New Survey Conducted by Harris Interactive on Behalf of Panasonic Reveals Seventy Percent of Laptop Users Uncomfortable Storing Their PC in Airplane Overhead Bin

Business Wire, Nov 12, 2007

November 2007 data sheds new light on attitudes and behavior of laptop users at work and on-the-go

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Panasonic Computer Solutions Company, manufacturer of durable, reliable Panasonic[R] Toughbook[R] mobile computers, today announced findings of a new survey commissioned in November that was conducted by Harris Interactive[R] to better understand the experiences and needs of U.S. laptop users.

According to the online survey of more than 2,300 adults, 70 percent of U.S. adult laptop users strongly agreed that they wouldn't feel comfortable storing their laptop in an overhead bin while traveling on an airplane because of fear that it might become damaged.

Participants were also asked about how often they use their laptop outside a traditional office environment, causes of laptop damage and repair history, and preferred laptop features, including their experiences with wireless offerings and battery life.

Here are some of the key findings:

* Among adults who regularly use a laptop computer, 47% use their laptop outside of a typical office environment on a daily basis.

* 25% regularly (i.e., 3 days a week or more) use a laptop while traveling or somewhere else outside their home or work.

* Among laptop users, 68 percent reported the type of damage their laptop is most at risk for when traveling is being dropped, knocking against a hard surface or getting crushed under the weight of other objects, and 39 percent reported experiencing some form of mishap (drop, knock, and spill) with their laptop.

* 89 percent of laptop users surveyed cited long battery life (i.e., greater than 3 hours) is "Absolutely Essential/Very Important/Important," yet, 70 percent said the longest amount of battery life they typically experience is three hours or less.

* Reliable wireless access to the Internet through their laptop is viewed as "Absolutely Essential/Very Important" by 75 percent of employed laptop owners with wireless capabilities.

* 90 percent of laptop users would be at least somewhat willing to pay a premium for a laptop with durability features.

"Findings reflect that many people are working outside traditional office environments and they have high expectations for certain performance metrics that have not fully been met," said Marca Armstrong, director of marketing, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company. "Based on this data and our experience manufacturing durable notebooks for more than fifteen years, durability and wireless connectivity are now among the must-have needs of professionals."

These findings are in line with research conducted in 2005 by IDC, which showed that dropping while carrying was the number one cause of accidental notebook damage. Liquid spills and falls from a table or desk rounded out the top three mishaps leading to accidental damage.

For more information, or to obtain full study findings, please visit the Panasonic Computer Solutions Company pressroom at http://www.panasonic.com/business/toughbook/news&events.asp.

About This Survey

This Laptop study was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Panasonic Computer Solutions Company between October 30 and November 1, 2007 among 2,351 U.S. adults ages 18 of which 1,058 are laptop users. No estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated; a full methodology is available.

About Panasonic Computer Solutions Company

Panasonic Computer Solutions Company empowers the mobile workforce. The company is a unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, which is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC). Panasonic has delivered reliable, durable mobile solutions through its Toughbook[R] line of notebook computers for fifteen years and has expanded the boundaries of wireless communications technology through a broad portfolio of products, ranging from fully rugged, industrial strength notebook computers and tablet PCs to business-rugged thin and-light and ultraportable notebooks. A core manufacturer, Matsushita and its subsidiaries control the entire process of design, manufacture, quality assurance, service and support. As a result, Panasonic Toughbooks are known for having the lowest failure rates in the industry. Government, industrial, and commercial users--from Fortune 1,000 companies to small businesses--rely on solutions from Panasonic, wherever their work takes them.

All brand and company/product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies. All specifications are subject to change without notice. Information on Panasonic's full line of notebook PCs for the mobile professional can be obtained by calling 800-662-3537 or at http://www.panasonic.com/toughbook.>

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