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Shock Resistance
Magnesium Casing
What We Do As an increasing number of business are going mobile, the demand for rapid solutions and the need for "unbroken" communications is increasing. Panasonic eliminates the last barrier to full mobility with the option of fully wireless communications. The Toughbook's integrated wireless communications design removes reliance on "wired" communications, and their time and location constraints allowing your company to enjoy true real time information and data transfer among headquarters, colleagues and customers. All our wireless computers are designed to support all current nationwide networks, including, CDPD, Data TAC and Mobitex and allows true multi-party support and active involvement in mobile environments while providing extremely high levels of information security.  How We Do It We match each antenna to the design of our Toughbook PCs to provide improved antenna gain and coverage on every application. After an antenna is designed our certified engineers perform real world field tests throughout the USA to ensure maximum effectiveness.
The Direction of Wireless 
Glossary of Terms Antenna: A device for transmitting and/or receiving signals. The size and shape of antennas are determined, in large part, by the frequency of the signal they are receiving. Bluetooth: The code name for a new wireless technology being developed by Ericsson Inc., Intel Corp., Nokia Corp., Toshiba and IBM. The technology enables data connections between electronic devices such as desktop computers, wireless phones, electronic organizers and printers in the 2.4 GHz range. Bluetooth depends on mobile devices equipped with a chip for sending and receiving information. The founding members listed above have been joined in development by 700+ members including Compaq, Dell, Motorola, Qualcomm, BMW and Casio. CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access): A spread spectrum approach to digital transmission. With CDMA, each conversation is digitized and then tagged with a code. The mobile phone is then instructed to decipher only a particular code to pluck the right conversation off the air. The process can be compared in some ways to an English-speaking person picking out in a crowded room of French speakers the only other person who is speaking English.. (See Technology Section) CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data): An enhanced system overlay for transmitting and receiving data over cellular networks. Technology that allows data files to be broken into a number of "packets" and sent along idle channels of existing cellular voice networks. GPRS (General Packet Radio Service): A GSM data transmission technique that does not set up a continuous channel from a portable terminal for the transmission and reception of data, but transmits and receives data in packets. It makes very efficient use of available radio spectrum, and users pay only for the volume of data sent and received. GPS (global positioning system): A series of 24 geosynchronous satellites that continuously transmit their position. Used in personal tracking, navigation and automatic vehicle location technologies. GSM (global system for mobile communications): A digital cellular or PCS network used throughout the world. Smart antenna: An antenna system whose technology enables it to focus its beam on a desired signal to reduce interference. A wireless network would employ smart antennas at its base stations in an effort to reduce the number of dropped calls, improve call quality and improve channel capacity. W-CDMA (wideband code division multiple access): The third generation standard offered to the International Telecommunication Union by GSM proponents. WCS (wireless communications services): Frequencies in the 2.3 GHz band designated for general fixed wireless use. WIN (wireless intelligent network): The architecture of the wireless switched network that allows carriers to provide enhanced and customized services for mobile telephones. Wireless: Using the radio-frequency spectrum for transmitting Wireless Internet: An RF-based service that provides access Internet e-mail and/or the World Wide Web. Wireless IP: The packet data protocol standard for sending wireless data over the Internet. Wireless IT (wireless information technology): The monitoring, manipulating and troubleshooting of computer equipment through a wireless network. Wireless LAN (local area network): Using radio frequency (RF) technology, wireless LANs or WLANs transmit and receive data over the air, minimizing the need for wired connections. Thus, wireless LANs combine data connectivity with user mobility. WLANs are essentially networks that allow the transmission of data and the ability to share resources, such as printers, without the need to physically connect each node, or computer, with wires. Wireless LANs offer the productivity, convenience, and cost advantages over traditional wired networks. Wireless PBX: Equipment that allows employees or customers within a building or limited area to use wireless handsets connected to an office's private branch exchange system. WPBX systems, for example, include a wireless handset that is programmed to ring simultaneously with the desk phone. WLL (wireless local loop): WLL is a system that connects subscribers to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) using wireless technology coupled with line interfaces and other circuitry to complete the "last mile" between the customer premise and the exchange equipment. Wireless systems can often be installed in far less time and at lower cost than traditional wired systems.
