getac announced the 7th generation of its popular, time-tested B300 rugged notebook computer. This time, Getac skipped from 6th generation to 8th generation Intel Core processors and also updated related features and technologies in the process.
The newly enhanced B300 gets Intel 8th generation ("Coffee Lake") i5 and i7 processors, boosting graphics performance and efficiency over the previous generation of the platform. Additional upgrades and improvements in wireless communication and components keep Getac's ultra-rugged notebook at the technological forefront and well equipped to serve even under the most extreme working conditions.
Sporting its trademark industrial design and fine-tuned ergonomics, the 13.3-inch B300 remains an impressive overall performer that now combines state-of-the-art processing power with multi-level security and exceptionally long battery life (up to 30 hours with two batteries).
The table below shows how consistently Getac has been updating the B300 since its initial introduction. The design stays the same to guarantee complete compatibility with all peripherals and accessories, but the technology is continually updated. Makes sense.
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Getac B300 Generations
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Generation
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1st
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2nd
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3rd
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4th
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5th
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6th
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7th
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Year
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2008
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2010
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2011
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2012
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2013
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2016
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2018
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Top CPU
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Core 2 Duo
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Core i7 1st gen
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Core i7 2nd gen
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Core i7 3rd gen
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Core i7 4th gen
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Core i7 6th gen
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Core i7 8th gen
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CPU GHz
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1.6
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2.0/2.8
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2.3/3.2
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2.9/3.6
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2.9/3.6
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2.6/3.4
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1.9/4.2
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CPU TDP
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17w
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25w
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25w
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35w
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37w
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15w
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15w
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Graphics
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GM965
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GMA HD
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HD3000
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HD4000
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HD4600
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HD520
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UHD620
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RAM
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0.5/4GB DDR2
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2/8GB DDR3
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2/8GB DDR3
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2/8GB DDR3
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2/8GB DDR3
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4/16GB DDR4
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8/32GB DDR4
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Std. HD
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80GB
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250GB
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250GB
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500GB
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500GB
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500GB
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500GB
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Opt. SSD
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NA
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80/ 160GB
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80/ 160GB
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128/ 256GB
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128/ 256GB
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128/ 512GB
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128GB/ 1TB
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LCD nits
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500/1200
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700/1400
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700/1400
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700/1400
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700/1400
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700/1400
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700/1400
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Battery life
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up to 12 hrs
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up to 11 hrs
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up to 13 hrs
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up to 15 hrs
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up to 15 hrs
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up to 15/30 hrs
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up to 15/30 hrs
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Op. temp
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32 to 131F
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-4 to 140F
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-4 to 140F
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-20 to 140F
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-20 to 140F
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-20 to 140F
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-20 to 140F
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State-of-the-art performance
Not so long ago, due to the longer life cycles in vertical markets it was rare to find up-to-date technology inside of semi-rugged and rugged computers. That was not the end of the world, but certainly not what increasingly well-informed customers wanted for their increasingly complex and power-hungry applications.
Well, the updated Getac B300 is state-of-the-art with technology based on 8th generation Intel Core processors announced late 2017. The big advantage here is that all four available 8th-gen processors are quad-core designs with eight threads. That's twice the cores and threads of the 6th generation processors available in the last generation Getac B300. Which means that whatever software takes advantage of multi-core processing will be significantly faster.
So while being "current" in the use of Intel processors is fleeting, for now the new B300 G7 is absolutely state-of-the-art under the hood, giving users the latest and greatest that's available. Here's what customers can choose from (for full spec table, see here):
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Getac B300 G7: Available Processor Options
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Available B300 G7 CPUs
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Intel Core i7
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Intel Core i7
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Intel Core i5
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Intel Core i5
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Model
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8650U
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8550U
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8350U
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8250U
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Cores/Threads
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4/8
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4/8
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4/8
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4/8
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Base Clock Speed
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1.90 GHz
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1.80 GHz
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1.70 GHz
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1.60 GHz
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Turbo Speed
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4.20 GHz
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4.00 GHz
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3.60 GHz
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3.40 GHz
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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
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15 watts
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15 watts
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15 watts
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15 watts
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Smart Cache
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8MB
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8MB
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6MB
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6MB
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Integrated graphics
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UHD Graphics 620
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UHD Graphics 620
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UHD Graphics 620
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UHD Graphics 620
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Graphics base speed
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300 MHz
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300 MHz
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300 MHz
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300 MHz
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Graphics max speed
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1.15 GHz
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1.15 GHz
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1.10 GHz
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1.10 GHz
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Intel Stable Image Platform Program
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Intel TSX-NI
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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No
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Intel Trusted Execution
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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No
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Intel vPro
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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No
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Note that despite their differences, all available processors have the same 15 watt thermal design power. The B300, which does not need a fan, is built to handle the maximum heat any of those processors will generate.
