Panasonic Toughbook 19 gets Core i5 grunt to match its grizzled visage
By Tim Stevens 
posted May 25th 2010 8:37AM
posted May 25th 2010 8:37AM
PANASONIC UPGRADES RUGGED TOUGHBOOK® 19 CONVERTIBLE TABLET PC TO INCLUDE HIGH PERFORMANCE INTEL® CORE™ i5-540UM PROCESSOR
Gobi2000™ and WiMAX-Ready Device Offers 3G and 4G Wireless Broadband Connectivity
Secaucus, NJ, May 24, 2010 – Panasonic Solutions Company, manufacturer of durable, reliable Panasonic Toughbook® mobile computers, today introduced upgrades to its Panasonic Toughbook 19 rugged convertible tablet PC. The updated Toughbook 19 now features the Intel® Core™ i5-540UM processor with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology with speeds up to 2.0GHz, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology and Intel® Virtualization Technology. In addition, this mobile computer runs Windows® 7 Professional, with a faster and more secure remote connection capability and a Windows XP downgrade option.
Optional Gobi2000™ mobile broadband is another key feature of the Toughbook 19. Qualcomm's Gobi2000 technology includes integrated GPS, increased data-transfer rates and more global connectivity options. The upgraded convertible tablet also comes with an option of integrating WiMAX, providing field workers with high-bandwidth 4G wireless broadband access, where available. This powerful technology enables mobile workforces to take greater advantage of high-bandwidth technologies, including video streaming.
Going beyond the MIL-STD-810G certification with the ability to withstand a six-foot drop, and with a shock-mounted hard drive, magnesium alloy case and UL1604 Class I Division 2 certification, this mobile computer is optimized to operate in hazardous and mission-critical environments. The IP65 certification provides improved water and dust resistance, enabling field workers to maintain their productivity in challenging scenarios, such as sand storms and heavy rain. The display, featuring Panasonic's CircuLumin™ Technology, enables users to adjust their screen brightness according to the environment they are in – from very dark places (2 nits) to direct sunlight (up to 1,000 nits).
"The rugged Toughbook 19 convertible tablet is a proven solution, validated by years of success in the field," said Kyp Walls, director of product management, Panasonic Solutions Company. "With the new Intel processor, our users will benefit from the combination of great performance, easy remote access and security without sacrificing battery life while on the move. In addition, offering optional Gobi2000 and WiMAX will improve the mobile connectivity experience for our customers."
Panasonic Toughbook 19: Select Features and Specifications
· Genuine Windows ® 7 Professional (with XP downgrade option)
· Intel® Core™ i5-540UM vProTM Processor
o 1.2GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.0GHz
o Intel Smart Cache 3MB
· 2GB SDRAM (DDR3), expandable to 8GB
· 5.1 lbs
· 10.4" LED backlit display
· 2-1,000 nit LCD brightness
· Concealed Mode
· Touchscreen display or optional dual touch display (Digitizer + Touchscreen)
· 160GB SATA (shock-mounted & quick release) hard drive
o Optional 128GB solid state drive (SSD)
· Fully-rugged
o MIL-STD-810G (6 foot drop) and IP65 certified
o Full magnesium alloy case
o Spill-resistant
o Shock-mounted flex-connect HDD with quick-release
· Embedded Connectivity
o Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
o Bluetooth® v2.1 + EDR (class 1)
o Optional Gobi™ and WiMAX mobile broadband
· Up to 9 hours of battery life
· 3-year limited warranty, parts and labor
· Interfaces
o Port replicator
o External video (VGA)
o Headphones/speaker
o Microphone/line-in
o Serial
o USB 2.0 x 2
o SD card (SDHC)
o PC card
o ExpressCard
o 10/100/1000 Ethernet
o 56K Data/Fax Modem
o Dual antenna pass-throughs
o FireWire
· Optional integrated features
o Camera*
o GPS receiver
o Backlit keyboard (emissive or rubber)
o SmartCard reader
o Fingerprint reader
o HDD and battery lock
*Camera replaces the second memory slot located on the bottom of the PC
Pricing and Availability
The Panasonic Toughbook 19 is available immediately, starting at an estimated street price of $3,399, from authorized Panasonic resellers.
The Toughbook 19 includes a full three-year limited warranty, parts and labor, providing coverage wherever the unit may be deployed.
now its also tougher from the inside! wouldn't mind getting one myself...
@2her0ck
Yeah tough on the inside and tough on the outsi...wait.
What the hell is that?!?!?