Each Panasonic Toughbook® is designed and manufactured to meet a level of durability matched to an intended work environment. The range of Toughbooks cover the ruggedized Toughbook 18, Toughbook 27, Toughbook 29, Toughbook 34, Toughbook 01, Toughbook 07 and MDWD (Mobile Data Wireless Display), and include models with selected durability features like the remaining semi-rugged models. 
At the very least, each Toughbook features a magnesium alloy LCD case, 20 times stronger than ABS plastic, to protect this critical and expensive-to-replace component. Other models include full magnesium cases to protect all system components. Hard disk drives are equipped with various degrees of shock insulation to protect mission-critical data from the dangers of shocks, bumps and drops. Some Toughbooks also offer spill-resistant keyboards to provide protection from the spills and splashes that are a frequent part of mobile computing environments.The key to choosing the right Toughbook is to consider your work environment and your performance and feature needs - your Panasonic representative or reseller will help you understand which Toughbook is the right choice for your particular business requirements. Reliability Our most rugged Toughbooks have been designed using MIL-STD-810F test procedures to measure levels of environmental reliability. Created by the U.S. government, the MIL-STD-810F specifications cover a broad range of tests that measure the durability of equipment used under harsh conditions. From the MIL-STD-810F test menu, Panasonic selected those that most closely reflect the challenges that mobile professionals face in the field, on the road, and in the office. These tests include drop-, shock-, moisture-, dust- and vibration-resistance, exposure to extremely low and high temperatures, and many others. Passed the Test And even though Panasonic conducts these environmental tests in our own factories with our own equipment, we didn't stop there. After we finished our in-house tests on the ruggedized Toughbook 18 , Toughbook 27 and Toughbook 29, we gave it to one of the leading independent environmental test agencies in the United States to repeat all of the tests again. In the end, the results confirmed our own: the Toughbook 18 , Toughbook 27, Toughbook 28 and Toughbook 29 passed all challenges without failure. Testing Procedures And while not every Toughbook is designed to be as ultra-rugged as the Toughbook 18, Toughbook 27, Toughbook 28, Toughbook 29 or Toughbook 34, tests like the MIL-STD-810F help us to understand how to design all of our Toughbooks with the best focus on durability features for the type of user and work conditions. The information below describes the tests we use to measure Toughbook durability. Return to Design Features Main MIL-STD-810F Test Procedures The following MIL-STD-810F test procedures were performed on the Toughbook 28: Drop Test The Drop test was performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 516.5, Procedure IV (Transit Drop Test). The Toughbook 28 was sequentially dropped in non-operating mode, onto each face, edge and corner for a total of 26 drops from a height of 36 inches. The drop surface was defined as two-inch-thick plywood over a steel plate over concrete. The Toughbook 28s were visually inspected after each drop and a functional check (boot-up into Windows) was performed after each drop. Results The Toughbooks boot Windows® following each drop. Vibration The Vibration shall be performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 514, Procedure I, Category 24 (Minimum Integrity Test) for the non-operational condition and Category 20 (Ground Vehicles) for the operational condition. The unit should be clamped to an aluminum plate (approximating rigid mounting), and subjects to the following levels of vibration: 
Non-Operational (from Figure 514.5C-17 of MIL-STD-810F) 0.04 g2 /Hz at 20-1000 Hz, -6 dB/Octave at 1000-2000 Hz, 1 hour/axis
duration.Operational (Figure 514.5C-1 of MIL-STD-810F) 0.001 g2 /Hz at 12.5 Hz, 0.034 g2 /Hz at 20~40 Hz 5.70E-06 g2 /Hz at 200 Hz, 1 hour/axis duration simulating 1000 miles of transportation. The hard disk drive was spinning during the operational test. A functional test was performed between each axis of testing, to catch any potential failures. The operational test was conducted using the vertical axis power spectral density (worst case condition for amplitude), as the orientation of the test item during transportation is not known. Results All units passed the vibration test without incident. Water Resistance 
