Panasonic Raises The Bar With New Suite Of Business-Rugged Toughbook® Notebooks

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, NJ, November 13, 2007 – Panasonic Computer Solutions Company, manufacturer of durable, reliable Panasonic® Toughbook® 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® Core™ 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.

The unique Panasonic spill-through keyboard design protects against liquid spills of more than 6 ounces (200 cc), and both the lid and base of the notebooks are designed to withstand more than 220 lbs (100 Kg) of pressure. In addition, Toughbook notebook hinges are required to pass 50,000 cycles and keyboards are tested to withstand 25 million keystrokes. Panasonic’s commitment to quality—at both the component and finished goods level—results in a total of more than 500 checks and tests before, during and after production.

Business-Rugged Panasonic Toughbook Notebooks

Toughbook W7: Ultraportable Notebook for the Mobile Professional
The ultraportable Panasonic Toughbook W7 notebook, with its integrated DVD MULTI drive, 12.1 inch anti-glare LCD, and weight of 3 pounds, is ideal for mobile professionals. Equipped with an ultra-low voltage Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor, 1 GB SDRAM (expandable), 80 GB hard disk, and battery life of approximately 7 hours, the W7 is as useful on an airline tray table as it is in the board room.

Toughbook T7: A lightweight Tablet PC Alternative
Designed with input from “walking workers” such as nurses and home care professionals, the Toughbook T7 notebook is a tablet-alternative notebook with a touch screen, stylus and screen rotating software. The system features a 12.1 inch touch-screen LCD and convenient hand strap. Equipped with an ultra-low voltage Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor, the 3.3 pound T7 provides an 80GB hard drive and 1 GB SDRAM (expandable) and delivers up to 9 hours of battery life, depending on operating environment.

Toughbook Y7: Desktop Computer Capabilities in an Extremely Thin and Light Package
The world’s lightest laptop with a 14.1 inch display, the Panasonic Toughbook Y7 thin-and-light notebook weighs only 3.7 pounds and delivers five hours of battery life. The Toughbook Y7 notebook includes a built-in DVD MULTI drive, Intel® Core™ 2 Duo low voltage processor, 1 GB SDRAM (expandable) and 80 GB hard drive. The Y7’s larger screen makes it suitable for presenting to small groups while still being portable enough for professional road warriors.

Security Options Vital for Mission-Critical Computing
The Panasonic Toughbook 7 Series notebooks all provide significant data security features including trusted platform module (TPM) security chip v. 1.2, the Computrace theft protection agent in the BIOS, a cable lock slot, password security and an optional fingerprint scanner. The T7’s lack of an optical drive is by design, enhancing data security in highly regulated environments such as healthcare.

Superior Warranty, Support and Professional Services
Every Panasonic Toughbook notebook includes a standard three-year limited warranty and free access to 24/7/365 U.S.-based phone support for the entire life of the product. The Panasonic call center hold time averages less than one minute. In addition, in the unlikely event of a hardware-related failure, Panasonic covers the cost of overnight shipping to and from its national service center, where the average turnaround time for repairs is less than two days. Panasonic also offers a full range of professional services to support customers during and after deployment.

Pricing and Availability
The Panasonic Toughbook Y7 is available now at an estimated street price of $2,449.00. The mobile broadband-ready Panasonic Toughbook W7 and Toughbook T7 will be available in December, 2007 at an estimated street price of $2,099. All Toughbook notebooks can be purchased from authorized Panasonic Toughbook resellers nationwide. Please visit www.panasonic.com/toughbook for more information.

Detailed Product Features and Specifications*

Panasonic Toughbook T7

• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor ULV U7500, 1.06 GHz
• 1 GB DDR2-533 SDRAM standard, expandable to 2 GB
• 80GB HDD, shock-mounted
• 12.1" 1024 x 768 XGA anti-glare TFT active matrix color LCD with touchscreen
• TPM Security Chip v1.2
• Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AG 802.11a/b/g
• Genuine Windows Vista? Business (with XP downgrade option)
• Display Image Rotation software
• Dimensions: 1.5"/2.3" (H) x 10.7" (W) x 8.5" (D) (including hand strap)
• Ergonomic hand strap
• Weight: 3.3 lbs
• Battery life: 5-9 hours

Mini Dock Box Replicator (accessory)
Wireless on-off switch (WWAN, WLAN, Bluetooth)
Bluetooth® v2.0 + EDR
Optional integrated WWAN / mobile broadband (EV-DO or HSDPA)

 

Panasonic Toughbook W7

• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor ULV U7500, 1.06 GHz
• 1 GB DDR2-533 SDRAM standard, expandable to 2 GB
• 80GB HDD, shock-mounted
• Integrated DVD Super MULTI drive
• 12.1" 1024 x 768 XGA anti-glare TFT active matrix color LCD
• TPM Security Chip v1.2
• Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AG 802.11a/b/g
• Genuine Windows Vista? Business (with XP downgrade option)
• Dimensions: 1.4"/2.0" (H) x 10.7" (W) x 8.5"(D)
• Weight: 3.0 lbs
• Battery life: 7 hours

Mini Dock Box Replicator (accessory)
Wireless on-off switch (WWAN, WLAN, Bluetooth)
Bluetooth® v2.0 + EDR
Optional integrated WWAN / mobile broadband (EV-DO or HSDPA)

 

Panasonic Toughbook Y7

• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor L7500, 1.6 GHz
• 1 GB DDR2-533 SDRAM standard, expandable to 2 GB
• 80GB HDD, shock-mounted
• Integrated DVD Super MULTI drive
• 14.1" 1400 x 1050 SXGA+ anti-glare TFT active matrix color LCD
• TPM Security Chip, v1.2
• Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AG 802.11a/b/g
• Genuine Windows Vista? Business (with XP downgrade option)
• Dimensions: 1.4"/1.8" (H) x 12.2" (W) x 10.0" (D)
• Weight: 3.7 lbs
• Battery life: 5 hours

Mini Dock Box Replicator (accessory)
Wireless on-off switch (WWAN, WLAN, Bluetooth)
Bluetooth® v2.0 + EDR
Optional integrated WWAN / mobile broadband (EV-DO or HSDPA)

 

*Specifications are subject to change without notice.

About Panasonic Computer Solutions Company
Panasonic Computer Solutions Company empowers the mobile workforce. The company is a unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, which is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC). Panasonic has delivered reliable, durable mobile solutions through its Toughbook® line of notebook computers for fifteen years and has expanded the boundaries of wireless communications technology through a broad portfolio of products, ranging from fully rugged, industrial strength notebook computers and tablet PCs to business-rugged thin and-light and ultraportable notebooks. A core manufacturer, Matsushita and its subsidiaries control the entire process of design, manufacture, quality assurance, service and support. As a result, Panasonic Toughbooks are known for having the lowest failure rates in the industry. Government, industrial, and commercial users—from Fortune 1,000 companies to small businesses—rely on solutions from Panasonic, wherever their work takes them.

All brand and company/product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies. All specifications are subject to change without notice. Information on Panasonic’s full line of notebook PCs for the mobile professional can be obtained by calling 800-662-3537 or at http://www.panasonic.com/toughbook.