JV

It’s so tough to spot such a Toughbook in India.

‘TOUGHBOOK’ is a trademarked brand name owned by Panasonic.

In 2005, Panasonic added the Toughbook Arbitrator mobile digital camera and mobile digital video recorder (DVR) system to their line. Toughbook computers are generally used by public safety (police, fire and emergency medical services), utilities, field service, healthcare, construction, plus Federal civilian and military personnel.

The Panasonic Toughbook is a laptop computer created for extreme environments. The system is designed to withstand vibration, drops, spills, extreme temperature, and other rough handling. While originally targeted at military, law enforcement and heavy industrial users, Panasonic has expanded marketing towards a wider audience in recent years.

The Toughbook line has an average annual repair rate of around 3.2%. Panasonic's fully-rugged Toughbook PCs have an average annualized failure of about 1.5%.

Many law enforcement agencies use fully rugged Toughbook laptops in their patrol cars to run computer-assisted dispatch software. Utility companies similarly dispatch field workers, print work orders, and conduct inspections and repairs using these devices. They are often connected by WiFi Wireless LAN, embedded (internal) cellular wide area network (WAN), or via satellite to a dispatch center for real-time records checks and report taking.

Virtually all Toughbook models can have CDMA 1X-EVDO, EDGE, or HSDPA country-wide Wireless WAN capabilities built into the laptop. Panasonic has been one of the earliest adopters of WWAN technology and was the first to incorporate it into laptops. They have extensive test facilities that allow them to finely tune integrated radio modems to deliver superior connectivity. GPS is also offered internally in the Toughbook 19, 28, 29 and 30.

Panasonic markets the Toughbook series in several configurations ranging from business and semi-rugged to fully rugged in both laptop and Tablet PC configurations, as well as several specialty designs (see product list and spec sheets below in "Wireless Capable Models"). Some models, such as the lightweight W8, are US versions of thin and light consumer laptops sold in Japan under the Let's Note name. The Toughbook H1 is a 10.4 inch fully sealed and ruggedized touchscreen slate style tablet PC. Used in campus area environments that require light, durable, touchscreen equipment such as hospitals (drop and fluid resistant), restaurants (card swipe option, rugged), and EMS (lightweight, rugged, vehicle area computing). The Toughbook PDRC or Permanent Display Removable Computer is an extraordinarily bright 1250 nits, 12.1" Touchscreen. This unit permanently mounts, usually to a vehicle’s dashboard, and connects to a removable computer mounted elsewhere in the vehicle.

All laptop models have a full magnesium alloy case which is 20 times stronger than the ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic commonly used in laptop construction. Many models have LCD panels designed specifically for visibility during daylight use. Other design elements include a shock-mounted hard drive and, on many models, a moisture and dust-resistant LCD, keyboard and touchpad. Available options include integrated mobile broadband (a particular strength for Panasonic),touchscreens, digitizers, and backlit keyboards.

Panasonic markets itself as one of the only remaining core manufacturers of laptop computers, meaning that Panasonic manufactures most of the major parts used in the laptop and assembles the laptop itself. This is opposed to the practice of outsourcing the parts and assembly to a third party manufacturer.

Panasonic Computer Solutions Company market the Toughbook product family into North, Central and South American and European markets exclusively through their network of dealers. These units are not usually sold through consumer retail channels, and most sales are to organizations, rather than individuals. It’s tough to have it in the hands of common people. So, perhaps, the way it’s named as TOUGHBOOK!!