The Water Resistance test was performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 506.4, Procedure III (Drip). The test items were subjected to this test with the LCD open and the unit operating, but with ports closed. The Toughbooks were opened following testing to inspect for water intrusion.Results The Toughbooks continued to operate during and following the 15-minute water drip test. There was no evidence of water intrusion. Humidity The Humidity test was performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 507.4 (Aggravated). The test items were tested for operation near the conclusion of the fifth and tenth cycles. Each cycle was one day (24 hours) and the entire test was performed over ten days The temperature was cycled between 86 and 140°F with the relative humidity at 95% constant. Results The Toughbooks continued to boot up and operate following each test, and there were no visual anomalies. Dust Resistance 
The Dust Resistance test was performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 510.4, Procedure I (Dust). An operating temperature of 140°F was used for this test. The upper non-operating temperature of 140°F was incorporated into the test as this is the "default" temperature given by the MIL-STD-810F guidelines. Silica flour as defined by the test standard was used. Failure was considered to have occurred if moving parts bind or are blocked, or if contacts or relays malfunctioned. The units must have continued to function also.Results The Toughbooks continued to operate following dust testing. The keyboards were usable. High Temperature High Temperature tests were conducted in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 501.4, Procedures I (Storage) and Procedure II (Operation). Panasonic set the testing parameters as follows: 140°F Operational, 160°F Non-Operational 
Results The Toughbooks continued to operate during the operational test and to boot and operate following the non-operational test. There were no visual anomalies. Low Temperature The Low Temperature test was performed according to MIL-STD-810F, Method 502.4, Procedures I (Storage) and II (Operation). Panasonic set the low operating temperature at -20°F and non-operating temperature at -60°F. Results The Toughbooks continued to boot and operate following each test, and there were no visual anomalies. Thermal Shock The Thermal Shock test was performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 503.4. Panasonic set the high temperature non-operating temperature at 205°F and the low temperature non-operating temperature at -60°F. Three cycles were performed (high to low = one cycle). Results The Toughbooks continued to operate during the operational test and to boot and operate following the non-operational test. There were no visual anomalies. The Toughbooks continued to boot up and operate following the test exposure cycles of thermal shock from 205°F to -60°F. Altitude The Altitude test was performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810F, Method 500.4, Procedure I (Storage) and II (Operation). The altitude level used for both procedures was 15,000 feet (highest equivalent altitude given within MIL-STD-810F for cargo pressures of military aircraft). Results All Toughbooks passed the test without incident. Full details of each test are contained in a test report that was produced by an independent, internationally recognized test laboratory. Return to Design Features Main  Shown below are some of the tests we perform on Panasonic Toughbooks, and the corresponding challenges that mobile road warriors face in daily business.
 "As a primary computing and communication device for many mobile users, notebooks have become mission critical. Since 1999 the rate of notebook damage and the cost per incident have both risen dramatically. As your notebook fleet continues to expand costs will continue to rise. System survivability characteristics and the cost of mobility should be the primary concern of IT managers." 2001 Technology Business Research, Inc.
Technology Business Research, a premier marketing research firm specializing in the high technology arena, conducted a survey to determine the state of notebook computer reliability. The results were astounding. TBR's Key Findings Based on a survey of 400+ IT Managers, Front Line Managers and Notebook Users:
Like never before, mobility is a key issue–both in terms of productivity and finance. It is essential that computer design meets the challenges facing mobile workers and addresses the "hidden cost of mobility." |
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