Why the Toughbook F9 Is an Ideal Business Laptop

Panasonic’s Toughbook F9 answers the need for a truly reliable business-rugged laptop that’s both customizable and upgradeable. It’s a very popular Toughbook, with high-end business features like an optional Gobi™2000 mobile broadband connection. It’s also much more durable than a typical laptop in handling drops, moisture, vibration and other conditions that could ruin a typical laptop.

Many business computer users inadvertently subject their laptops to abuse when traveling, especially when checking a computer on a plane or when driving long distances. Standard laptops aren’t built to handle the rigors of the road without hardware issues such as hard drive failure. The advantage of a laptop like the Toughbook F9 is superior construction that protects all of the critical hardware in the computer without unnecessarily inflating the weight of the device.

At 3.6 pounds, the Toughbook F9 is one of the lightest Toughbooks in the world. It’s an ideal choice for business people, as the F9 provides a safer yet still lightweight option for traveling on planes and in cars. It also features a built-in handle for easier travel and was specifically designed to withstand up to 220 pounds of compression. In short, the Toughbook F9 is easy to travel with, and it’s one of the few computers on the market that business travelers won’t have to worry about when waiting at a baggage claim.

The Toughbook F9′s spill-resistant keyboard is another critical feature for business computer users. Most companies end up replacing a laptop due to spilled coffee, water or other liquid several times a year. The Toughbook F9 can withstand up to 7 ounces of liquid. This helps businesses to cut down on their computer maintenance costs, but more importantly, it improves employee productivity. A single spilled coffee doesn’t need to threaten weeks or months’ worth of work.

With a starting price of under $3,000, the Toughbook F9 offers a great return on investment. The Toughbook F9 is an extremely fast laptop with an Intel® Core™ i5 vPro™ processor, capable of handling almost any business task. Thanks to its durable construction, it’s unlikely to fail and cause expensive data loss. The Toughbook F9 is an excellent way to increase employee productivity. It’s a work-minded laptop capable of withstanding the hectic lifestyle of the modern businessperson.

Why The Toughbook 31 Is Ideal For Computing In Difficult Environments

As the next-generation version of the popular Toughbook 30, Panasonic’s Toughbook 31 has a long list of powerful features combined with serious heavy-duty construction. The Toughbook 31 is easily one of the most powerful, durable laptops ever built and this makes it an ideal computer for a variety of difficult environments.

The six foot drop rating of the Toughbook 31 is one indication of its fully-rugged construction. The rating indicates that the Toughbook 31 could fall onto a hard surface from six feet in the air without sustaining anything other than superficial damage. It was also designed to pass MIL-STD-810G testing and features an all-weather design for dependable computing, even in environments where dust or sand infiltration is likely. This makes the Toughbook 31 ideal for military applications and for heavy duty fieldwork. The Toughbook 31 is equally suited to industrial environments, construction sites, or even desert conditions that would almost immediately incapacitate a typical laptop computer.

To prevent data loss, a special shock mount keeps the hard drive of the computer from taking on excessive vibration or physical shock. Data loss is one of the biggest sources of lost revenue for companies and military units that need to use computers in harsh conditions. The Toughbook 31 helps to decrease the chances of lost data. A solid state drive is available as an option which further reduces the chances of physical media failure and data loss.

The Panasonic Toughbook 31 also features ready-to-go 3G connectivity, which can be very advantageous for field workers that need steady high-speed Internet access. 3G coverage can be purchased through any major telecommunications company. By using a Toughbook 31 with a mobile Internet connection, it’s easy to ensure better productivity and a good return on investment. A GPS receiver and wide-area wireless capability are additional communication features that make the Toughbook 31 a formidable tool.

Panasonic’s Toughbook 31 can be customized. Thanks to three processor choices, built-in video and audio output capabilities including an HDMI port, and an almost limitless array of customization options, the Toughbook 31 is unparalleled in the world of heavy-duty rugged laptops. The Toughbook 31 is absolutely ideal for any field application, and its superior performance in a variety of difficult environments makes it one of the most popular products in Panasonic’s Toughbook line.