Also note that the Windows 7 "downgrade" is gone, and with it a 6th gen Core processor option (6th gen "Skylake" was the last Intel Core generation to officially support Windows 7).
In this latest generation of the Getac B300, the low end processors are the Core i5-8250U and Core i5-8350U, which differ a bit in speed and certain baked-in Intel technologies that may be irrelevant to most customers, but vitally important to some.
On the high end, the top-of-the-line is the Core i7-8650U, which is the fastest of the lot, with the also available Core i7-8550U just a bit slower, but missing some possibly needed Intel technologies. To view the full spec table for these five CPUs, see here.
Note that the difference between base clock speed and maximum turbo speed is very large in all four 8th generation chips, much larger than in earlier generation CPUs. That's likely because Intel didn't want the quad-core processors to draw more power than earlier generation dual-core equivalents. However, turbo boost is higher than in the 6th and 7th gen, and so a B300 with these new processors will be able to deliver exceptional peak performance.
For a brief explanation of those Intel technologies that some of the chips available for the B300 G7 have or don't have:
- The extra security and manageability capabilities of vPro, especially, are required in many enterprise deployments (see Wiki Intel vPro).
- TSX-NI Transactional Synchronization Extensions New Instructions) helps make parallel operations more efficient via improved control of locks in software (see Wiki TSX),
- SIPP (Stable Image Platform Program) allows deployment of standardized, stable image PC platforms for at least 15 months (see Intel SIPP),
- and Trusted Execution technology provides security capabilities such as measured launch and protected execution, and may thus also be an enterprise requirement (see Wiki Trusted Execution Technology).
Note that the 8th generation chips have UHD 620 graphics instead of the HD 520 in the 6th generation. No fundamental difference there; it mostly means Intel considers the graphics suitable for 4k video playback.
Security: ever more important
Security is becoming ever more important, and Getac meets the security challenge in this latest version of the B300 with a TPM 2.0 module, strong multifactor authentication, and full support for Windows 10 security features to help protect against known and emerging threats.
BitLocker hard drive encryption protects data at rest, in use and in transit. Microsoft Passport and Credential Guard provide additional protection. Credential Guard uses virtualization-based security to isolate certain data so that only privileged system software can access them. In the event that the system is ever stolen, optional Absolute DDS allows it to be disabled remotely. There's also a slot for the simple but effective Kensington lock, and customers can specify either a fingerprint reader or Smart Card reader.
Preserving investments
Why does the latest Getac B300 still look the same? Because while consumer market notebooks constantly change in design, style and shape, industrial and vertical markets with substantial investments in peripherals and infrastructure value continuity. That's why Getac hasn't been changing the basic layout and form factor of its flagship ultra-rugged notebook.
Weighing in at under eight pounds in basic configuration, the magnesium alloy-bodied B300 retains its standard sunlight-viewable 13.3-inch XGA 4:3 aspect ratio display that has a strong 700 nit backlight and "blackout mode" that instantly turns off all tell-tale lights in potentially dangerous situations. An optional QuadraClear display delivers a super-bright 1400 nits and has an optional night-vision mode with software/sensor driven brightness adjustment in order to meet MIL-STD-3009.
Excellent flexibility and configurability
Despite it very rugged construction, the B300 offers flexibility and configurability thanks to a media bay that can accommodate either an optical drive, a second hard disk, or an additional battery for extended operation, or probably even customized I/O ports. For expansion there is a PC Card Type II slots and a 34/54mm Express Card (the latter can be exchanged for an optional Smart Card slot).
