The General Dynamics Itronix GD8000 is a small laptop that deserves its fully rugged classification, having withstood a brutal regimen of tests designed to simulate exposure to the elements. The GD8000 is targeted at the military and markets such as the military, EMS, law enforcement, construction, oil and mineral exploration, and transportation.

This 13.3-inch laptop meets the U.S. military's MIL-STE 810F ruggedness standard, surviving multiple 42-inch drops (26 in all for a single unit!); a simulated rainstorm (30 gallons of water blown at 40mph over 4 hours while the laptop was in operation); a shivering-cold (-22 degrees F) cold boot as well as a boot in scorching temperatures; plus dust and vibration testing.

The GD8000's frame is made of magnesium and polycarbonate. Its 7.9-pound weight may seem at a glance excessive for its size, but it's actually at least half a pound lighter than other 13-inch fully rugged laptops.

The 13.3-inch touch screen is designed for outdoor viewing, even in direct sunlight. (If you expect to use it in much lower light, you should add the optional backlit keyboard.) The 120-GB hard drive is shock mounted. For connectivity, it has 802.11 a/g/n WiFi, an integrated Gobi 2000 WWAN, and Bluetooth. General Dynamics claims a 10-hour battery life for the GD8000.

The notebook houses a 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SL9400, up to 4 Gbytes of DDR-3 memory and Intel GMA 4500MHD intgrated graphics. Additional features include smartcard and Super Password security, plus a Trusted Platform Module and optional embedded Computrace software.

The GD8000 is available immediately; pricing starts at $3,800. If you or your workers are exposed to extreme conditions, and you're looking for a laptop that will withstand anything that nature or rough travel can throw at it, the GD8000 is worth considering.