Taking a closer look at the V100: exemplary design

Good industrial design, however, goes beyond good looks. It means attention to detail, ergonomics, ease of use, and the application of common sense. Looking at some of the details of the V100 shows that its designers spent time thinking things through. Some examples:

Even though this is a very compact notebook, the V100 has a full-size, 100%-scale QWERTY keyboard layout. I cannot overstate the importance of that. We all grow up with keyboards, and whether we touch-type or just hunt-and-peck, we're used to the exact size of a standard keyboard. Throw that off by even a small fraction and things don't feel write and typing becomes frustrating. Over the years we've had all too many compact notebooks in our lab that all felt like toys because their designers inexplicably compressed the QWERTY part of the keyboard even though there might have been enough space. Go figure.

GETAC did not make that mistake. The V100's keyboard is exemplary. It's standard size, has large white letters on black, and there is excellent tactile feedback. All keys are clearly marked without being cluttered. Functions assigned to keys are labeled in blue. A good keyboard can make the difference between a useful computer and one that is a pain, and GETAC certainly aced it.

That said, the above applies to the standard keyboard our tester came with. Customers with special environmental needs can order a waterproof membrane keyboard, or one with a backlight for use at night.

They used an intricate tension-loaded latch that, once secured, will absolutely keep the computer from opening on its own. The latch works the same way whether the LCD is facing up or down. Securing the latch requires a conscious effort on behalf of the user; you don't just close the lid. That's good because sometimes you may not want the lid to be secured, like when you need to open and close it frequently or when you wear gloves that would make it difficult to operate a small latch or release. It is an interesting solution that makes sense.

Another convincing design detail is the way the V100's ports and connectors are covered and protected. Many rugged devices use a single door to cover a whole bank of connectors. That makes little sense as you often need just one, so why expose the rest? The V100 has separate rubber/plastic covers for almost every port. An ear on top serves to open a cover. To close one you push it in and friction keeps it in place. Each is clearly marked with a large white icon. Should one break or rip off, it is easily replaced. Just undo two Philips screws to take the old one off and replace it.

Next on the list of remarkably well-designed details is the rotating display hinge. Quite obviously it needs to be tough and sturdy, and it is. But it also needs to solve a vexing characteristic of this sort of hinge: if you use a pen or stylus to navigate or tap the display while the computer is used as a notebook, the display must not flex back or else using the pen becomes an exercise in frustration. Almost all notebook convertibles suffer from that syndrome. The V100 does not. Somehow the GETAC designers found a way to make the hinge stiff enough to preclude virtually all flex.

Yet another good design solution is the stylus that comes with the touch screen version of the V100. It telescopes from 2-1/2 to 5 inches, can be tethered to the computer so you don't lose it, and it neatly fits into its own garage below the LCD. That way you can see it and, if it isn't tethered, the likelihood of losing it is much lower.

Ports, buttons, and lights

Above you see the front of the V100. You can see the above-described latch, or clasp, and how it very securely holds the display case in place. The little circle top center is the V100's digital camera. It is a 1.3 megapixel CMOS imager that rotates 225 degrees so it can be used for video conferencing, and taking pictures both in notebook and in tablet mode. The power button is on the right side of the system unit. The left side has a series of push button controls. There is a hardware LCD brightness up/down rocker as well as three buttons you commonly find on Tablet PCs: screen rotation, onscreen keyboard, and the "security button" that does a alt-ctrl-del. On the left and right bottom corners are handstrap rings. The strap itself has karabiner clasps for quick release.

Along the left front of the V100 is a row of device indicator lights. They show AC power, battery charge, hard disk access, scroll lock, num lock and caps lock.

The backside (above) has, from left to right, separate audio output and microphone connectors, a Kensington lock, and standard VGA and serial connectors. The VGA port can optionally be replaced by a second RS232 connector.

Communications

Ruggedness

IP ratings refer to Ingress Protection standards for electrical enclosures, with the first number describing the protection level against solids and the second protection against liquids. The V100's IP54 rating means the computer is almost totally protected against dust intrusion, and it is also protected against water spray from all directions.

In terms of temperature resistance, a standard V100 can operate between temperatures of 32 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit. A low temperature option allows operation in as low as 4 degrees Fahrenheit. The computer also passed non-condensing humidity testing up to 95% and can operate in altitudes up to 15,000 feet (and obviously in aircraft with pressurized cabins).

The device is RoHS-compliant. RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances and regulates the use of certain hazardous substances in electronic equipment. The RoHS standard is fully implemented in Europe, with lesser restrictions applying in the US.

Shock, vibration, drop and ESD resistance are all tested according to MIL-STD-810F and other relevant regulatory procedures. Not all results are in the promotional literature or owner's manual, so inquire with GETAC for specifics.

Security

Operating System

Competition

Summary

Up-to-date technology includes an energy-efficient ultra-low voltage Intel Core Duo processor, a large 120 or 160GB serial ATA hard disk, gigabit Ethernet, fast wireless PAN and WAN implementations, SD Card reader and an integrated camera.

Like all GETAC units, the V100 uses advanced thermal design to keep heat buildup at an absolute minimum. Heat pipes and the sturdy aluminum alloy case keep the computer cool and alleviate the need for a noisy fan.

Customers can select different 3G cellular data options, add an integrated GPS receiver, an optional Smart Card reader, and even opt for a 12.1-inch wide-format touch screen instead of the standard 10.4-inch touch display. There are sunlight readable as well as active digitizer options.

In everyday use, the V100 excels thanks to an optimal balance between performance, long battery life, good ergonomics, silent operation, a full size keyboard and a high quality feel.

GETAC V100 highlights:

• Excellent industrial design with quality look and feel
• Convertible design allows use as notebook as well as Tablet PC slate
• Fan-less design for silent running, yet does not heat up
• Various display and digitizer options
• Compact size and light weight
• Each port and interface has its own protective cover
• Rugged enough for tough jobs
• Useful options: camera, large battery, 3G data networks

• No fingerprint scanner
• Somewhat complex cover latch
• No IrDA