Finding A Lightweight Toughbook

One of the most common misconceptions about Panasonic Toughbook laptops is that they are unnecessarily large and bulky, which makes them less convenient than standard laptops. The assumption is that the protective materials necessary for an advanced Toughbook are extremely heavy, and that a large amount of quality metal and plastic is used in each Toughbook’s construction.

Fortunately, this isn’t the case. While a standard Toughbook might be a bit thicker than an average laptop, a combination of smart technology and lightweight materials allow for a new breed of Toughbook. Some models weigh less than four pounds and still provide incredible durability features, including spill-resistant keyboards, high drop ratings, and the ability to withstand hundreds of pounds of pressure.

Smart engineering is important for lightweight Toughbooks. Covering a computer with metal and silicone won’t necessarily protect its internal components from damage in a drop or in harsh weather conditions. Instead, Toughbooks often have extra cushioning for certain crucial hardware such as the computer’s hard drive. The extra cushioning prevents a falling hard drive from losing data by transferring the shock. The external construction of a Toughbook uses high-quality metals and plastics, but not excessive amounts of these materials since thick, unwieldy laptops aren’t necessarily better protected than lightweight models. In short, construction is more important than the materials used, and Panasonic’s research and development have made the Toughbook line a leader in rugged, semi-rugged, and business-rugged laptops for years.

Each classification of Toughbook is designed for a different type of user, but lightweight options are available in each class. Business users can appreciate the Toughbook F9′s 3.6 lbs weight. Even a fully-rugged Toughbook like the Toughbook CF-19 comes in at just over 5 pounds, which is far lighter than other rugged laptops on the market. The durable construction of these computers effectively prevents accidental or intentional damage, curbing the cost of maintenance and repair. They also make data loss far less likely, which is a significant advantage considering the high cost of modern data recovery services.

Lighter heavy duty laptops can be convenient when traveling, but they can also improve productivity for their users. While some rugged and semi-rugged laptops are large and inconvenient, Panasonic’s Toughbook line is an example of how durable laptops can still be lightweight enough to handle the needs of all computer users

Features That Keep Rugged Laptops from Failing in Extreme Weather

Extreme weather conditions can be dangerous for computer equipment, but a rugged laptop allows for efficient, dependable operation, even in extremely hot or cold environments. Modern rugged laptop models like the Panasonic Toughbook 53 are designed to handle the needs of field workers, military units and businesses that need reliable computers that will work in almost any circumstances.

This starts with special considerations for extreme hot and cold. A rugged laptop will often have advanced cooling technology, which prevents the hardware of the device from becoming warm enough to cause solder to break down or electronic boards to overheat. In most conditions, the heat generated by the laptops is enough to keep extreme cold from becoming an issue. But rugged laptop owners operating in extreme cold can opt for special hard drive heaters that prevent a drive from reaching dangerously low temperatures which could cause poor performance and eventual data loss. The moving parts of the hard drive are kept completely secure.

The advanced heating and cooling systems of a rugged laptop address some environmental factors, but not the serious issue of dust and sand contamination—a common problem in any outdoor environment, even in temperate climates. To this end, a rugged laptop will usually feature strong filters to catch contaminants before they become an issue; these filters last much longer than typical computer air filters and work more efficiently. Rugged laptop keyboards are often designed for all weather conditions and can handle precipitation or extreme humidity without allowing a liquid to damage either the keyboard or the internal components of the computer. This design also prevents sand and other contaminants from entering a rugged laptop through spaces in the keyboard. Contamination is effectively prevented and laptops can be used for work in tough environments, which leads to improved productivity and a great return on investment for the businesses and military units that use these specially designed computers.

It goes without saying that rugged laptops are capable of withstanding much more severe conditions than a typical laptop. They’re an absolute necessity for field work and for any situation where extreme weather conditions are likely to be a factor and a computer is necessary. Thanks to modern improvements in laptop design, rugged laptops like the Panasonic Toughbook are extremely dependable computing tools, regardless of environment.

