Panasonic Toughbook Series Slated for Business-Rugged Use

By DE Editors

Bringing Panasonic’s 15-year history of engineering and manufacturing robust notebook computers to bear on the mobile computing community, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company (Secaucus, NJ) yesterday introduced three new business-rugged notebook computers designed to meet the demands of mobile executives, walking workers, and road warriors: the ultraportable W7, the tablet alternative T7,  and the thin-and-light Y7.

As a whole, the Intel Core 2 Duo-based W7, T7, and Y7 notebooks combine the latest computing power, extremely light weight (from 3.0 to 3.7 pounds), long battery life, and drop- and spill-resistance, embedded wireless options. Like all Toughbook notebooks, the business-rugged 7 Series notebooks have magnesium alloy cases and chassis, shock-mounted hard drives and LCDs, and internal flexible connectors for additional protection. And they all include “security options vital for mission-critical computing,” according to Panasonic.

In addition to the tested durability and reliability of the Panasonic Toughbooks,  the manufacturer of this new suite of mobile business computing solutions says that the 7 Series offers a range of embedded wireless options for ‘anytime,  anywhere’ connectivity, including 802.11, Bluetooth 2.0, and optional high-performance built-in 3G mobile broadband solutions from AT&T (HSDPA),  Sprint, or Verizon Wireless (EV-DO Rev. A).

In order to run the more powerful Intel Santa Rosa processors in the small and lightweight 7 Series mobile PCs, engineers from Panasonic and Intel created proprietary Dynamic Power Performance Management technology, designed to continually fine-tune CPU usage based on system load and the tasks being performed.

Plus,  a new Hybrid Cooling System incorporates a compact fan design as well as a user-defined fan utility to help manage fan speed based on ambient conditions and the performance required. Combined, these new technologies help optimize system performance while preventing case overheating and extending battery life.

“People on the move can’t accomplish what they need to in work and life if they don’t have a reliable notebook they can count on to stay connected,” said Rance M. Poehler, president, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company. “Panasonic is raising the bar for reliability by making our wireless business notebooks durable from the inside out.”

Panasonic says the new business-rugged Toughbook notebooks are drop-tested using both the MIL-STD-810F methodology common to rugged notebooks as well as additional Panasonic factory drop tests. Commonly misunderstood, mil-spec testing does not prescribe a specific drop height. Rather, it outlines a method by which units are dropped a total of 26 times, on every axis, onto plywood over steel over concrete.

Fully-rugged Panasonic Toughbook notebooks are mil-spec rated to 36 in. (for both the unit and the hard drive), while the 7 series business-rugged Toughbook notebooks are mil-spec rated to 12 in. for the unit itself and 30 in. for the shock-mounted hard drive.

An additional Panasonic drop-test requires that 7 series notebooks survive a 30 in. (just over the typical height of a desk or table) drop to the base of the unit while it is operating.

The Panasonic spill-through keyboard design protects against liquid spills of more than 6 ounces (200 cc), and both the lid and base of the notebooks are designed to withstand more than 220 pounds (100 Kg) of pressure. Plus, Toughbook notebook hinges are required to pass 50,000 cycles and keyboards are tested to withstand 25 million keystrokes.

The Panasonic Toughbook 7 Series notebooks all provide significant data security features including trusted platform module (TPM) security chip v. 1.2, the Computrace theft protection agent in the BIOS, a cable lock slot, password security, and an optional fingerprint scanner. The T7’s lack of an optical drive is by design, enhancing data security in highly regulated environments such as healthcare, for example.

The Toughbook W7, an “ultraportable” notebook suited for the mobile professional,  offers an integrated DVD MULTI drive, 12.1-in. anti-glare LCD, and weight of 3 pounds, is equipped with an ultra-low voltage Intel Core 2 Duo processor ULV U7500, 1.06GHz, 1GB DDR2-533 SDRAM (expandable to 2GB), 80GB HDD (shock-mounted), and battery life of approximately seven hours. Other specifications include an integrated DVD Super Multi drive, TPM Security Chip v1.2, Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AG 802.11a/b/g, Windows Vista Business (with XP downgrade option). It measures 1.4-in/2.0-in. (H) by 10.7-in. (W) by 8.5-in. (D), has a mini Dock Box Replicator (accessory), wireless on-off switch (WWAN,  WLAN, Bluetooth) plus Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR, and an optional integrated WWAN /  mobile broadband (EV-DO or HSDPA). The mobile broadband-ready Toughbook W7 will be available in December 2007 at an estimated street price of $2,099.

The Toughbook T7, a lightweight tablet PC alternative notebook has a touchscreen,  stylus, and screen rotating software and includes a 12.1-in. 1024 x 768 XGA anti-glare TFT active matrix color LCD with touchscreen and an ergonomic hand strap. Equipped with an ultra-low voltage Intel Core 2 Duo Processor ULV U7500,  1.06GHz, the 3.3-pound T7 provides an 80GB hard drive (shock-mounted), 1GB DDR2-533 SDRAM (expandable to 2GB), and delivers up to nine hours of battery life, depending on operating environment. Some of the other specifications on the T7 include the TPM Security Chip v1.2, Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AG 802.11a/b/g, Windows Vista Business (with XP downgrade option), Display Image Rotation software, and measures 1.5-in./2.3-in. (H) by 10.7-in. (W) by 8.5-in. (D). It has a mini Dock Box Replicator (accessory), wireless on-off switch (WWAN, WLAN, Bluetooth) and Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR, and an optional integrated WWAN / mobile broadband (EV-DO or HSDPA). The mobile broadband-ready Toughbook T7 will be available in December 2007 at an estimated street price of $2,099.

Last,  and currently available at an estimated street price of $2,449, the “extremely thin and lightweight” laptop notebook, Toughbook Y7, offers desktop computer capabilities with a 14.1-in. 1400 by 1050 SXGA+ anti-glare TFT active matrix color LCD, weighs only 3.7 pounds, and can deliver five hours of battery life. The Toughbook Y7 includes a built-in DVD Multi drive, Intel Core 2 Duo low voltage processor (L7500, 1.6GHz), 1GB SDRAM DDR2-533 (expandable to 2GB), and 80GB hard drive (shock-mounted). Other specifications on the Y7 include an integrated DVD Super Multi drive, the TPM Security Chip (v1.2), Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AG 802.11a/b/g, Windows Vista Business (with XP downgrade option), and measures 1.4-in./1.8-in. (H) by 12.2-in. (W) by 10.0-in. (D). It offers the mini Dock Box Replicator (accessory), a wireless on-off switch (WWAN, WLAN, Bluetooth) and Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR, as well as an optional integrated WWAN / mobile broadband (EV-DO or HSDPA).

Every Panasonic Toughbook notebook includes a standard three-year limited warranty and free access to 24/7/365 U.S.-based phone support for the entire life of the product.

Click here for more information from Panasonic.

Click here for detailed product features and specifications on Panasonic’s business-rugged Toughbooks.

Click here for details on Panasonic’s laptops in general.

Click here to jump to the online write-up on the Panasonic Toughbook W7.           

Click here for the Panasonic Toughbook W7 Specification Sheet.

Click here to jump to the online write-up on the Panasonic Toughbook T7.           

Click here for the Panasonic Toughbook T7 Specification Sheet.

Click here to jump to the online write-up on the Panasonic Toughbook Y7.

Click here for the Panasonic Toughbook Y7 Specification Sheet.