The Toughbook 31, the sixth generation of Panasonic’s popular line of ruggedized mobile computers, features an Intel Core i5 or i3 processor, 1,100 nit touchscreen display and rugged certifications beyond MIL-STD-810G and IP65 standards, according to the company. Other highlights of the new laptop include an ATI Radeon HD 5650 graphics card and a hybrid cooling system that keeps internal temperatures down with the more powerful Core i5 processor option.
“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.”
The Toughbook 31 includes a 13.1-in. XGA LCD touchscreen and is available with Panasonic’s CircuLumin technology, allowing for full-circle viewability from the brightest sunlight to pitch darkness. It has up to 11 hours of battery life. Charging time is said to be up to 47% faster than the Toughbook 30.
The device has 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. By combining embedded mobile broadband technology with the Toughbook 31’s optional built-in webcam, workers can easily transmit video in real-time from anywhere back to their field office or dispatch, Panasonic said.
The Toughbook 31 also supports numerous security features, including options for an insertable SmartCard reader and fingerprint reader, using biometrics to protect critical data. It comes equipped with Windows 7, but can be downgraded to XP, and has 2GB RAM expandable to 8GB.