Exploring The Optional Features On Panasonic Toughbook Products

There are numerous advantages to using a Panasonic Toughbook, including better reliability, a lower chance of data loss and surefire operation, even in circumstances that could potentially ruin a typical computer. Each Panasonic Toughbook is designed to work effectively and to withstand damage from physical drops, extreme weather and other hazards. However, another advantage of Toughbooks is their long list of optional features. Toughbooks are designed to be customizable and upgradeable, and this sets them apart from many of the other durable laptop models on the market.

Each Panasonic Toughbook model can be customized with different processors, RAM, and even different video and sound hardware to match the computing needs of buyers. Newer models like the Panasonic Toughbook 53 are seriously capable machines, comparable with the fastest standard laptops available and superior in many cases.

However, processing power isn’t the only option for Panasonic Toughbook buyers. Toughbooks can be purchased with accessibility options to improve productivity, even in field work situations. Backlit and spill-resistant keyboards are available. Fingerprint scanners can be used to improve security. Many Toughbooks can also connect to mobile Internet services, which allows employees to work on-the-go, even when on construction sites, when visiting other countries, or in a variety of other situations where productivity is an absolute priority.

Some of the optional features of Panasonic Toughbooks improve the device’s ability to withstand serious conditions. Optional hard drive heating and cooling units can prevent the HDD of a Panasonic Toughbook from freezing or overheating in extreme weather conditions. These units also help to keep a constant temperature in the hard drive’s chassis, greatly extending the life of the drive and lowering the chances of sudden data loss. Shock mounts can also be added to a Panasonic Toughbook to prevent a hard drive from taking serious damage in a fall, although shock mounts are standard on many semi-rugged and heavy duty models. Solid state drives (SSD) are also an option on some Panasonic Toughbook models. SSD is a next-generation technology that provides enhanced data protection and greater shock resistance than a standard hard drive, as solid state drives have no moving parts.

PANASONIC UPGRADES TOUGHBOOK 31 – RUGGED LAPTOP GOLD STANDARD

Panasonic Solutions Company, provider of collaboration, information-sharing and decision-support solutions for government and commercial enterprises, today announced a series of upgrades to its Toughbook® 31 fully-rugged laptop. The updated device features new Intel® Core™ i5 and i3 processors, increased RAM and hard drive capacity as well as speed, up to 20 hours of battery life, a brighter sunlight-viewable screen and more. With these improvements, the MIL-STD-810G and IP65 certified Toughbook 31 continues to be the ideal solution for mobile professionals in mission-critical environments, including first responders, military personnel, and field workers in industries such as telecommunications, utilities and energy.

Now powered by a new Intel Core™ i5 (2540M or 2520M depending on the model) or i3 (2310M) processor, the Toughbook 31 delivers desktop-class performance alongside its world-class reliability. The availability of discrete graphics from an ATI Radeon™ HD6750 card also delivers significant improvements in 3D graphics, important for GIS and other graphic-rich applications.

The Toughbook 31 is the sixth generation of flagship Toughbook clamshell notebooks, which have been the gold standard in rugged computing since 1993, boasting the lowest failure rates in the industry. The device is certified by an independent third party testing lab to meet nineteen MIL-STD-810G tests, including shock, drop, vibration, extreme temperature and high altitude. In fact, the Toughbook 31 offers protection from drops of up to six feet and has achieved an IP65 rating for unparalleled protection from water and dust. The device also meets requirements for use high-vibration (ASTM D4169-04) environments.

“The Toughbook 31 is used in some of the most demanding environments laptops can be found in,” said Kyp Walls, director of product management, Panasonic Solutions Company. “On top of that, failures and poor performance have significant, real-world consequences to our customers in markets like public safety, the military and utilities. The improvements made to the Toughbook 31 allow us to exceed the ever increasing demands of our customers, allowing them to do their jobs with one less thing to worry about.”

The 13.1-inch XGA LCD touchscreen on the Toughbook 31 features optional Panasonic CircuLumin™ technology, allowing for full-circle viewability from the brightest sunlight to pitch darkness. Panasonic has increased the brightness on the standard screen to 1,200 nits, offeringexcellent viewability, even in direct sunlight. Screen brightness can also be dropped as low as 2 nits for concealed nighttime use which is critical to the safety of military and public safety users.

