Panasonic Introduces The Toughbook 31

Panasonic Solutions Company today introduced the Panasonic Toughbook 31, the most powerful fully-rugged notebook computer on the market. With an Intel® Core™ i5 or i3 processor, 1,100 nit touchscreen display and rugged certifications beyond MIL-STD-810G and IP65, the new device enables superior data access and productivity for any mobile professional facing extreme environments. These professionals include first responders, military personnel, and field workers in industries such as telecommunications, utilities and energy.

Panasonic Toughbook CF-31

Desktop-Class Performance in a Fully-Rugged Notebook

The Toughbook 31 is the sixth generation of flagship Toughbook clamshell notebooks, which have become the gold standard of rugged computing over the past 14 years, boasting the lowest failure rates in the industry. Now, powered by a new Intel® Core™ i5 or i3 processor, the Toughbook 31 offers desktop-class performance alongside world-class reliability. The availability of discrete graphics from an ATI Radeon™ HD5650 card also delivers significant improvements in 3D graphics, important for GIS and other graphic-rich applications.

The Toughbook 31 continues Panasonic’s tradition of delivering no-compromise reliable computing for mission critical users. Additional processing power using the Core i5 is made possible by a unique new hybrid cooling system that keeps the internal temperature down while still maintaining optimal protection from liquids, dust and other environmental hazards. The Toughbook 31 provides unrivaled ruggedness and shock protection, and is certified to MIL-STD-810G and beyond. The notebook is protected from drops of up to six feet and has achieved an IP65 rating for unparalleled protection from water and dust.

“The Toughbook 31 combines the best of three worlds – mobility, performance and ruggedness,” said Erik Reid, mobile client marketing director, Intel Corporation. “This is achieved by combining the high performance of the Intel® Core™ i5 and i3 Processor technology with the ruggedness of the Panasonic design which enables users to perform compute intensive applications in almost any kind of conditions.”

Brighter Touchscreen, Long Battery Life

The Toughbook 31 includes a 13.1-inch XGA LCD touchscreen and is available with Panasonic CircuLumin™ technology, allowing for full-circle viewability from the brightest sunlight to pitch darkness. The notebook features the brightest standard screen available, at 1,100 nits, but can drop 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 offers up to 11 hours of battery life despite its brighter screen and more powerful processor. New LED backlighting generates lower power consumption and delivers superior performance in cold weather. Charging time has been significantly reduced as well: the battery fully charges up to 47 percent faster than its predecessor, the Toughbook 30.

Extensive Embedded Mobile Broadband Options

Panasonic has over 14 years experience designing embedded wireless products to provide customers with superior mobile connectivity and throughput. The Toughbook 31, like all Toughbook mobile computers, helps maximize mobile productivity through a variety of embedded wireless technologies. Each device combines Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth® v2.1 +EDR, with an option for WiMAX capability and Gobi2000™ mobile broadband technology from Qualcomm. Gobi simplifies complex multi-carrier wireless deployments for IT departments and allows improved connectivity options for mobile employees traveling at home or abroad. By matching embedded mobile broadband with the Toughbook 31’s new optional built-in webcam, workers can easily transmit video in real-time from anywhere back to their field office or dispatch.

“As richer data becomes more available to first-responders and field workers, greater computing power is needed without sacrificing ruggedness,” said Rance M. Poehler, president, Panasonic Solutions Company. “Like all of our products, the Toughbook 31 was designed based on vast customer input because the performance of each device is mission-critical. The Toughbook 31 is the first device of its kind to perfectly blend performance and durability. It combines the speed of desktop computers with the reliability of a rugged mobile computer, helping end-users work with richer data in a variety of challenging environments. The no-compromise approach of Panasonic’s engineers enables us to deliver the industry’s best display with the long battery life our customers have always valued.”

Platform Stability Lowers TCO

In accordance with customers’ requests, the Toughbook 31 maintains a platform footprint virtually identical to past flagship products. This marks 11 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.