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toughbook posts

Panasonic adds Windows 7 to laptop line, unveils Let's Note N8 and S8

by Vladislav Savov posted Sep 29th 2009 at 7:32AM

Oy vey! Today must be some industry-wide Windows 7 announcement day, as Panasonic is hot on the heels of Dell and Toshiba with no less than six lappies set to sport Vista's agile younger sibling. The Let's Note (ToughBook, to you and us) F8, R8, T8 and W8 models are likely to take on the new OS without alterations to their hardware, but the hot news comes in the form of the brand new N8 and S8. Powered by Core 2 Duo P8700 chips, both machines will come with 12.1-inch WXGA LCD screens, 250GB HDDs, up to 4GB of RAM, WiMAX, WiFi, HDMI and SDHC connectivity. They also share a stonking claim of 16 hours of battery life, and the one feature that distinguishes between them is the internal DVD burner on the S8. All that goodness will be out come October 22, with expected pricing around ¥200,000 (about $2,230) for the N series. You'll find a gallery of the unveiling event at the Akihabara News link below.

Gallery: Panasonic N8 and S8

[Via Akihabara News]

Panasonic's Toughbook CF-30 gets gnawed by tiger, stomped by elephant and 187'd

by Darren Murph posted Jun 25th 2009 at 8:41AM

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

by Tim Stevens posted Mar 24th 2009 at 11:13AM

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.

Continue reading Durable faceoff and torture test: Panasonic's Toughbook 30 vs. GammaTech's Durabook D15RP

General Dynamics Itronix GD8000 notebook for extreme conditions, or the extremely clumsy

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Mar 18th 2009 at 9:56AM

It's been a hot minute since we heard anything from General Dynamics in the tough notebook department, so it's good to see the company come back with a product that really raises the bar. The Itronix GD8000 sports an Intel Core 2 Duo SL9400 processor, 4GB of memory, integrated GMA 4500MHD graphics, 120GB storage, and a 13.3-inch DynaVue sunlight-readable touchscreen display. But that ain't all! This bad boy also features integrated GPS, WiFi, a biometric fingerprint reader, a smartcard reader, and an integrated Gobi 2000 WWAN module. Bluetooth is optional. As far as the toughness goes, with its magnesium chassis and polycarbonate case this bad boy meets MIL-STD 810F standards, able to withstand a drop from 42 inches, 30 gallons of water at 40 mph, and operates in temperatures anywhere from -22°F to 140°F. One more pic after the break.

[Via iTech News]

Continue reading General Dynamics Itronix GD8000 notebook for extreme conditions, or the extremely clumsy

Durabook's D15RP semi-rugged laptop unboxing and hands-on

by Tim Stevens posted Mar 13th 2009 at 8:26AM

It's been awhile since we've seen the latest in a Durabook around these parts. GammaTech sent along a new D15RP to be part of a little feature we're brewing, but we thought we'd go ahead and give you a quick peek at the thing first. It wasn't quite as gratuitously packaged as the Toughbook we also recently aped, but upon seeing the logo on that box we admit to thinking for a moment we'd accidentally received a set of fresh kicks from K-Swiss. So far using it feels like using a real laptop, as opposed to the sensation of typing on an ammo case you get with the Panasonic, but we'll leave the full comparisons for another day. Until then, enjoy some pics.

Gallery: Durabook DR15P

Panasonic's latest Toughbook 30 unboxing and hands-on

by Tim Stevens posted Feb 25th 2009 at 12:03PM

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: Panasonic Toughbook 30

Panasonic's Toughbook 52 upgraded, shows its touchier side

by Ross Miller posted Feb 5th 2009 at 5:58AM

After watching its Toughbook 19 and 30 siblings get a makeover, Panasonic's CF-52 wasn't about to miss out on all the fun. The semi-rugged laptop has a few new tricks up its armored sleeve, chief among them an optional 13.3-inch XGA touchscreen with integrated stylus holder, dual overhead keyboard light, and Intel GM45 video controller. If you're not the touchy-feely type, the 15.4-incher is still around, swapping tactile interface for WUXGA resolution and an ATI Radeon HD 3650. Both models sport Intel Core 2 Duos with vPro technology, 2-4 GB DDR2 RAM, Bluetooth and 160GB HDD. Look for these babies to hit retail shelves -- and still work -- later this month for an estimated starting price of £1851 ($2677).

Panasonic's Toughbook 19 / 30 get even tougher, better

by Darren Murph posted Jan 27th 2009 at 9:43AM

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.

