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The new 14-inch Toughbook F8

(Credit: Panasonic)

Panasonic's fabled Toughbook line of rugged laptops gets a new addition Thursday, with the Toughbook F8, a 14.1-inch system that Panasonic calls the world's lightest 3G-ready notebook. The F8 has a built-in carry handle and weighs 3.7 pounds, and includes a standard Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, up to 4GB of RAM, and a 160GB shock-mounted hard drive.

The new F8 has the same semirugged features the Toughbook line is known for, such as a magnesium alloy chassis, spill-resistant keyboard, and flexible internal connectors. It also boasts wireless options, including 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Gobi 3G technology, which should let the system stay connected on different mobile broadband carriers around the world.

Besides the new F8 system, Panasonic's existing 12-inch W7 and tablet T7 Toughbooks are getting upgraded to the W8 and T8. All three new Toughbooks are designed to survive drops of 12 inches for the laptop itself and 30 inches for the shock-mounted hard drive, as well as 6-ounce spills and up to 220 pounds of pressure on the lid.

All three new systems will be available in November 2008, and we've got specs of each model after the break:

(Credit: Panasonic)

Panasonic today added a tablet UMPC to its rugged Toughbook line. Sure, you could buy six Asus Eee PCs and still have some walking around money left for the price of one $2,499 Toughbook CF-U1, but we doubt you'll grab your lunch pail and Eee PC and head down to the mine. Panasonic's latest Toughbook is, of course, built for use in the field. It's "engineered for the walking worker," according to Panasonic, and comes loaded with features.

The 5.6-inch LED backlit LCD touch screen is designed for viewing in direct sunlight, and below it is a backlit thumb keyboard divided by a number pad and arrow keys in its middle. On the right side, you can see a hand strap, but should you choose not to tether yourself to the Toughbook CF-U1, you can rest easy knowing it's been engineered to survive a four-foot drop and to resist rain, spills, dust, and vibration. It ships with two batteries, which, according to Panasonic, adds up to 9 hours of running time. The unit measures 7.2 inches wide by 5.9 inches deep by 2.2 inches high. It weighs a trim 2.3 pounds, which includes lugging around both batteries. It's completely fanless and uses a solid-state hard drive and an Intel Atom CPU, all of which should aid battery life.

In addition to a 2-megapixel Webcam and fingerprint scanner, it also features barcode and RFID readers and GPS. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 3G-mobile-broadband are also onboard. Many of these features are listed as options, so they most likely will add to the $2,499 price. Panasonic expects the Toughbook CF-U1 to ship in August.

Full specs after the break. ... Read more

Panasonic's Toughbook line could see a mini-tablet soon join its ranks.

The word is Panasonic will introduce an Intel Atom-based mini-tablet to its Toughbook line on Wednesday. Our colleagues at CNET Asia saw the unit earlier this year, which featured a 5.6-inch touch-screen display and a thin strip of QWERTY thumb keys below it. If you value ruggedized protection over usability--or really enjoy thumb typing--this mini rugged tablet might hold some attraction. Unknown is the price, but with the Asus Eee PC and its slew of imitators on the scene now at prices as low as $399, this Toughbook tablet had better come in low if it wants to find its way into the mitts of those working outside the medical and insurance fields.

Check back Wednesday when we expect to have full specs, pricing, and a ship date.

Via: Laptoping

When Steve Jobs revealed the new MacBook Air, we were taken aback by its simplicity and elegance. But while the design is revolutionary, the Air appeals to a smaller, more specialized audience, thanks to a stripped-down set of connections and features. With just a single USB port and no expansion slots or optical drive, it's not for everyone, so we put the Air up against a selection of recent high-end ultraportable laptops for a little compare-and-contrast action.

This handy list should give you an idea of the pluses and minuses of each system (and prove that there's no such thing as the perfect laptop), but you'll have to check out the video to really appreciate the side-by-side comparisons.

Apple MacBook Air ($1,799)
+ Super thin, powerful custom CPU, très sexy
- Only one USB port, still kinda heavy

Sony Vaio TZ150 ($2,299)
+ Almost as thin, includes optical drive, plenty of ports
- Expensive, slower CPU, filled with bloatware

Panasonic Toughbook W7 ($2,099)
+ Tough and water-resistant
- Slower CPU, heavy and bulky

Asus U6S ($1,699)
+ Includes optical drive, plenty of ports, cool leather detailing, powerful CPU
- Poor battery life, small touchpad

Toshiba R500 (64GB SSD) ($2,699)
+ A mere 1.7lbs, less expensive SSD option, more ports
- Not as thin, slower CPU

If you are accident-prone and like choices, perhaps the new Panasonic 7 Series Toughbook is for you.

The notebook version of the new 7 Series Toughbook from Panasonic.

(Credit: Panasonic)

Panasonic will introduce three versions of the new business-rugged notebook Monday evening. The ultraportable W7, tablet T7, and slim Y7 notebook. All come loaded with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and weigh between 3 and 3.7 pounds. (The 14-inch notebook is the heaviest of the three, if you can call 3.7 pounds "heavy.") They also come equipped with Bluetooth 2.0, and built-in Wi-Fi and mobile broadband from AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon. The notebook and ultraportable have DVD Super multi drives, while the tablet nixes the optical drive in light of space and weight considerations.

The company has termed these three notebooks "business-rugged." What they mean by that is that these will likely survive a decent amount of abuse sustained over the course of a normal business day for people on the go. They have magnesium-alloy casing, shock-mounted hard drives, and flexible internal connectors, and the casing can survive a 1-foot drop, while the hard drive can withstand a 2.5-foot drop.

In addition, it should stand up under heavy pressure. The 7 Series was designed with the Tokyo subway system in mind, where business folk pack themselves in like sardines for the daily commute, according to Panasonic. Its engineers found that standing on a train with people crushed in on all sides can create more than 220 pounds of compression force on you and your briefcase and notebook.

The 7 Series also adopts the "spill-through" keyboard used in the Toughbook 52 Series.

The notebook version is available now for $2,449, while the tablet and ultraportable will be for sale next month starting at $2,099.

The R7 Premium Edition comes in jet-black.

(Credit: Impress)

Panasonic has added four new laptops to its Let's Note line in Japan. Though they're sold under the ToughBook brand here in the States, the shiny portables aren't exactly what we'd call rugged. They are engineered to survive a drop from 30 inches--about desk height--and incorporate a spill-resistant keyboard, but we've always felt the greatest strength of the Let's Note line has been the laptops' remarkably light weight. These new models are no exception: The lightest laptop of the bunch, the 10.4-inch R7, weighs just 2.1 pounds. The 12.1-inch W7 weighs 2.8 pounds with an integrated optical drive, while the nearly-identical T7 ditches the optical for a 2.6-pound weight. The 14.1-inch Y7, meanwhile, weighs just 3.3 pounds.

Given their tiny cases, it's no surprise that these laptops all run on Low- and Ultra Low-Voltage Core 2 Duo processors. Their base configurations also all include 1GB of RAM and an 80GB hard drive, and they all feature the silver exterior we've come to expect from the ToughBook line. (The only exception is the R7 Premium Edition, pictured here, which feature a new "jet-black" case.) The laptops will begin shipping in Japan throughout October and November, and with any luck they'll make it to our side of the world this year.

Via Engadget