By leveraging Panasonic’s advanced battery technology, the Toughbook 31 now offers up to 13.5 hours of battery life despite its brighter screen and more powerful processor. With the optional extended life media bay battery, the device can deliver up to 20 hours of life.

Embedded Wireless Connectivity
The Toughbook® 31 offers a variety of embedded wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, optional Bluetooth® 2.1 and Gobi2000™ 3G mobile broadband technology from Qualcomm. The device is certified on the AT&T, Sprint and Verizon Wireless 3G networks, allowing workers to stay connected virtually all of the time. With certifications coming later this year, the Toughbook 31 will also offer embedded support for 4G networks.

Platform Stability
The Toughbook 31 continues to maintain a platform footprint virtually identical to past flagship products. This marks 13 consecutive years of consistent vehicle docking capabilities, allowing customers to upgrade Toughbook computers without replacing vehicle docks, and significantly lowering the total cost of ownership.

The Toughbook 31 also supports numerous security features, including options for an insertable SmartCard reader and fingerprint reader, using biometrics to protect mission-critical data.

Panasonic Toughbook 31: Key Upgraded Features
 Choice of three models
o Intel® Core™ i5-2540M CPU 2.6GHz with vPro™ (w/Turbo Boost up to 3.3 GHz)
 320GB 7200rpm HDD, ATI Radeon™ HD6750 & Intel QM67 video
o Intel Core i5-2520M CPU 2.5GHz with vPro (w/Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz)
 320GB 7200rpm HDD, Intel QM67 video controller
o Intel Core i3-2310M CPU 2.1 GHz
 320GB 5400rpm HDD, Intel HM65 video controller
 Genuine Windows 7® Professional (32-bit & 64-bit)
 Screen Brightness: 2-1200 nit
 RAM
o i5 models: 4-8GB DDR3 (1333 MHz)
o i3 model: 2-8GB DDR3 (1333 MHz)
 Battery Life
o i5 models: up to 13.5 hours
o i3 model: up to 8 hours
o Optional extended-life media bay battery: additional 6.5 hours
 Embedded Connectivity
o Optional embedded 4G LTE (available later this year)
o Wi-Fi
 i5 models: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 802.11a/b/g/n
 i3 model: Atheros 802.11b/g/n
 Interfaces
o SDXC
o Optional USB 3.0 (USB 3.0 x 1, USB 2.0 x 3)

How a Panasonic Toughbook Can Help to Prevent Data Loss

Data loss is one of the biggest costs for business IT departments around the world, but a Panasonic Toughbook can help to curb the need for expensive data recovery services by preventing some of the most common causes of hard drive failure.

Hard drives often fail and lose data due to excessive heat, cold, shock, vibration or contamination, and a Panasonic Toughbook has features to combat all of these. Special shock mounts are included in many semi-rugged Panasonic Toughbook models to keep a hard drive from slamming into the sides of its enclosure if a computer is accidentally dropped. These shocks can sometimes prevent damage from a fall of 12 feet or more, depending on the rating of the individual Panasonic Toughbook. The exterior materials of the laptop also aid in protecting the hard drive by spreading the impact of a physical shock over a greater area.

Many Panasonic Toughbook models have the option of additional hard drive heating and cooling, which prevents hard drive failure by keeping the drive at the appropriate temperature. This feature is especially important when working outdoors in either hot or cold conditions. Without temperature control, a hard drive’s internal components can expand and shrink, leading to performance degradation and eventually to permanent data loss.

Some newer Panasonic Toughbook models have the option of a solid state drive. Solid state drives are the next generation of data storage and can handle physical shock and extreme temperatures better than standard hard drives, as they have no moving parts. When combined with the protective features of a Panasonic Toughbook, a solid state drive can be the ultimate tool in preventing data loss and ensuring steady operation.

