Panasonic Toughbook, Your Laptop Fears it
Laptops and tablets in Panasonic's Toughbook line are a top choice for anyone who needs their computer to stand up to rough treatment and extreme environments. Made to deal with hot and cold, tumbles and falls, vibration, and even dust and liquids, these computers can make it through treatment that'd bring a regular laptop to its knees.
They were originally designed for use by law enforcement specialists, industrial users and the military, but recent years have seen the Toughbook spreading into other markets. Toughbooks have an annual repair rate averaging only about three percent, with fully rugged types averaging one and a half percent. That means they're quite reliable in just about any situation, including ones where ordinary laptop computers fail frequently.
Toughbooks are sold exclusively through Panasonic's dealer network in the Western Hemisphere and in European markets. Most sales are to organizations, and it's hard to find one in a retail setting. Purchasing a Toughbook for personal use may be difficult, since these computers are not traditionally used in this way.
Fully rugged Toughbooks are commonly used in law enforcement patrol cars, and by utility companies. All Toughbooks offer wireless connectivity through a number of different means, including embedded cellular, standard wireless, or satellite connections. These were some of the first computers to make use of wireless tech, and they're continuing to be a leader in the field.
Panasonic Toughbooks come in a number of different configurations to match the needs of their users - from business to semi rugged to fully rugged. The more rugged the computer is, the more stress it can deal with, whether it's a tablet style or a laptop. There are also a number of specialty Toughbooks available for use in specific situation, such as EMS.
Toughbooks are all enclosed in magnesium alloy cases, which are about twenty times stronger than conventional laptop computer plastic. They use LCD panels designed to stay readable even in bad lighting conditions, and keyboards, cases and screens are usually sealed against dust and moisture. Shock mounted hard drives and extra durable components are also common.
Digitizers, touch screens, and backlit keyboards for use in the dark are also found on some Toughbook models. Whatever the environment can dish out, and whatever kind of treatment they're put through, Toughbooks are made to stand up to it.
Panasonic is also one of the few remaining laptop manufacturers that's still making most of its own parts and doing its own assembly. These are called core manufacturers, and they're pretty rare, since most laptop makers outsource parts and production, too. That means that production standards and quality control are a lot lower - Toughbooks and other rugged computers have to be reliable, so they can't be made this way.
For anyone whose job requires a lot of exposure to environmental hazards, as well as quick and ready access to a reliable computer, the Toughbook is the answer. Panasonic remains a leader in the market for these rugged laptop and tablet computers, and if you're used one, it's really no surprise. Your organization should take a look at the Toughbooks on the market to see if they're right for your work.
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