NextComputing Vigor EVO HD Ruggedized PC

We had an interesting press release from NextComputing cross the news wire recently that we wanted to share with you all.  If you're unfamiliar with NextComputing, they specialize in field deployable distributed computing appliances designed for a number of different types of work environments, that are also compatible with off-the shelf components.

NextComputing's just introduced the Vigor Evo HD, a ruggedized workstation that features an integrated 17" LCD.  Here's what the company has to say about it...

Nashua, NH - NextComputing, manufacturers of high-performance mobile workstations and servers, introduces the next generation of extreme-performance, rugged, portable computers, the Vigor Evo HD. This new system is optimized to provide advanced computing power in rugged environments such as military field operations or oil and gas research sites.

The Vigor Evo HD is a "flextop," a high-performance mobile system incorporating the company's privately designed FleXtreme architecture. This architecture features open standards components, support for COTS software and hardware, best-in-breed multi-core processors, high-capacity storage, support for multiple operating systems, and multiple I/O functionality including PCI Express x16 slots. The Vigor Evo HD is a ruggedized version of NextComputing's most powerful "flextop," the NextDimension Evo HD. Both systems are designed for applications requiring the features of the most powerful desktop workstation in a portable form factor.

Bob Labadini, President and CTO of NextComputing, sees the design of the Vigor Evo HD as fulfilling a need within the "rugged portables" market for a higher-performing, flexible, smaller, and more portable solution than anything that is currently available.  "With the Vigor Evo, we have combined our experience in the deployable ruggedized market with the innovative architecture of the first line of flextop portable computers. The Vigor Evo brings to the market a number of firsts. For example, it is the first rugged portable to incorporate up to 8 processing cores from Intel or AMD, it incorporates the highest number of PCIe or PCI-X 64-bit slots, up to four, and the entire system is encased in an unsurpassed floating chassis which provides maximum shock and vibration absorption with no metal to metal contact," relates Mr. Labadini.

About the size of a briefcase and weighing as little as 13.5 lbs., the Vigor Evo HD is the smallest and lightest, high-performance rugged portable to come to market. The chassis offers:

  • a mounting kit, convenient for mobile environments such as humvees and helicopters
  • modular processor boards which support up to (2) single, dual or quad-core AMD Opteron or Intel Xeon processors
  • storage capacity that surpasses the leading ruggedized systems by offering up to (3) 3.5" drives at 1TB each or (13) 200GB/7200RPM hard drives plus internal RAID 0, 1 and 0+1 capabilities
  • superior graphics with up to (4) PCIe or PCI-X 64-bit slots for single or double width cards
  • integrated 17" LCD is covered by a disposable protective screen, featuring anti-glare, hardening, and optical enhancement coatings
  • support for any COTS keyboard, allowing for the use of the latest rollup, portable, or ruggedized keyboards

Sounds like the Vigor Evo HD would hold up a wild LAN party, don't you think?