CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 10/04/2006
- Updated on: 07/05/2009
Compared to recent trends in laptop design, where screens and keyboards are getting bigger and chassis are getting smaller, the Hummer GoBook VR-1 has a more retro look, with a large border around the screen and a thick case. The VR-1 measures 11.5 inches wide by 10 inches deep (12.5 inches with the flip-out handle extended), and it's 2.25 inches thick at its thickest part. It's not as bulky or heavy as your average desktop-replacement system, but it's definitely not for everyday, public-transportation commutes. With the AC adapter, it weighs 7.4 pounds; without it, you're down to 6.6 pounds.
A large Hummer logo is stamped into the plastic-and-magnesium-alloy cover, and a flip-out carrying handle is built in to the hinge. Usually we're wary of handles, but this one is hefty and securely fastened to the chassis with metal screws. The system is what is called a "semi-rugged computer," which means it has been tested with a temperature range of -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and has survived a 30-inch drop test. Perhaps most importantly, the keyboard and the touch pad are designed to withstand spills of up to 100cc of liquid.
We tested the water-resistant nature of the Hummer by subjecting it to a simple spill test. Pouring a few ounces of water on the keyboard, then draining it off, we found that the keyboard and the touch pad continued to function normally. We repeated the test four times, and we're satisfied that the system can shrug off minor spills.
Despite the solid construction, the Hummer GoBook VR-1 has a few weak spots, notably the off-the-shelf DVD/CD-R/W combo drive, which sits exposed on the right side of the system and looks as fragile as any tray-loading laptop optical drive. Part of the lid is also plastic, which seems like a bad idea for something that is marketed as battle-ready.
Ports are sparse on the system, with two USB 2.0 ports, telephone and Ethernet jacks, a VGA output and headphone and mic jacks. Except for the audio jacks and PC Card and ExpressCard slots, all of the jacks are located on the back of the system, and each connection has a rubber cover to protect it from the elements (in case you're surfing the Web while off-roading through the mud in your Hummer H2). Wireless connectivity is of the typical 802.11a/b/g variety, and our review unit had both Bluetooth and an optional GPS receiver, which requires a bulbous antenna to be built in to the lid, resulting in a couple of unsightly bumps on the cover. The keyboard and the touch pad are standard issue, but we liked the tiny flip-open light right above the screen, letting you see the keyboard in low-light situations.
The 12.1-inch display will be a bit of a throwback for those used to modern high-resolution wide-screen laptops. The aspect ratio is a standard 4:3, increasingly rare in laptops, and the resolution is limited to 1,024x768. The screen was not as bright as other recent systems' we've looked at, but like a tablet, it is a touch screen. With some basic calibration, the screen was responsive, but it worked much better with a capped pen or a stylus (not included) than with a finger.
The hardware powering the Hummer GoBook VR-1 isn't exactly cutting-edge, but rugged device makers are looking for reliability and stability, not the newest parts. Still, the 1.86GHz Pentium M CPU is a little too out of date for our tastes, although it will suffice for standard productivity use. With only 512MB of RAM and a 50GB hard drive, it's not likely to be your main PC, but in CNET Labs' Multitasking test, the Hummer performed on a par with other low-end systems, finishing slightly slower than the Fujitsu LifeBook Q2010, which has an Intel Core Solo CPU, and slightly faster than the Celeron M-powered Compaq Presario V5000T. Integrated Intel 915 graphics mean gaming is out of the picture, but that's not surprising for an industrial system such as this.
With a battery life of 3 hours, 37 minutes, the Hummer GoBook VR-1 is not going to last through your entire camping trip or wilderness adventure, but it's adequate for a day on the construction site or wherever else a tougher-than-normal laptop is required. The standard battery is a six-cell; an extended nine-cell model is also available.
Itronix covers the system with a one-year mail-in warranty. Tech support is reachable via e-mail or a toll-free number, between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday. Adding an extra two years to the warranty costs $397, which isn't much if you're buying a $4,500 laptop, and also includes upgraded service, such as expedited 72-hour repairs and free back-and-forth shipping. Driver downloads are available online, but the troubleshooting section of the Web site is restricted to listing the tech-support phone number and the e-mail address.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
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Find out more about how we test Windows laptops.
System configurations:
Averatec 3360
Windows XP Home SP2; 1.6GHz Intel Pentium M; 512MB DDR SDRAM; 64MB Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME; 80GB Western Digital 5,400rpm
Fujitsu LifeBook Q2010
Windows XP Professional SP2; 1.2GHz Intel Core Solo UI 400; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 128MB Mobile Intel 945GM; 80GB Toshiba 4,200rpm
Gateway E-100M
Windows XP Professional SP2; 1.2GHz Intel Core Duo Ultra Low Voltage U2500; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 128MB Intel 945G; 80GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
Compaq Presario V5000T
Windows XP Home SP2; 1.46GHz Celeron M410; 512MB DDR2 SDRAM 666MHz; 128MB Mobile Intel Express 945GM; 40GB Seagate 5,400rpm
Itronix Hummer GoBook VR-1
Windows XP Professional SP2; 2.0GHz Intel Pentium M 760; 512MB DDR SDRAM 533MHz; 128MB Intel 915GMS/910GML Express; 50GB Hitachi 4,200rpm
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