Panasonic ToughBook CF-30 and CF-19 Announced -- Brightest Notebook Screens Ever

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Panasonic has released a couple of new notebooks today, the ToughBook CF-19 is a convertible Tablet PC and the ToughBook CF-30 a clamshell notebook. Both devices feature a Core Duo processor, are MIL-SPEC certified. The CF-18 features a really bright 550 Nit screen and the CF-30 boasts a record breaking 1,000 Nit LCD option for easy outdoor viewing.

Panasonic CF-30

The ToughBook CF-30 comes with the following specifications:

• Intel® Core™ Duo Processor L2400 (2MB L2 cache), Processor speed 1.66GHz, 667MHz FSB
• 80GB or 60GB HDD, shock mounted and removable
• 512MB SDRAM (DDR2) standard, expandable to 4,096MB
• Multimedia Pocket will accept optional Combo or Multi Drive, or second battery
• Full Magnesium Alloy case with handle
• 13.3&quot; 1024 x 768 (XGA) transmissive, daylight-readable TFT Active Matrix Color LCD with optional Touchscreen
• 1000 Nit (touchscreen models), 500 Nit LCD brightness (non-touchscreen models)
• Dimensions: 2.8”(H) x 11.9&quot;(W) x 11.3&quot;(D) (with handle)
• Weight: 8.2 lbs.
• Battery Life: 6 hours, depending on use conditions
• Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG LAN Connection 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth v2.0
• Optional integrated WWAN (EV-DO, HSDPA)
• Optional Integrated GPS receiver
• Security features include: Password Security: Supervisor, User, Hard-Disk Lock; Cable lock slot; Trusted Platform Module (TPM) v.1.2 security chip, optional finger print scanner, optional SmartCard reader
• Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional SP2
• 3-year limited warranty, parts &amp; labor

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The CF-30 has a magnesium alloy case, sealed keyboard and ports and shock mounted screen and hard drive to provide for some serious notebook ruggedness. The daylight readable 1,000 nit (candelas per square meter, a measure of brightness)screen option is a tool used by law enforcement officials, first responders, armed forces, field service techs and other industry workers that have to work outside with a computer.

The CF-30 is resistant to dust and water at the IP54 (ingress protection) level. Meaning, a rain shower or dust storm won't stop you from working with this notebook outside -- it's not waterproof enough to go scuba diving with though.

The 1,000 nit level screen is the brightest offering in the industry today. It is also a touchscreen so you can easily use custom touchscreen enabled applications in vehicle-mounted environments or when having to walk around.

Wireless options abound, you can get WLAN, WWAN, GPS and Bluetooth integrated into the CF-30. The WWAN can be configured as either UMTS/HSPDA from Cingular Wireless or EV-DO to work with the Sprint or Verizon network.

All of these options will cost you a bit of change of course, the CF-30 is expected to start at $4,699 when it becomes available in December 2006. But if you want something that's indestructible and can be used outside in a winter storm, monsoon or dust storm -- you've found your notebook.

Panasonic CF-19

The ToughBook CF-19 comes with the following specifications:

• Intel® Core™ Duo Processor U2400 (2MB L2 cache), Processor speed 1.06GHz, 533MHz FSB
• 80GB HDD
• 512MB SDRAM standard, expandable to 4096MB
• Optional external USB Combo Drive
• Full Magnesium Alloy case with handle
• Touchscreen PC version: 10.4&quot; 1024 x 768 (XGA) transmissive, daylight-readable TFT Active Matrix Color LCD
• Tablet PC version: 10.4&quot; 1024 x 768 (XGA) transmissive, daylight-readable TFT Active Matrix Color LCD with Digitizer
• 550 Nit LCD brightness (470 Nit with touch screen) with new Low Reflection Screen Coating
• Dimensions: 1.9&quot; (H) x 10.7&quot; (W) x 8.5&quot; (D)
• Weight: 5 lbs.
• Battery Life: 7 hours, depending on use conditions
• Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG LAN Connection 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth v2.0
• Optional integrated WWAN (EV-DO, HSDPA)
• Optional Integrated GPS receiver
• Security features include: 32-character Password Security: Supervisor, User; Cable lock slot; Trusted Platform Module (TPM) v.1.2 security chip, optional finger print scanner
• Touchscreen PC version: Genuine Windows: XP Professional SP2, Panasonic Handwriting, Software Keyboard, Display Rotation Tool
• Tablet PC version: Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, Display Rotation Tool
• 3-year limited warranty, parts &amp; labor

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The CF-19 has the same magnesium alloy case, sealed keyboard and ports and shock mounted screen and hard drive as the CF-30. The screen featured on the CF-19 registers at 550 nits of brightness, which is still excellent give the fact most notebooks you buy on the market today have between 150 and 250 nits of brightness.

Wireless options and MIL SPEC certifications for the CF-19 Tablet PC match those of the CF-30, so doodling and writing on a Tablet PC outside in a rainstorm is now doable.

About the Panasonic CF-18 and CF-29

The CF-30 will be replacing the CF-29 while the CF-19 is replaced by the CF-18. However, the good news is the new machines are backwardly compatible with all accessories such as vehicle mounting equipment. The Pentium M based CF-29 and CF-18 will continue to be sold through various retailers.

 

 

 

It would be nice if that "UltraBright" (or whatever you wish to call it) doesn't significantly drain battery life. That might become a very popular thing then.

 

Holy, the brightest behind those are like 350 nits which are Fujitsu screens!

150 more, wow thats a giant leap!

 

More like "Überbright"

 

Did I overlook the graphics chip or is it just not listed? If it has dedicated GPU I would certainly want one. I like the thick, chunky manly look; it's different and would go nicely with my Hummer H3.

 

The archeaologist's ultimate dream computer. Nice!

Doubit it. Not only does dedicated graphics drain more power, it's just unnecessary. People use these machines for extensive research (excavations, mountain exploration, etc..) purposes. I mean, considering the usual harsh weather conditions (not always but most of the time), seesh, gaming would be the last thing on their minds.

 

WOW, Now thats tough!!!

I like the tablet version. Price to high at the moment, being that I don't plan to carry my laptop on an Indiana Jones Adventure.

It does however look much easier to remove hardware from

 

Toughbook 18 WAS a great machine. The Toughbook 19 that is out now tops it.

I got a Toughbook 18 from USAT Corp http://www.usatcorp.com/ a while back and then had upgraded it to native wireless WAN, as in nationwide wireless area networking (I went with Sprint, but also avail in Verizon and Cingular). The new unit had wings on it! The guys at USAT Corp said the 18s used to have internal WAN that was not visible, but something with the FCC required the extra shielding, and these two 6” long wings on either side. Not a pretty thing.

The Toughbook 19 has more power, more RAM (up to 4gb—waiting for Vista to use this much of course!) and a much brighter screen, and more battery life… and no wings.

BTW—these guys at USAT Corp have been very straight up. I spoke with Lisa at 888-550-8728, they have some online ordering, but she new what was coming out from and when, and what I shouldn’t buy! Shop is for commercial mobility—so they have all the cool rugged gear—now I am going to get a car mount from them and a ‘flip-dock’ so I can leave it in tablet. Full rugged laptop, wireless everywhere, GPS, and a car mount that works in tablet…. Nice!

Ditch the internal GPS though—unless you want to leave your laptop on your dashboard.

-B1

 

Quick comparison chart:
Toughbook Comparison Table