Notebook takes licking, but keeps on ticking.

• Author: Williams, Robert H.
• Position: TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS

* General Dynamics of Spokane Valley, Wash., is offering the Itronix GD8000 notebook that boasts 10-hour battery power. After four hours of rain and 26 free fall drops from 42 inches on a hard surface, it still works.

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It features a 13.3-inch daylight viewable DynaVue touchscreen and a full size keyboard. The GD8000 was specifically designed for soldiers on the go, field service workers and first responders who demand high performance computing in extreme conditions.

The secret of the notebook's resiliency is a magnesium chassis and impact absorbing...