SECAUCUS, N.J., Aug. 15, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Although your boss wouldn't recommend trying it, a new Windows®-based notebook PC can survive being drop-kicked, choked with dust, left on vibrating equipment and splashed with water, according to the manufacturer.
The 8-lb. Toughbook 27 notebook computer uses Touchscreen technology. Panasonic Personal Computer Company designed it to meet test parameters for shock, dust, vibration and water resistance in an effort to make it stand up to tough industrial environments.
The computer also supports the most popular wireless communications technologies including Mobitex (BellSouth Wireless Data), DataTAC (Motient™ Network Mobile) and CDPD, which professionals use at the work site to check with the office over the Internet.
The notebook's wireless capabilities rely on a fully integrated, internally-powered modem together with a H.O.T.™ ("High-Gain, Omni-Directional, Telescopic") antenna, making it suitable for field service, dispatch, remote networking and other applications.
The LCD display reduces light reflection, while providing readability even in bright sunlight and outdoor environments. The new display technology consists of Polysilicon "DayBrite™ ARX" and anti-reflective filter technology combined with a TFT active matrix color display.
The new PC also comes standard with Touchscreen, allowing mobile professionals the simultaneous keyboard/touch screen input depending on application and requirements.
The company incorporated water-resistant, shock-absorbing. ruggedized features to make the computer more resistant to damage from moisture, dust, shock and vibration.
The PC has spill-resistant keyboards and touchpads for protection against potential damage from spills and splashes common to mobile computing environments. An overlay panel protects the LCD. Its sealed edges provide extra protection against moisture and dust. Hinged aluminum alloy covers with environmental seals protect the multimedia pocket, PC card slots and rear connection terminals.
The hard drive mounted in shock-absorbing polymer compounds insulates the drive from vibration and shock and protects mission-critical data. To prevent costly damage to the LCD display, internal dampeners absorb shock and sudden impact. Should the notebook be dropped or bumped, flexible connectors between the hard disk drive and system board protect against the transfer of shock between these components.
In addition, the port replicator connection has been ruggedized to avoid damage from the bumps, knocks and vibrations that are inevitable when operating in a moving vehicle.
Communications ports available include infrared, serial, parallel, external keyboard/mouse, USB, port replicator, headphones/speaker, microphone/line in, modem, external video, 4Mbps IrDA, D-sub 9 pin, D-sub 25 pin, mini-DIN 6 pin, 4 pin, 80 pin (reinforced), mini-jack stereo, mini-jack, integrated 56Kbps and D-sub 15 pin.
General features:
- Intel® Pentium® II processor 333 MHz
- Up to 13.3" LCD with Touchscreen
- Up to 12GB hard drive standard, expandable to 20GB
- 256KB on-die L2 cache
- Up to 128MB SDRAM standard, expandable to 256MB
- 1.44MB floppy drive (also accepts DVD-ROM Drive, SuperDisk™ Drive or CD-ROM Drive)
- NeoMagic™ NM2200 video controller, 2.5MB VRAM
- External video support up to 1024 x 768 at 16M colors
Toughbooks are not available in retail stores, but instead are distributed via a certain business-to-business resale partners. To contact a sales rep, e-mail them at mailto:[email protected] , or call (800) 662-3537. For more information, visit Panasonic's web site.
