Panasonic Raises the Bar for Reliable Mobile Computing with New Suite of Business-Rugged Toughbook® Notebooks

Business Wire, Nov 13, 2007

7 series Toughbook notebooks real-world tested to withstand the drops, bumps and spills faced by truly mobile professionals; Panasonic's history of engineering and building-in durability central to new ultraportable and thin-and-light systems

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Panasonic Computer Solutions Company, manufacturer of durable, reliable Panasonic[R] Toughbook[R] mobile computers, today introduced three new business-rugged notebook computers designed to meet the demands of mobile executives, walking workers and road warriors: the ultraportable W7, the tablet alternative T7, and the thin-and-light Y7.

The new suite of business computing solutions are based on Panasonic's 15 year history of engineering and manufacturing robust notebook computers that deliver the durability, reliability and connectivity essential to keeping government and business professionals working wherever and whenever they need to.

"As business travelers' reliance on their notebooks grows, a dimension of mobile computing coming into increasing focus is durability," said Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Technologies Associates, Inc. "Not willing to pay a premium for a fully rugged notebook, most mobile executives still want a portable with some durability characteristics beyond those available in ordinary systems. Lightweight systems with good battery life and some ability to withstand drops, shocks and spills--'business-rugged' notebooks--will only rise in popularity over time."

Built with the real-world challenges of today's on-the-go user in mind, the Intel[R] Core[TM] 2 Duo-based W7, T7 and Y7 notebooks offer an ideal combination of the latest computing power, extremely light weight (from 3.0 to 3.7 lbs) and long battery life--all protected by proven durability that is engineered from the inside-out. Like all Toughbook notebooks, the business-rugged 7 series notebooks are drop- and spill-resistant, have strong magnesium alloy cases and chassis, shock-mounted hard drives and LCDs, and internal flexible connectors for additional protection.

In addition, the 7 Series business-rugged products offer a range of embedded wireless options for anytime, anywhere connectivity, including 802.11, Bluetooth 2.0 and optional high-performance built-in 3G mobile broadband solutions from AT&T (HSDPA), Sprint or Verizon Wireless (EV-DO Rev. A).

Business-rugged notebooks from Panasonic address a growing market need for PCs that are up to the challenges of mobility. In a November, 2007 Harris Interactive poll sponsored by Panasonic released yesterday, 42% of adult notebook users reported some form of mishap with their laptop, including knocking it against a hard surface (26%), dropping it (21%) or spilling something on it (15%). 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.

"People on the move can't accomplish what they need to in work and life if they don't have a reliable notebook they can count on to stay connected. The superior engineering of our light weight and durable business-rugged Toughbook notebooks protects against the inevitable drops, bumps and spills facing truly mobile users," said Rance M. Poehler, president, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company. "While everyone is talking a good game about delivering more durable computing solutions, the double-digit average failure rates of most business notebooks are unacceptably high. Customers deserve better and Panasonic is raising the bar for reliability by making our wireless business notebooks durable from the inside out and backing that up with a three year warranty and round-the-clock US-based support."

A Commitment to Innovation and Engineering Backed by Comprehensive Testing and Quality Control Panasonic has long been an innovator in mobile computing. Among other milestones, the company was the first to integrate an optical drive--the world's lightest--into a 12.1" notebook form factor. With the 7 series of Toughbook notebooks, Panasonic is breaking new ground with heat and power management technology.

In order to optimally run the more powerful Intel Santa Rosa processors in the small and lightweight 7 Series mobile PCs, engineers from Panasonic and Intel created a proprietary implementation of Dynamic Power Performance Management technology, designed to continually fine tune CPU usage based on system load and the tasks being performed. A new Hybrid Cooling System incorporates a compact fan design as well as a user-defined fan utility to help manage fan speed based on ambient conditions and the performance required. Combined, these new technologies help optimize system performance while preventing case overheating and extending battery life.

The new business-rugged Toughbook notebooks are also more durable than any other business notebook. They are drop-tested using both the MIL-STD-810F methodology common to rugged notebooks as well as additional Panasonic factory drop tests. Commonly misunderstood, mil-spec testing does not prescribe a specific drop height. Rather, it outlines a method by which units are dropped a total of 26 times, on every axis, onto plywood over steel over concrete. Fully-rugged Panasonic Toughbook notebooks are mil-spec rated to 36" (for both the unit and the hard drive), while the 7 series business-rugged Toughbook notebooks are mil-spec rated to 12" for the unit itself and 30" for the shock-mounted hard drive. An additional Panasonic drop-test requires that 7 series notebooks survive a 30" (just over the typical height of a desk or table) drop to the base of the unit while it is operating.