Panasonic upgrades Toughbook range and makes Windows 8 ready
Panasonic has announced upgrades to its Toughbook range of notebooks and added Windows 8 capabilities to the European market-leading, rugged notebook range. Intel Core i5 vPro processor, Windows 8 Pro operating system and upgraded camera technology to take advantage of Windows 8 functionality has been added to the range. The upgrades apply to the Toughbook CF-31, CF-19 and CF-H2 from the ultra durable Fully-rugged range and the CF-53 from the Semi-rugged range.
With this latest upgrade, business customers can continue to benefit from the rugged and ergonomic Toughbook platform and its comprehensive range of peripherals, whilst taking advantage of the latest improvements in user functionality and the enterprise benefits of the Windows 8 operating system. With Microsoft extended support for Windows XP ending in April 2014, the latest Windows 8 and 7 versions also offer a smooth migration option for businesses. The latest camera upgrade to the Toughbook devices ensures it functions seamlessly in the Windows 8 environment and is optimized for features such as web conferencing.
“For more than a decade, Panasonic Toughbook has dominated the European ruggedized mobile computing market by consistently delivering technological and user improvements to help transform the way mobile workers perform in the workplace,” said Jan Kaempfer, Marketing Director for Panasonic Computer Product Solutions. “This latest upgrade further underlines our commitment to providing our customers with stable, longterm product lines that take advantage of technical innovation but continue to be compatible with the community’s extensive line of existing docking and peripheral solutions.”
The upgrades apply to the Toughbook CF-19, the market-leading, rotating screen, convertible notebook, which sets the benchmark in ruggedness; the Toughbook CF-31, the flagship of the range with the ultimate balance of screen, performance and rugged reliability; the Toughbook CF-H2, the Field and Health version of this rugged tablet; and the Toughbook CF-53, the Semi-rugged notebook aimed at mobile users with business critical applications who value total cost of ownership.
Last year, Panasonic Toughbook maintained its European dominance of the market sector for the 11th year in succession with 63% unit market share, according to analyst group VDC. Panasonic also became the European market leader for rugged business tablets with a 29% unit share of the market and a 400% year-on-year increase in units shipped.
The Toughbook and Toughpad success is due to factors such as their durable and rugged performance, ergonomic design, superior inside and outside screen viewing technology and tailored docking and peripheral solutions to meet the varied needs of the most demanding mobile workers.