Panasonic expands the range of semi-rugged notebooks with Toughbook 55.

Panasonic has announced a new model of its family of mobile solutions Toughbook: we are talking about Toughbook 55, a product that is part of the range of so-called semi-rugged notebooks. The peculiarity of this product is its modularity: thanks to the universal Toughbook slot it is possible to extend its functionality by integrating a smartcard reader, improve the performance of the graphic compartment, add incremental memory space or an DVD or Blu-Ray optical reader.

It is also possible to use the front expansion slot to integrate a fingerprint reader, RFID or smart card reader, or to add a second battery. At the time of purchase, it is possible to customize 3 additional ports on the device by choosing between expansion slots, VGA, True Serial and a choice of fourth USB port, second GLAN or Rugged USB 2.0.

” This device changes the rules of the game. It brings semi-rugged technology to a new level of flexibility, productivity and sustainability, ”commented Jan Kaempfer, General Manager of Marketing of Panasonic Mobile Solutions. ” Users can customize their device wherever they are, to better adapt to the needs of their work at that time. Those who purchase it will invest in the device knowing that they can count on the flexibility needed to adapt to changes in the needs of the business and the workforce, even in the long term. Finally, the environmental impact of the device is reduced, since it allows the repair and replacement of individual components rather than having to dispose of or send the entire notebook for repair in the event of a failure.”

In the Panasonic product range, the new Toughbook 55 takes the place of the predecessor Toughbook 54, with which it maintains full compatibility with the range of accessories already on the market such as vehicle docks and port replicators.

Toughbook 55 combines the technical features typical of semi-rugged devices with the appearance of a business notebook. It is light (4.5 lbs), thin (1.3-inch) and easy to carry thanks to the sturdy handle with a premium design.

Nevertheless, it is more resistant than its predecessor, thanks to the Ingress Protection Rating IP53 certification against dust and water splashes and resistance to falls from a maximum height of 36-inch (MIL-STD810H). Operation at extreme temperatures has also been improved to work smoothly from -20°C to +60°C. The autonomy goes up to 20 hours, doubling up to 40 hours with the addition of a second hot swap battery.

The screen is capacitive touch type with touch mode up to 10 fingers, with or without gloves, or using a fine point pen, of 2mm, for maximum precision in writing. It is designed for use in extreme environments as for lighting, as it can select a maximum brightness of 1000 cd/m2 and a minimum of 2 cd/m2.

Toughbook 55 is one of the first semi-rugged notebooks on the market to have a new advanced security platform that makes it a cutting-edge Windows 10 Pro device, with hardware, software and identity protection, active from the first power up.

The eighth generation of Intel Core i5 vPro processor, advanced Panasonic components and Windows 10 Pro features ensure maximum protection against firmware attacks, protecting the BIOS phase, and against device attacks, protecting data access even when the OS is in standby mode.

Furthermore, it offers the new identity protection thanks to the possibility to request, as an option, a fingerprint reader, smart card reader or contactless smart card reader. Facial recognition is guaranteed by Windows Hello technology via an optional front camera.

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