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Panasonic launches ToughBook in India news
Our Infotech Bureau
26 August 2005

Panasonic Systems Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd has announced the launch of its Toughbook range of laptops in Indiafrom today. The range is claimed to be the lightest and toughest product in the market.

According to. Chishima Susumu, director, Panasonic Systems Asia Pacific (India), "ToughBooks are made as per US military wartime specifications (MIL-certified) and have earned a major share of the market worldwide — 74 per cent in the 'rugged' PC category as per VDC Research."

Toughbooks incorporate a magnesium alloy casing, which extends to the hard drive that is shock mounted in a metal casing with sponge and polymer compounds that insulate the disk from shocks, even when the head is writing onto the drive. The magnesium alloy casing further goes on to the LCD screen that is fitted with internal dampeners. Even the connectors are made flexible to absorb shock. Another feature of the product is the fan-less design and lack of an air vent. All covers are sealed by specially developed synthetic resin to protect against water and dust. Instead of fan cooling ToughBooks are cooled through the body itself, by creating a casing that breathes.

Company reports claim that the products go through 26 durability tests. Shashi Bhushan, business head, Panasonic Systems Asia Pacific (India), says "According to Gartner Group, the annualised failure rate for other brands of mobile computers used outside is as high as 35 per cent while that for rugged ToughBooks is only 3 per cent. Therefore, even though the initial acquisition costs for ruggedised ToughBooks is high, the total cost of ownership is lower."

The laptop is also claimed to weigh weigh 50 per cent less than other similar products. The ToughBooks, battery life of up to 8.5 hours on a single battery, outdoor readable LCD screens, and ability to support 4 integrated wireless WAN technologies including CDMA / EVDO, GPRS / EDGE, GPS and Bluetooth, simultaneously. The laptop has a number of built in antennas for all kinds of wireless communication on the go.

The new range has a starting price of Rs175,000 onwards.

Panasonic is a brand of Matsushita Electric Industrial (MEI). It is the leading manufacturer of electronic and electrical products for consumer, business and industrial use. MEI is ranked fourth in the Fortune 500 index for 'Electronics and Electrical Equipments' and ranked as a 'World Super 50' in Forbes.


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Panasonic launches ToughBook in India