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Panasonic's Toughbook CF-30 gets gnawed by tiger, stomped by elephant and 187'd
In a whirring round of hurt that only a dear friend we know simply as Congmasta could deliver, a team of his irreverent cousins got ahold of Panasonic's Toughbook CF-30 to see just how far the envelope could be pushed. We already discovered that said machine was plenty tough for the average adventurer, but Forbes' tests prove that this bad boy is tailor made for maltreatment in the field. Somehow, the machine survived a round of Diet Coke to the keys, a few chomps from a white tiger, an elephant's playful attempt to extirpate it and even a single .22 slug through the lid. After the torment concluded, the CF-30 still managed to boot, and while that hole in the LCD was certainly a nuisance, it didn't stop the rest of the pixels from lighting up and trudging onward. Tap the read link for all the gory details, photographs and video, but seriously, don't try this at home. Or anywhere.[Image courtesy of Schim Schimmel/SchimmelSmith Publishing, thanks Vipul]
Durable faceoff and torture test: Panasonic's Toughbook 30 vs. GammaTech's Durabook D15RP
It seems like a bit of a rip-off -- if you want a laptop that won't shatter when its shiny little form slips out of your fingers as you run to your next meeting/target you have to pay a hefty premium to get something dull and durable. And, if that weren't bad enough, you then have to live with something big, boxy, and ugly. Panasonic's Toughbook line defines what many think of as a rugged laptop, but its bulk, heft, and cost give it niche appeal. It's not the only option out there for a notebook that can take a beating, though, with the semi-rugged Durabook from GammaTech offering a package that's a little more comfortable to use and, perhaps more importantly, a lot less expensive. But, which of the two is right for you? (Assuming, of course, that either is.) Just how durable are these things? And, which one didn't fair so well in the water test? Read on to find out.
Panasonic's latest Toughbook 30 unboxing and hands-on
In preparation for a feature on rugged, semi-rugged, and generally brawny laptops that should be appearing here in the coming weeks, Panasonic was kind enough to send us a little overnight love in the form of a Toughbook 30. That it was packaged in a box labeled "handle with care" that was itself bundled in another box full of foam peanuts didn't exactly make us think "durable," but as soon as we got our hands on that magnesium alloy case with its rubberized edges we knew we were dealing with a serious laptop. More pics and impressions of this and other macho machines coming soon. %Gallery-45841%
Panasonic's Toughbook 19 / 30 get even tougher, better
Make no mistake, Panasonic's Toughbook 19 ($3,749) and Toughbook 30 ($3,649) have been around for quite some time. Some would attribute their longevity to their burly nature, but we know the truth -- Panny just keeps upgrading 'em without changing the model name. Bantering aside, these two are receiving yet another round of refreshes that incorporate 1,000 nit LCDs with circular polarization technology and anti-glare / anti-reflective screen treatments to enhance screen viewability. Additionally, they each tout "improved security and remote management," Intel's Centrino 2 with vPro, expanded memory capabilities, 40 percent longer battery lives, larger capacity hard drives and optional SSDs. Our favorite new feature? "Concealed mode," which enables users to "easily turn all device lights off (screen and LEDs) using just a function (Fn) key. Check the full rundown of specs and new inclusions after the break.
AT&T gives thumbs-up to Gobi, Panasonic packs it in Toughbooks
AT&T has freely supported Panasonic's WWAN-enabled Toughbook 19 / 30 on its mobile broadband network for nearly a year now, and for those worried that the two may break things off when Gobi entered the picture can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Qualcomm's hybrid-3G technology (which goes from EV-DO to HSPA with the flip of a software switch), has just been certified for use on the carrier's nationwide network, and sure enough, Panny has decided to offer it on "all" new Toughbook machines. Gobified Toughbooks should be on store shelves this October, though we're not sure just how costly the option will be.Read - AT&T certifies Gobi technologyRead - Panasonic offers Gobi on Toughbooks
