X-bit labs

Drive on a Hummer, Carry a Hummer - Thinks GM

by Yaroslav Lyssenko

[ 08/31/2005 | 08:30 PM ]

Starting next week General Motors is set to start offering its own-branded notebook PC. The company wanted its laptops to be styled after its popular Hummer multi-terrain vehicles so to attract attention of those, who drive those cars.

“The carmaker has signed an exclusive three-year licensing agreement with Spokane, Wash.- based Itronix to make a portable computer designed for people who work outdoors: policemen, firemen, claims adjusters and construction workers, for example, as well as people who own a Hummer and are fascinated by anything related to the oversize vehicles,” reports CNET News.com.

Already there are a number of notebook PCs manufactured especially for usage in harsh environments often met by the military and people working outdoors. Available models of Panasonic Toughbook and Twinhead Durabook are designed to be water-resistant, capable of withstanding extreme temperatures and also come with external body armor and internal shock absorbers.

“Itronix said it is using the same military-grade technology (vibration and temperature standards) in the Hummer laptop to launch its own brand - the GoBook VR-1. That computer, priced at $3,299, has nearly all the same attributes as the Hummer-branded laptop, including a 1.86GHz Intel Centrino Pentium processor, a 12.1-inch color display, 512MB of memory, a DVD/CD-R/W combination drive, 8021.11a/g/b wireless connectivity and Microsoft’s XP Professional operating system,” writes CNET News.com.

• CNET News.com: GM Drives Hummer-Branded Laptop.