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Panasonic Unveils Light Toughbook Notebooks.

Category: Mobile

by Anton Shilov

[ 11/17/2005 | 03:04 PM ]

Panasonic Computer Solutions on Thursday announced two new laptops that combine the main qualities mobile computer users are looking for: compact sizes, light weight, long battery life and capability to survive in extreme situations. The Toughbook notebooks from Panasonic tend to offer end-users new levels of quality, mobility and reliability, the company claims. Furthermore, the new Toughbook T4 features industry-leading 9.5 hours battery fife.

“Wireless mobility is now mainstream and mobile workers require durability, the highest degree of reliability and advanced functionality to effectively do their jobs. We’re pleased to introduce our T4 and W4, the thinnest, lightest additions to the most reliable line of notebooks available,” said Rance Poehler, Panasonic Computer Solutions Co. president.

The new Toughbook T4 and W4 come with standard magnesium alloy case and shock mounted hard drive so to preserve valuable data. Unlike previous-generations of Toughbook, with the exception of just a couple of models, the new T4 and W4 weigh only 3.3lbs (1.5 kilograms) and 2.8lbs (1.27 kilograms) respectively, whereas some of their “fully rugged” brethren weigh from 4.5lbs (2.05 kilograms) to 7.9lbs (3.59 kilograms).

Panasonic Toughbook W4

Both Panasonic Toughbook T4 and W4 are based on the Intel Centrino mobile platform: they incorporate Intel Pentium M processor ULV 753 (1.20GHz, 2MB cache), Intel 915GMS core-logic with built-in graphics core and are equipped with 512MB of PC2-3200 memory, 40GB HDD, integrated audio, Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG wireless network controller that supports 802.11 a/b/g networking as well as 12.1” displays with 1024x768 resolution and anti-glare coating and so on. A major capability the new Toughbook products have is a hardware wireless networking on and off switch, which may be useful during flights on airlines that do not provide wireless Internet and require to all the radio equipment to be shut.

The main differences between the notebooks – apart from sizes: the W4 is slightly lighter and smaller compared to the T4 – is battery life: the T4 can operate for 9.5 hours on default battery, whereas the W4 can work slightly less than 6.5 hours on default battery. Additionally, the T4 also features touch-screen.

Usually notebooks that feature advanced durability mechanisms, or rugged notebooks, are used in extreme environments, such as construction sites, ships, during military operations and so on. In the recent years popularity of mobile computers gained tremendously, just like the absolute number of laptop failures due to drops, dust, fluids and other factors. With the new Toughbook computers Panasonic aims to showcase businesses the benefits of rugged computers that do not compromise weight or sizes.

The manufacturer said the new Panasonic Toughbook T4 and W4 are available now through resellers in the U.S., at an estimated street price of $2149. At press time the company’s web-site only contained information about the W4, but not the T4.