There are times when you need a computer that is portable, but also provides far more computing power or expansion capability than your run-of-the-mill notebook. If size, weight and battery life no longer matter, it's possible to pack immense computing performance into a still relatively small package. That is what ACME Portable Machines specializes in, high performance rugged portable computers that outgun everything else out there.
What you get with the ACME Comrade 700 (yes, it does sound a bit like right out of a Rocky and Bullwinkle or roadrunner cartoon) is a massive, robust heavy-duty "lunchbox" computer suitable to power mission-critical applications in harsh environments. The box measures about 17 x 12 inches (really no more than a big-screen notebook) and is nine inches deep. The whole thing weighs 30 pounds.
Inside are electronics entirely more potent than the ultra-low-power fare found in most mobile devices. We're talking Intel Core i7 Extreme 980X, nVidia Tesla and Quadro FX3800 with CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) parallel computing architecture, good for almost 4 teraflops per second. The machine comes with 12GB of DDR3 RAM and can handle 24GB. Disk space is up to 16 terabyte.
All of this amounts to massive power, and it's all massively configurable, too, thanks to a whole slew of 16x and 8x PCIe expansion slots. USB ports? Up to 12. Blu-ray? Check. Audio? 8-Channel High Definition. You get the idea.
As far as power goes, forget battery. The big Comrade 700 comes with a massive 1250 watt power supply. This is a machine you plug in once you get there.
Video? A nice, large wide-format 17-inch LCD with 1920 x 1200 resolution in 16:10 wide-format aspect ratio. The display is protected with a shield of tempered glass that also sports anti-glare treatment. Touch screen and outdoor-viewable options are available.
In terms of ruggedness, the Comrade's all-aluminum housing and sturdy chassis, protected by thick rubber bumpers on all eight corners, can handle quite a bit of abuse. The big 105-key keyboard is available in a waterproof version.
Founded in 1994, ACME Portable Machines, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of rugged portable computer workstations, chassis, and LCD keyboard drawers. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with sales and service centers in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