One tough notebook
On the ruggedness side, the 7th gen machine can operate between -20° and 140° Fahrenheit (-29° to 60°C). Sealing is at the IP65 standards, and the machine fills MIL-STD-810G testing requirements for humidity, altitude, shock, drop, vibration and others. A variety of other regulations, including compliance with MIL-STD-461F (electromagnetic interference), salt fog, night vision, hazloc deployment can be optionally met.
Keeping performance state-of-the-art
The B300 — Getac's full-size, fully-rugged notebook computer — has always been a unique machine that offered a combination of balanced and optimized features that are usually not available in one unit. Intel 8th generation Core processors now provide performance, superior battery life, and powerful integrated graphics in a thoroughly field-proven design with exceptional ruggedness, security and outdoor viewability.
From a competitive standpoint, with this latest generation B300, Getac is now well ahead of Panasonic's Toughbook 31 in terms of processor and ancillary technology. Panasonic, of course, also offers the new Toughbook 33, but that is a 2-in-1 design that may have less appeal to those who want a traditional laptop, and even the Toughbook 33 is only at the last and not the current Intel processor generation.
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Specifications Getac B300 G7
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Status
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Added 06/2018
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Form-factor
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Ultra-rugged notebook
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OS
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Windows 10 Professional
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Processor
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Intel Core i7-8650U
Intel Core i7-8550U
Intel Core i5-8350U
Intel Core i5-8250U
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CPU Speed
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i7-8650U: 1.9/4.2GHz
i7-8550U: 1.8/4.0GHz
i5-8350U: 1.7/3.6GHz
i5-8250U: 1.6/3.4GHz
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Graphics
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Intel HD Graphics 620
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Standard/Max RAM
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8GB DDR4, expandable to 16GB
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Disk/drive
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Shock-protected removable SATA 500GB; optional SATA 1GB HDD, SATA SSDup to 1TB
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Optical drive
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Media Bay can accommodate DVD Super-Multi drive, 2nd HD or SSD, 2nd battery
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Card slots
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1 x PC Card Type II, 1 x Express Card/54mm (or Smart Card reader), 1 x SD Card
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Display type
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Transmissive TFT, 700 nits (optional: 1400 nits QuadraClear sunlight-readable display with touch screen); optional MIL-STD 3009 Night Vision with QuadraClear screen
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Display size/res
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13.3-inch/1024 x 768 pixel XGA
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Digitizer/pens
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Optional resistive touch
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Keyboard/scale
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Waterproof backlit mechanical membrane keyboard; optional waterproof backlit rubber keyboard
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Sealing
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IP65
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Drop
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MIL-STD-810G
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Temperature
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-20° to 140° F (-29° to 60° C)
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EMI
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MIL-STD-461F
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Salt fog
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Optional salt fog resistance
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Housing
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Magnesium alloy, sealed ports
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Size (WxHxD)
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11.9 x 10.35 x 2.36 inches (304 x 263 x 60 mm)
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Weight
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Starting at 7.7 lbs. (3.5 kg.)
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Power
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10.8V, 8,700mAh Li-Ion ("up to 15 hours"), optional 10.8V, 8,700mAh 2nd media bay battery ("up to 30 hrs.")
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Security
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Intel vPro (per CPU option), TPM 2.0, cable lock slot, NIST BIOS compliant; optional fingerprint reader OR smartcard reader OR contactless smart card reader
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Interface
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3 x USB 3.0, 1 x gigabit RJ45 LAN, 2 x Serial RS232, dock, audio in/out, 1 x VGA, 1 x HDMI; opt. RF antenna pass-through, USB 3.1 Type C
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Communications
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Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2; optional dedicated GPS, optional 4G LTE multi-carrier mobile broadband (XLTE ready)
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List price
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Inquire
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Contact
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us.getac.com
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Web page
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Getac B300 G7 page
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Brochure
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 Getac B300 G7
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Warranty
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5-year bumper-to-bumper warranty standard
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Getac US Sales Contact:
Getac US Office
Getac Inc.
Tel: +1-949-681-2900
Email: GetacSales_US@getac.com
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