Information AboutPanasonic Toughbook |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT TOUGHBOOK | |
| matsushita | |
| laptops | |
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Toughbook is the trademarked brand name owned by Matsushita Electric Industrial and marketed by their international brand name Panasonic . Toughbook refers to its line of semi-rugged and Rugged Laptop Computer s. In 2005, Panasonic added the Toughbook Arbitrator mobile digital camera and mobile Digital Video Recorder (DVR) system to their line. Toughbooks are commonly used by Telstra , public safety ( Police ), utilities, field service, construction, and military personnel. OVERVIEW 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 Toughbooks have an average annual repair rate of around 3.2% compared to an industry average of around 25%. Panasonic's fully-rugged Toughbooks have an average annualized failure of under 1.5%. 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 retail channels, and most sales are to organizations, rather than individuals. Many law enforcement agencies use fully rugged Toughbooks 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 HSPDA country-wide Wireless WAN capabilities built into the laptop. Panasonic has been one of the earliest adopters of WWAN technology 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 W5, are US versions of thin and light consumer laptops sold in Japan under the ''Let's Note'' name. The Toughbook 08 is a 10.4” fully sealed and ruggedized touchscreen designed to connect to another computer or server. These models communicate with a server via WLAN and a secured thin client. Used in campus area environments that require light, durable, touchscreen equipment such as hospitals (no resident data 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 nit, 12.1” Touchscreen. This unit typically permanently mounts to a vehicle’s dashboard and connects to a removable computer mounted elsewhere in the vehicle. All 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 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. A good recent example of the benefits of this is with the situations of exploding batteries. Panasonic manufactures its own batteries for the Toughbook Line and does not have a recall situation from catastrophic battery failure. USE IN EMS AND FIRE SERVICES Many Emergency Medical Services providers also use these books for patient-care reporting and computer aided dispatch. The use of third-party software by ZOLL Data Systems, Skyscape, and other medical software providers increases efficiency of EMTs and paramedics in the field, as well as allows rapid entry of patient data which may be passed on quickly to definitive care providers. These notebooks are preferred to other companies due to their survivability in rugged conditions, and the ease in which their metallic shells can be decontaminated in the event of contact with blood or other body fluids. USE IN-VEHICLE Many field forces deploy the Toughbook line with their fleet of vehicles. This requires the unit to be anchored to the vehicle for driver safety, device security, and user Ergonomics . The Toughbook lines are rated for severe vibration associated with large service vehicles and off-road driving, and harsh environmental conditions of constant professional use such as in EMS, fire and public safety. Other elements that enables the unit to function in vehicle:
TOUGHBOOKS IN ENTERTAINMENT
WIRELESS CAPABLE MODELS Fully rugged tablet : Comply with MIL-STD-810F ruggedness standard.
Fully rugged laptop : Comply with MIL-STD-810F ruggedness standard.
Business Rugged Toughbook laptops : Less than 4 lbs laptops. Comply with MIL-STD-810 for 1 ft. drop.
Semi rugged Toughbook Laptops. Comply with MIL-STD-810 for 1 ft. drop.
Mobile digital video system
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