A swivel hinge?
What a paradox, they have a great track-record for breaking down within several months of hard use.
Isn't the point of a toughbook supposed to be tough because the user is clumsy/careless?
Sorry no sale for my medical expedition needs :(
@Kangal
I don't think there is much to worry about, they have been using this type of hinge since the first generation of the very similar CF-18 (in 2004, I believe), up to this one here which is the fourth generation of the CF-19. Frequently you can buy loads of such machines on eBay when corporations refresh their fleets after three years. Buyers then often show up on Toughbook-related forums, I don't think I have ever heard from a bad hinge so far (it probably happens, but seems to be very rare). The one on my CF-19 (two years old, used daily) still has virtually no play and requires two hands to open, just like when it was new.
@smersh
Heard of the Sharp Zaurus?
Suffers from a hinge that gives up its stiffness (and keeps collapsing down) after a couple of months, unless you use it very carefully. To stiffen hinge you needed to send it in and they install a new hinge due to the design of the hinge (breaks if opened).
It's also fairly common on ceiling mounted inCar-LCDs.
But thanks for the input anyways.
@2her0ck Love the c 15 Toughbook before, But I love this one even better.http://j.mp/toughbok-19-panasonic
never thought i'd hear any piece of gadgetry referred to as "grizzled"
@gasshole
They must have watched this tough Toughbook test.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA1s9MH0odE
wouldn't magnesium spontaneously ignite when it reaches a certain temperature?
@mocax
You're thinking of pure magnesium, this is probably just an alloy of some sort.
@mocax Magnesium ignites at 650C (1202F). So it would take something like a welding machine, thermite, or an explosion to actually cause it to catch on fire.
@Zalgo You would never find any of that stuff at an industrial workplace. >_>
I'm just glad they got away with the 'onboard memory'. What a horrible idea! I got a CF-29 sitting on my desk that has bad onboard memory. Fails a memory test and BSODs all the time.
Stupid technology.
I think Engadget should pull out the four Apple PowerBook G3 series laptops (Wallstreet, PDQ, Lombard, and Pismo) and compare them to modern laptops in thoughness and longevity. My old Pismo is still running Mac OS X 10.4.11 Tiger wonderfully and gets over ten hours of battery life with its two aftermarket 9-cell, 6600 mah batteries.
Better yet, pull out the old iBook clamshell (in all the groovy colors). It's got to be Apple's toughest laptop of all time.
@LEM Eagle Are you seriously comparing the toughness of an iBook to Toughbook? You've obviously never seen what a toughbook consists of, I've opened mine up and the thing is fortified on both the inside and outside. Trust me, if you drop an iBook you have a high risk of losing all your data, it happened to my ex-gf. With a Toughbook that risk is extremely lower, in fact I've never lost my data on my Toughbook despite the number of times I've dropped it. If you don't believe me, I invite you to drop a toughbook and ibook repeatedly and prove otherwise.
Sure, if you keep something on a desk at home you won't risk bruising your computer but try taking it to rougher places where other laptops wouldn't dare go.... like a NY subway.
Perfect for calling in those airstrikes and predator missiles.
@d0mth0ma5 Don't forget commanding your AC130.
Panasonic is possibly the worst company to get a toughbook from. They were asking the same price for this model BEFORE upgrading the processor in a bid I received. On top of that, the drop test fails when you have to use a PCMCIA card for 3G connectivity. If you hit that card, pow! No more power supply. I've had over 15 of these fail and they are slow slow slow on top of it. This year my organization switch to the newer Dell Latitude XFR toughbook and it's great.
@Xencon If you had 15 toughbooks fail, you're doing it wrong.
@Xencon
Its exactly the same price as the processor or electronics dont cost, its the case that makes the major part of the price.
I had 15 fail of this model (before the recent update) out of 1000 or so. So no, I'm not doing something wrong. I was pointing out a design issue. The case standing up isn't an issue, and I'm well aware of the costs of making such a case and that I'm mainly paying for it. The price was too high, period.
@Xencon Toughbooks come with built-in 3G (Gobi for EDVO and HSPA) as well as the newer ones also have WIMAX. When you get the wireless built-in you also keep the ruggedness by not exposing the PC card. I wonder why you didn't know that? The attachments you put on it are not rugged and they open up ingress opportunities for dust and moisture. They have many 3rd party and partners you can order it from.
I'd love to hackintosh this thing.
@Don Corleone
The closest you're gonna get is an iBook clamshell.
So this is the rebirth of the Sidekick....nice.