So you've heard about the Panasonic Toughbook - the notebook computer that's supposed to be designed to withstand anything. Then you looked at the price and weren't so sure.
It's natural to wonder whether these computers are worth their high price tag. Here's an examination of what Toughbooks have to offer, and a discussion of whether or not they really justify their price.
Most of the time, when we talk about natural selection, laptops aren't involved. But if you were to leave a handful of regular laptops in a harsh environment for a few months, the Toughbook would probably survive.
There are several varieties of Toughbook, from the fully rugged to the semi rugged. Fully rugged Toughbooks are the priciest, but they'll withstand almost anything.
These machines can deal with being dropped from nearly a meter up, being left in the rain, dropped in the dust or covered in mud. The US military uses them, and one Toughbook is even said to have saved the life of its user.
Newer Toughbooks are relatively small and light for the level of durability they offer. Of course, you shouldn't expect them to measure up to the thinnest ultraportables, but a computer than can stand rain, heat, cold and shocks is light at two and a quarter kilograms.
These computers are built for extreme environments, with touch screens and styluses for easier use, solid metal catches, and bright screens you can read in any lighting. With magnesium allow housings and tough screens, they can take a shock without even getting a scratch.
Some of the newer Toughbooks even offer a release catch below the screen that lets you rotate it for tablet style use. That lets field engineers and other professions use them to log data in the field. It's possible to custom build a Toughbook, so it has only the applications you need, too.
Models are available with ordinary keys, and with larger ones that allow typing with gloves or for those with large fingers. Every connector and port has its own dust proof and water proof flat, and there are two hinged doors on the right side of the chassis, hiding the removable hard disk and battery.
These hard disks are enclosed in shock resistant cages so that even a fall won't damage them, and you'll find every slot and port well protected. Memory and CPU speed are a little behind the newest technology, since well tested hardware that's known for durability must be used. However, most people don't mind the slight speed drop, since the hardware is made to last.
Toughbooks also come with wireless capabilities, including integrated Bluetooth and high quality wi-fi adapters providing support for multiple bandwidths. Wireless has been around in Toughbooks since long before the rest of computing knew about it.
Battery life for these machines is longer than many competitors, with many models offering more than seven hours of use on a single charge. You can throw just about anything at a Toughbook.
These little notebooks might be a bit pricey for the average user, but you won't be looking at them unless the ordinary laptop computer can't withstand what you need it to. For the user who really needs durable, portable computing, a Toughbook from Panasonic can't be beat, and it's well worth the price.
It's natural to wonder whether these computers are worth their high price tag. Here's an examination of what Toughbooks have to offer, and a discussion of whether or not they really justify their price.
Most of the time, when we talk about natural selection, laptops aren't involved. But if you were to leave a handful of regular laptops in a harsh environment for a few months, the Toughbook would probably survive.
There are several varieties of Toughbook, from the fully rugged to the semi rugged. Fully rugged Toughbooks are the priciest, but they'll withstand almost anything.
These machines can deal with being dropped from nearly a meter up, being left in the rain, dropped in the dust or covered in mud. The US military uses them, and one Toughbook is even said to have saved the life of its user.
Newer Toughbooks are relatively small and light for the level of durability they offer. Of course, you shouldn't expect them to measure up to the thinnest ultraportables, but a computer than can stand rain, heat, cold and shocks is light at two and a quarter kilograms.
These computers are built for extreme environments, with touch screens and styluses for easier use, solid metal catches, and bright screens you can read in any lighting. With magnesium allow housings and tough screens, they can take a shock without even getting a scratch.
Some of the newer Toughbooks even offer a release catch below the screen that lets you rotate it for tablet style use. That lets field engineers and other professions use them to log data in the field. It's possible to custom build a Toughbook, so it has only the applications you need, too.
Models are available with ordinary keys, and with larger ones that allow typing with gloves or for those with large fingers. Every connector and port has its own dust proof and water proof flat, and there are two hinged doors on the right side of the chassis, hiding the removable hard disk and battery.
These hard disks are enclosed in shock resistant cages so that even a fall won't damage them, and you'll find every slot and port well protected. Memory and CPU speed are a little behind the newest technology, since well tested hardware that's known for durability must be used. However, most people don't mind the slight speed drop, since the hardware is made to last.
Toughbooks also come with wireless capabilities, including integrated Bluetooth and high quality wi-fi adapters providing support for multiple bandwidths. Wireless has been around in Toughbooks since long before the rest of computing knew about it.
Battery life for these machines is longer than many competitors, with many models offering more than seven hours of use on a single charge. You can throw just about anything at a Toughbook.
These little notebooks might be a bit pricey for the average user, but you won't be looking at them unless the ordinary laptop computer can't withstand what you need it to. For the user who really needs durable, portable computing, a Toughbook from Panasonic can't be beat, and it's well worth the price.
About the Author:
A rugged notebook computer is the only way to do business while outdoors. Visit the Roaming Tech site to find a rugged industrial computer for you.
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