July 12th, 2011

Panasonic Toughbook CF-H2: Awful Tough

scaled.CF-H2

The Toughbook has always been a tough sell. It’s always looked like a cross between a robot turd and the chest-plate for dirt-bike armor. It looks like they’ve improved this design considerably this time, offering a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5 processor with 2GB RAM and 160 GB hard drive with an optional 128GB SSD. → Read More

September 2nd, 2010

Panasonic Shows 2 New (And Impressive) TOUGHBOOK Models

Panasonic announced [JP] two new models from their TOUGHBOOK series of extra-sturdy and durable notebooks today. And both the CF31 from the TOUGHBOOK 31 series and the CF19 from the TOUGHBOOK 19 series boast some pretty impressive specs. → Read More

June 9th, 2010

Panasonic announces lightest 14" Toughbook yet: the F9

Panasonic is rolling out the F9, the latest in its Toughbook series of ruggedized laptops. The 14.1″ laptop features a spill resistant keyboard, can survive a drop from one foot to a “non-yielding surface” while off, as well as drops from 30″ (a little over the height of an office desk) while running. It packs an Intel Core i5 processor, integrated DVD drive, and 320GB hard disk. Also included are… → Read More

May 4th, 2010

Panasonic announces the two updated Toughbooks

While the rest of the world is going nuts trying to make the next MacBook, Panasonic keeps chugging away, releasing laptops that look for all the world like computing devices designed for Robocop to use in the bathroom. And that’s a good thing. Let’s say hello to the Panasonic CF-T8 (above) and the CF-52 (below) Toughbooks. The CF-52 is a i5-based laptop has 2GB RAM and 250GB hard… → Read More

February 10th, 2010

Panasonic's Toughbook H1: a tablet for you and your favorite hazardous environment

Pretend you’re Gordon Freeman. Who am I kidding, you’ve been doing that for years — so this should be easy. The lab is self-destructing around you, a resonance cascade has just torn open a hole in the universe, and there are soldiers everywhere with orders to kill you on sight. You need a tablet, but what with the rocket launcher and seven other weapons, your HEV suit can only fit one. → Read More

September 29th, 2009

Panasonic rolls out new Toughbooks with Windows 7 and 16 hours of battery life

Panasonic’s Let’s Note (aka Toughbook) series is the favorite choice among many Japanese hackers. And today the company announced [JP] two new notebooks from the series with Windows 7 on board. Panasonic says their 16 hours of battery life is unmatched in the industry. → Read More

July 13th, 2009

Video Review: Panasonic CF-30 Toughbook

Panasonic approached us a few weeks ago offering a Toughbook CF-30 to test in any way we saw fit. Rather than a lot of fancy lab tested, we decided to run over the laptop with a Toyota RAV4.

The laptop, surprisingly, survived almost unscathed.

These laptops are huge. The model we received is built like a tank. All of the ports are protected by waterproof flaps and the case itself locks with an… → Read More

June 24th, 2009

More pics of the Panasonic Toughbook's trip to the zoo

Who says that the zoo is boring? I would pay money to see a tiger play with a Panasonic Toughbook. Good money, I tell ya. [PSGallery=7l0ia10grlf] → Read More

June 24th, 2009

A Panasonic Toughbook vs a tiger and elephant

Panasonic’s Toughbooks have legendary strength but I doubt any of us ever considered them tough enough to survive a white tiger or Asian elephant. I didn’t. The last “durable notebook” I tested failed with a 4 foot drop. But the Panasonic Toughbook that Forbes tested took a .22 bullet and still booted after being used as a chew toy. Impressive. → Read More

February 23rd, 2009

Panasonic updates its W8 Toughbook in Japan

Panasonic has announced a new Toughbook today [JP], a special version of its W8 notebook, which is also on the sale in the US. The new Japanese premium edition has no release date for overseas markets yet, however. → Read More

February 4th, 2009

Panasonic touches up the Toughbook

Panasonic has upgraded their Toughbook 52 series of semi-rugged notebooks. And like you may know, these aren’t much competition for the usual crop of 15.4 inch laptops. But when it comes to surviving in hospitals or braving the battlefield, they are unparalleled. → Read More

August 20th, 2008

Panasonic Toughbook heats up healthcare on the go

It doesn’t have specs, it doesn’t have a model number, hell it doesn’t even have a name, but it’s cute. Like picking up a hot chick at a bar, you don’t know quite what you’re gonna get. However, with this little number chances are you might just get lucky. Based on Intel’s Mobile Clinical Assistant Platform, the Atom powered Toughbook from Panasonic is designed with healthcare… → Read More

August 20th, 2008

Panasonic gets rugged with Atom: 4-foot drop approved!

Today Panasonic introduced the U1, an Ultramobile ruggedized handheld Toughbook designed for on the go computing. Created for in-the-field professionals, the super durable notebook weighs in at just over 2 lbs. By using Intel’s Atom processor the U1 gets a full-blown processor, allowing for a full-featured OS. Panasonic announced the new notebook onstage today at IDF, marking the point by… → Read More

June 4th, 2007

Panasonic Toughbooks Get Upgrade

Panasonic announced today the launch of the Toughbook 52, which replaces their venerable Toughbook S1 of year’s past. As with previous Toughbooks, it’s designed to withstand spillage and droppage — this one can take drops of up to 2.5 feet on all sides without cracking a crack. However, this one improves over the last-gen by giving you some Santa Rosa chip action, a built-in… → Read More

December 19th, 2006

Panasonic Upgrades Wireless WAN in Toughbooks

months of rough treatment, but it keeps on going. My iPod has the same story, as does my Powerbook, now a year old. But I take it relatively easy on my gear compared to some of you, those working construction jobs, who are on the road half the time, or are in scientific labs where anything can happen. Panasonic’s got your back with new upgrades to its Toughbooks. Many pros swear by these… → Read More

September 18th, 2006

Panasonic Toughbook Video Interview from CTIA

This is a bit long, but Vincenct from Slashgear was nice enough to film me talking with the folks at Panasonic Toughbooks. Check out my double chin! → Read More

September 12th, 2006

Panasonic Toughbook Line With WAN

Just got a good look at the Toughbook line from Panasonic. I’ve always liked these things – nice round touchpad, great materials, excellent battery life – but take a look at this monster. This is the T5 ($1,899), an ultralight toughbook with touchscreen and – get this – a hand strap. You hold it like a book and rather than having a swivel screen, you just tap on the… → Read More