Of course, there’s no substitute for a good data backup plan, but as many Panasonic Toughbook models feature ready-to-go mobile Internet access, even data backup is simpler and more reliable. Panasonic Toughbook owners can regularly upload or edit their files on company servers. Data backup software can be used efficiently from almost anywhere in the world. Ultimately, a Toughbook’s features are perfectly designed to minimize all possible sources of data loss and to provide for more reliable, enhanced data backup. It’s an exceptional way to keep data protected and to keep the significant costs of data loss as low as possible for any business or military application.

Features to Look for in a Military Laptop

Due to the variety of conditions that they face and the need for dependable data access at all times, members of the military absolutely need to use a specially-designed military laptop. It’s no secret that durability is high on the list of necessary features for a military laptop, but even so, finding the right computer can be difficult without a careful consideration of the factors that often lead to hardware failure and data loss.

A military laptop needs to be capable of reliable operation in a wide variety of weather conditions. Absolutely essential features include a spill or liquid-resistant keyboard, or preferably, all-weather construction. While a keyboard is an inexpensive piece of hardware to repair or replace, a military laptop is completely unusable when its keyboard is broken and water can seep through the keyboard, damaging more vital components of a laptop’s hardware. Liquid-resistant keyboards can allow temporary operation in storms and can also be useful for protecting a computer in extremely humid conditions. Humidity causes rust and a host of other problems in a military laptop, so any protection can be extremely useful in keeping maintenance and repair costs down.

Heavy-duty military laptop models often have additional protection from contamination and can be better in desert environments. Many rugged laptops are completely airtight when closed, which can be useful for preventing infiltration even in the toughest of sandstorms.

A military laptop needs to have superior hard drive physical shock protection to prevent data loss if the laptop is accidentally dropped or if it suffers excessive vibration due to environmental factors. Panasonic Toughbooks often have specially designed shock mounts for this exact purpose, and some military laptop designs incorporate solid state drives which have no moving parts and are therefore less likely to suffer from physical shock damage than a standard HDD. Other features to look for include advanced hard drive cooling and heating elements to prevent a drive’s components from expanding or shrinking, which can lead to failure.

Security is also absolutely important when purchasing a military laptop. Panasonic Toughbooks often employ highly accurate fingerprint scanners to prevent unauthorized access. Given the durable construction of the laptops, a fingerprint scanner can aid in keeping data out of the wrong hands and can be used in conjunction with encryption software for the ultimate in data security

Why A Durable Laptop Is A Long Term Investment

Every computer purchase should be carefully considered to improve the buyer’s return on investment, and this is particularly the case when purchasing a specially designed durable laptop. While a standard desktop or laptop computer can have an effect on employee productivity, durable laptop computers are designed to run in potentially harsh conditions. In short, they’re built with employee productivity in mind, which is why many businesses consider these specialized computers to be important long term investments.

Each durable laptop is built to last, both in terms of its internal hardware and its casing. Special materials are used to protect the laptop from dirt, dust, and sand infiltration. Internal components are designed to minimize the chances of data loss and to ensure consistent operation, regardless of what type of software the computer is using. Tough laptops are very portable and can be lightweight. In some cases, thanks to their superior construction they’re nearly indestructible. Durable laptops are designed by major companies such as Panasonic and can include custom hardware when necessary, including specialized hardware for military or industrial purposes.

Modern durable laptops can be customized and regularly upgraded to keep their hardware from becoming obsolete. This further improves the investment potential of these devices. In the past, older Toughbooks and specially designed laptops needed to be replaced every few years, but a modern durable laptop can last indefinitely with minimal repair and upgrade costs.

The best aspect of a durable laptop is the effect that it has on employee productivity. Having a dependable computer is absolutely essential for many professionals, especially those who travel frequently or who work in environments where dust infiltration, vibration, physical jarring, or other common causes of computer failure are unavoidable. A specially designed laptop is essential to keep these employees working productively and to avoid wasting company or personal money on work stoppages.

The heightened productivity that a dependable, durable laptop provides can be extremely important to any business and, when combined with the low maintenance and repair costs of the computers, it’s easy to see how a well-built laptop can provide a tremendous return on investment. Durable laptops are much better suited for most work purposes than standard consumer laptops, and they’re a superior option for any business looking for a long-term IT investment that will pay for itself.