The General Dynamics GD8000 is one of the lightest water resistant laptops in our lineup. Even with the small design, it still has the same certifications as many of the other products. If this little rugged laptop isn’t quite what you’re looking for, check out the Getac B300, Amrel ROCKY RT and Panasonic Toughbook 31.

This waterproof laptop definitely has its share of certifications. The MIL-STD 810 includes water resistance and water pressure tests; and the IP64 rating means it's dust proof. The other certification that this rugged laptop has is the UL1604 Class 1 Div II compliance for hazardous locations. This is great if you need to take an electronic device somewhere with dangerous gasses or particles.

Even though this durable laptop weighs only 6.9 pounds, the screen is still a modest 13 inches. Thought the physical dimensions of this product are top-notch, the memory and available ports leave a lot to be desired. Because it offers only a 160GB hard drive, you may want to look to one of the other rugged laptops if you are working with large files or complex applications. The available ports include three USB ports, a serial port and an external video port. There are no IEEE ports or even any slots for a SD or PCMCIA cards. Other hardware features include:

• Intel Core 2 Duo
• 1.86Ghz processor
• 2GB-8GB RAM
• 160GB hard drive

The operating systems available for this rugged notebook include Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP. It is one of the few products in our lineup that offers all three. The connectivity options available are also comprehensive. With Bluetooth, 3G and GPS you can stay connected wherever you might be. This rugged laptop also has integrated antennas for use with the different radio options. These are definitely something to consider when in the market for a rugged laptop. Since this durable laptop does not have the MIL-STD 461 certification, it may interfere with other more sensitive receivers.

The General Dynamics website provides several case studies for their rugged laptop being used in the field. They have been working wither various companies to create solutions for nearly two decades, and they have several customization options available. They also work with resellers who have their own solutions packages for different jobs.

Their website doesn’t have as much help and support as we would have liked to have seen for such a complex waterproof laptop. They provide information in the form of technical bulletins, and there's a telephone number for you to call if you have more specific questions. They don’t provide an email address, and most of the time their advice is to submit an electronic form and a representative will call you back. The warranty provided with the rugged laptop is for three years, and though it isn’t bumper-to-bumper, it does have more coverage than a standard off-the-shelf product.