Editor’s note; this is an updateof the article published yesterday, we added the video
2010 is touted to be the year of the tablet , thanks to the iPad launch; but, the latest Apple luxury toy has nothing in common with the new Panasonic ToughBook C1, the “world’s lightest 12,1″ convertible tablet PC“*, which will provide good computing performances far away from your couch, in bad weather conditions and tough environments. Panasonic launched the ToughBook H1 Field tablet at MWC, and the C1 is introduced for the HIMSS conference (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) since the ToughBook C1 is mostly targeted to the healthcare market.
According to Panasonic, the company has been building rugged PCs since 1993 with integrated wireless since 1996, and they test the wireless connectivity in one of the world’s largest anechoic chambers, to ensure the best possible quality. The ToughBook is a surprisingly very light and bulky business rugged tablet built in a magnesium alloy case for durability, and is equipped with a strap and a dome for comfortable hand support (see video and pictures).
Read the full specifications and pricing in the complete article, the video will come soon.
Powered by the Intel Core i5 2.4Ghz processor and delivering 10 hours of battery life, the ToughBook C1 features a 30″ drop rating (to base only), a spill resistant keyboard (up to 6 ounces/200cc), a 12.1″ (1280×800) multi-touch display supporting an electronic stylus pen for handwriting recognition, optional Gobi2000 connectivity, Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200 802.11a/b/g/n, a 250 GB shock-mounted flex connect HDD and 2GB DDR3-800 RAM (expandable to 6 GB), and all this packaged in only 3.2 lbs (with one battery).
The Panasonic Toughbook C1 will be available worldwide starting June 2010 at an estimated street price of $2499 from authorized Panasonic resellers and distributors.
At the briefing, Panasonic representatives implied that the high price can be justified by its high quality tech support (see the A+ rating for the support published by Laptop Magazine in 2008) and the lowest failure rate of the industry: 2,4% against 26% for Dell, 25% for Lenovo, 22% for HP and 15% for Toshiba, according to a PC Magazine survey published in September 2009. This could make the device cheaper on a 4 to 5 years lifespan, the average time numerous businesses tend to keep computers, according to the ToughBook manufacturer.
More info on Toughbloggers.com
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Specifications
- Genuine Windows 7 (with XP downgrade option)
- Intel Core i5-520 processor (2.4GHz)
- 250GB shock-mounted flex-connect hard drive with quick-release
- 2GB RAM (DDR3-800), expandable to 6GB
- Choice of two 12.1” WXGA (1280 x 800) displays with LED backlighting
- Multi-touch + digitizer screen allowing input via finger, gestures and electronic stylus pen
- Gloved multi-touch screen allowing input via finger and gestures (available Fall 2010)
- Anti-glare screen treatment
- 6 backlit tablet buttons (5 user-definable)
- Hot-swappable twin batteries
- 5 hour battery life (with one battery); 10 hour battery life (with two batteries)
- 3.2 lbs (with one battery); 3.7 lbs (with two batteries)
- Optional webcam
- Built-in dual array microphone
- Business-rugged
- 30” operating drop (to base only)
- 26 sides 12” drop (non-operating)
- 225 lb pressurized vibration
- Magnesium alloy case
- Spill-resistant keyboard (protects against 6 ounces spills)
- Triple hinge design with screen rotation lock
- Ergonomic strap and dome hand support
- Embedded Connectivity
- Optional integrated WWAN / Gobi2000™ mobile broadband (EV-DO and HSPA)
- Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200 802.11a/b/g/n
- Bluetooth® v2.1 + EDR (class 2)
- Security Features:
- Fingerprint reader
- SmartCard reader
- 11.8” (H) x 8.9” (W) x 1.2-1.7” (D)
- Optional desktop dock with DVD multi-drive
- Optional 4-bay battery charger
*According to Panasonic
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