Continue reading Panasonic's Toughbook 19 / 30 get even tougher, better

Panasonic gets official with F8, T8, W8 ToughBooks

by Donald Melanson posted Sep 25th 2008 at 3:06PM

It's been nearly a year since Panasonic rolled out its 7-series ToughBooks, and it looks like they're now finally being shoved aside for some new and improved 8-series models -- namely, the F8, T8 and W8, which, among other things, each include Qualcomm's Gobi dual-3G chipset. At the top of the heap is the 14-inch F8 (pictured above), which boasts a more than adequate 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo processor, a ruggedized 160GB hard drive, a DVD drive and, yes, a handle, all in a surprisingly lightweight 3.7-pound package. The T8 and W8, on the other hand, take things down to the 12-inch form-factor, and each pack a low-voltage 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo processor along with mostly identical specs, with the notable exception of a touchscreen that's exclusive to the T8 and a DVD drive that's only available on the W8. Look for all three to roll out in November, with the F8 setting you back $2,499, and the T8 and W8 each running $2,099.

[Via Electronista]

AT&T gives thumbs-up to Gobi, Panasonic packs it in Toughbooks

by Darren Murph posted Sep 11th 2008 at 6:14AM

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 technology
Read - Panasonic offers Gobi on Toughbooks

Intel teaser slate PC revealed as a Panasonic medical tablet

by Nilay Patel posted Aug 19th 2008 at 11:43PM

Intel's certainly taken the lid off some interesting gear at this year's IDF, but this is a little disappointing -- that cool-looking slate / tablet PC the company was teasing this afternoon is a Panasonic tablet aimed at the healthcare industry, just as we suspected. Put in that context, it's nothing special at all, really -- we've seen tons of these from various manufacturers, and Panny's been putting out similar Toughbook tablets for some time, including the Atom-based CF-U1. Guess you can't win 'em all -- but at least the guessing was fun for a while.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

Panasonic loads Centrino 2 into Toughbook CF-52 / CF-74

by Darren Murph posted Jul 17th 2008 at 12:26AM

We're beginning to wonder if Panny's long-standing CF-52 and CF-74 will ever be replaced, but so long as folks keep biting, we suppose there's nothing wrong with perpetual makeovers. As with nearly every other laptop manufacturer, Panasonic has also decided it prudent to freshen up the aforesaid pair of Toughbooks with larger hard drives, 802.11n WiFi, expanded graphics capabilities and Intel's Centrino 2 platform. Aside from that, you can still expect the same rugged exterior, shock-mounted HDD and spill-resistant keyboard, but you'll pay dearly for those safeguards. Both the 15.4-inch CF-52 and 13.3-inch CF-74 will be available next month starting at $1,949 and $3,199, respectively.

Panasonic's Toughbook CF-U1 gets reviewed

by Darren Murph posted Jul 9th 2008 at 10:19AM

While Panny's Toughbook CF-U1 looks mighty novel, is it really worth the cost to have it added to your gadget collection? For those who've never quite been able to wrap their noodle around the whole UMPC concept, TrustedReviews bets that you'll be able to overlook this one without losing any sleep. All in all, the CF-U1 seemed to make the best of an awkward situation by excelling at tasks that would likely take place in everyday field work, but the average joe / jane may want to see one in person before buying blind. Yeah, hot-swappable batteries, an Atom CPU and a full QWERTY keypad are lovely additions, but if you've never needed a UMPC before (let alone one built for extreme scenarios), you aren't apt to gain a whole lot from owning this one. Hit the read link for the full spill.

Panasonic Toughbook CF-U1 gets fully detailed, landing in August

by Donald Melanson posted Jun 25th 2008 at 12:19PM

Panasonic has been teasing us with this one for quite a while now but, as promised, it has now gotten fully official with its new Atom-based Toughbook CF-U1, including word of a price tag and release date. This one comes in squarely on the small end of the Toughbook spectrum with a 5.6-inch WSVGA display, which gets backed up by 1GB of RAM, a removable 16GB SSD drive (or optional 32GB), built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, and a whole host of optional add-ons, including 3G mobile broadband, GPS, a camera,a fingerprint scanner, and even an RFID reader (yet more add-ons are planned for later in the year). As is par for the course these days, you'll also get Vista Business as standard, with an XP "downgrade" option. If that sounds like it'll get the job done on your arduous adventures, you can look for this one to set you back a hefty $2,499 when it starts shipping in August.

Panasonic's Atom-based UMPC Toughbook preps for shipment

by Darren Murph posted Jun 23rd 2008 at 1:27PM

Get ready, argonauts -- Panasonic's Atom-based UMPC Toughbook is gearing up to ship out soon. Since getting really official at CeBIT in March, we haven't heard a peep from Panny in regard to a definitive ship date. According to PC World, the rugged mini tablet will be loosed "later this week," and it will of course include a touch-sensitive 5.6-inch screen, compact QWERTY keypad, a variety of ports, Intel's Atom processor and a chassis built to withstand just about anything next to getting pelted with napalm. As for fleshed out specs and global ship dates, we're told to expect those on Wednesday.

[Via TG Daily]