The long-awaited Panasonic Toughbook 31 is finally available to the public! This Toughbook is an outstanding piece of research and development. The Panasonic Toughbook 31 takes the rugged computing standard to an entirely new level of perfection. Not only is this the most advanced Panasonic rugged laptop ever made, it blows other rugged electronics out of the water. Even a refurbished Toughbook 31 is more hardy than the competition!
“No Compromise” Rugged Computing: The Toughbook® 31 Delivers
Founded in 1993, the notebook division of Panasonic (now Panasonic Solutions Company) created the first economically priced standard form-factor rugged PC, which was brought to market in 1995. Since then, the Toughbook brand has become the global leader and gold standard in rugged mobile computers.
The Toughbook 31 is the sixth generation of the flagship Toughbook clamshell notebook line. The new device is distinguished by the fact that it is both the industry’s highest performing and most durable rugged PC. The premier Toughbook 31 features a full power Intel® Core™ i5 processor (entry level models feature the Core i3), and discrete graphics options for users, such as those in military operations, with intense data modeling requirements.
In addition to pushing the boundaries of performance, the Toughbook 31 also offers the brightest standard battery-powered screen ever at 1,100 Nits, with more efficient LED displays, and the same long battery life of up to 11.5 hours that people have come to expect from the Toughbook line of mobile computers.
No Compromises
The Panasonic Toughbook is unique in the fact that it was not constricted like other fully-rugged laptops. Through years of research and development, the engineers at Panasonic made a breakthrough. The Panasonic Toughbook 31 is the result of pushed boundaries, no compromises, and high quality design. This rugged laptop is the most advanced that has ever been created. Dropping the Panasonic Toughbook 31 from 6 feet will not even damage it! The MIL-STD and IP specifications were met and then exceeded to create a Toughbook that truly stands up to a beating. The fully enclosed nature of the Panasonic Toughbook 31 even keeps out tiny dust, sand, and water particles. Even dropping your morning coffee on this bad boy will do nothing to slow it down. You will not be able to find a more durable rugged laptop on the market.
Taking the Heat
One of the greatest challenges in engineering fully-rugged PCs has always been thermal management. Historically, because of their high degree of failure and the resulting increased exposure to dust and moisture, “fan” has been a four letter word for engineers focused on reliability. As a result, truly rugged PCs have been constrained to using lower voltage chipsets. However, Panasonic, in cooperation with its partners at Intel, has been a long-time leader in developing unique approaches to managing heat, using sinks, and pipes designed to keep units running cool and CPUs running at their peak.
The Toughbook 31 is the most rugged device that has been released by Panasonic. This is thanks in part to ongoing research and development, and in part to Panasonic's commitment to excellence. Instead of the old fan-cooling system, a hybrid internal cooling system keeps the sensitive internal components of the Toughbook cool without introducing outside contaminates. This revolutionary cooling even allows Panasonic Toughbook 31 the use of a high-functioning Intel® Core i5 processor. Panasonic engineers are 100% focused on reliability and creating fail-safe solutions. They've also devised a software solution that slows the Toughbook down to run cooler in the unlikely event that the hybrid cooling system fails.
Protecting Investments in the Long Run
Why do Panasonic’s engineers obsess over these things? For two reasons:
To continue to deliver the industry’s most reliable PCs
To ensure a high ROI and lower total cost of ownership for our customers.
To contribute to this, the Toughbook 31 includes multiple future-proof wireless options, including Gobi2000™ chipset from Qualcomm. The 31 is a 4G-ready device designed from the inside-out to enable superior data access and productivity for any mobile professional in mission-critical applications and extreme environments.
In addition, the Toughbook 31 maintains Panasonic’s long commitment to vehicle dock compatibility, ensuring that this critical and expensive hardware investment is protected over time. It is these kinds of things that make purchasing mobile computers from Panasonic a solid long-term investment. They consistently base upcoming features and priorities on the ongoing feedback of their customers.
Panasonic Toughbook 31: Select Features and Specifications
- Choice of three models
- Intel® Core™ i5-540M CPU 2.53GHz with vPro™ (with Turbo Boost up to 3.07GHz)
- 250GB HDD, ATI Radeon™ HD5650 & Intel QM57 video controller
- Intel Core i5-520M CPU 2.40GHz with vPro (with Turbo Boost up to 2.93GHz)
- 160GB HDD, Intel QM57 video controller
- Intel Core i3-350M CPU 2.26GHz
- 160GB HDD, Intel HM55 video controller
- Intel® Core™ i5-540M CPU 2.53GHz with vPro™ (with Turbo Boost up to 3.07GHz)
- Genuine Windows 7® (with XP downgrade option)
- 13.1” XGA LCD touchscreen
- Panasonic CircuLumin™ technology (1,100 nits, AR, AG and Circular Polarizer*)
- LED backlighting
- Concealed mode – turns off or dims screen, all LED lights and sound with touch of one button
- 2GB RAM (DDR3 -1066MHz), expandable to 8GB
- 7.9 lbs (with light weight battery on i3 model), 8.2 lbs. (with long life battery on i5 models)
- 11.5” (L) x 11.9” (W) x 2.9” (H)
- Fully-rugged
- MIL-STD-810G (6 foot drop) and IP65-certified
- Full Magnesium alloy case
- Spill-resistant
- Hybrid cooling system
- Reinforced locking port covers
- Shock-mounted flex-connect HDD with quick-release
- Up to 11 hours battery life
- Long Life Battery Pack (i5 CPU models)
- 7 hours battery life
- Lightweight Battery Pack (i3 CPU model)
- Trusted Platform Module (TPM) v1.2*
- Embedded Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a*/b/g/n
- Bluetooth® v2.1 + EDR
- Optional Gobi™ mobile broadband
- 3-year limited warranty, parts and labor
- Interfaces
- Port replicator
- External video (HDMI, VGA)
- Headphones/speaker
- Microphone/line-in
- Serial
- USB 2.0 x 4
- SD card (SDHC)
- PC card
- ExpressCard
- 10/100/1000 Ethernet
- Optional 2nd 10/100 LAN* or Modem or FireWire
- Optional integrated features
- Webcam*
- GPS receiver
- Backlit keyboard (emissive or rubber)
- SmartCard reader
- Fingerprint reader
- HDD and battery lock
*On i5 CPU models only
Pricing and Availability
The Toughbook 31 with the Intel Core i5 processor starts at $3590. This price is a promotional price and available while supplies last.
The Toughbook 31 includes a full three-year limited warranty, parts and labor, providing coverage where the unit may be deployed.