Fed: Panasonic launches new armoured laptop range

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2007
Fed: Panasonic launches new armoured laptop range

SYDNEY, Feb 12 AAP - Electronics group Panasonic will launch its next generation of
armour-plated notebook computers, which have been built to withstand rough outdoor use
and constant vehicle motion.

This is the Toughbook's fifth incarnation since Panasonic introduced its first laptop
designed to US military specifications for use in the battlefield more than a decade ago.

The latest range features convertible tablet PC and notebook models that are made to
stand up against drops, water and moisture exposure, temperature extremes and constant
vibration.

A wireless display version - which excludes a hard drive and connects wirelessly to
a network hub - is also due to hit the market.

While the reinforced features add a substantial price premium to standard portable
computer technology, Australian Toughbook product manager John Penn said businesses were
becoming increasingly aware of the recurring costs of notebook failures.

"People are now starting to understand the `total cost of ownership' argument," he said.

"Put aside the fact that a unit costs X when you first buy it, what is it actually
going to cost me over the three or four year period that I deploy that in the field?

"What are going to be the warranty costs and out of warranty costs and what's going
to be the cost if I send a unit away for repair and downtime?"

The rugged reinforcements include magnesium alloy cases, sealed keyboards and ports,
reinforced screens, flexible internal connectors and shock mounting.

Both Panasonic's CF-30 notebook and CF-19 convertible tablet have been tested to withstand
drops of up to 90cm while the CF-08 wireless display unit can survive a fall of 120cm.

The notebook and tablet are equipped with an Intel Core Duo Processor L2400 and standard
Bluetooth connectivity.

The Toughbook earned renown four years ago when an earlier model halted a stray bullet
on its path towards a US soldier in Iraq.

But Mr Penn said the market for tougher computers was broadening, with applications
now extending beyond the battlefield and rugged terrains to mainstream industry uses.

Last month, Dell entered the toughened notebook market with its Latitude ATG D620 model.

"The main reasons for failure aren't necessarily somebody doing some extreme sports
with it and it falling down a cliff," Mr Penn said.

"It's the usual stuff you and me would do as well - you've got a bunch of paper under
the your arm and you tuck your notebook under there and it slides out."

The units will retail in Australia in March.

AAP sh/maur/cdh

KEYWORD: TOUGHBOOK (PIX AVAILABLE)

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