Have you ever seen or heard of a "ruggedized" phone? What about a "ruggedized" laptop? The term is nothing new. Companies have been covering expensive electronics in rubber and special casings for awhile now. These products usually appeal to those of us that work physically demanding jobs (construction workers, lumberjacks, etc). The ruggedness kept our electronics safe in-case they fell, got water on them, or had things (not so heavy things) set on them.
So with all of the ruggedized smart phones and laptops, where are the tablets? Enter Panasonic. Cnet.com broke the news that the company has unveiled its newest line of tablets, with their sleek and strong looking "Toughpad" series. These tablets are covered in a rubber-like compound material, paired with a magnesium alloy casing, and passed the standards testing of MIL-STD-810G (which is the military standard for environmental engineering products, and includes testing of things like; dropping the tablet from 4-feet high, and protecting against water and dust infiltration).
The thick screen that covers the tablet (available in a 10-inch A1 and 7-inch version B1) promises to protect against scratching and dings unlike any other tablet currently on the market. The Panasonic website states that this tablet will work and function in nearly any environment. In fact, temperature specifications state that the tablet will function in environments as high as 122-degrees Fahrenheit, and as low as 14-degrees Fahrenheit.
But just what is under the hood here? The 10-inch Toughpad runs the Android 2.3 Honeycomb OS on a 1.2 Gigahertz dual core processor (with extra embedded hardware security). The 10-inch screen runs at a 1024 by 768 resolution and offers a "daylight readable film" which means that sunlight should not affect your ability to see items on the screen. The memory features 1-gigabyte of DDR2 memory, and16-gigaybtes of flash storage. A standard lithium-ion battery, as well as expansion slots like a Micro USB 2.0 slot, Micro HDMI slot, and Micro SDHC slot, are also included in the system.
Need to take photos? It can do that too with an integrated 2-MegaPixel front-facing webcam, and a 5-MegaPixel rear-facing camera that boasts an LED light and auto focus capabilities. When it comes to internet connectivity, the Toughpad will give you the option of integrated 4G (WiMax LTE) wireless, or 3G mobile broadband access. The Toughpad also comes integrated with a GPS receiver and bluetooth capabilities. Better yet, all of this comes standard with a 3-year limited (parts and labor) warranty. The specifications for the 7-inch version of the Toughpad are not yet available.
It is important to remember that these Toughpads are not geared towards the average tablet user. These types of products are generally marketed more towards businesses. Ones that require workers to use sophisticated programs and tools on the fly (think Construction Foreman, Surveyor, or any other job which requires working in the elements and surrounded by hazards). That isn't to say that the average person isn't capable of purchasing a Toughpad, and they are available to the general public if you really want one. You can use this tool on the Panasonic website to locate an authorized Panasonic re-seller.
The 10-inch Toughpad is slotted for a release in the 2012 Spring quarter, while the 7-inch version is slotted for a 2012 Fall quarter release. The price tag on a 10-inch Toughpad? Currently set at $1,299 USD. That pricing further drives home the fact that these tablets are mainly aimed at businesses.
What about you? Would you buy a Toughpad A1? Let us know in the comments section below!
