Panasonic intros semi-rugged Toughbook 53 with 4G option
updated 10:25 am EDT, Tue May 10, 2011
Panasonic intros 14-inch Toughbook 53
Panasonic on Tuesday introduced the replacement for its Toughbook 52 notebook that is semi-rugged. The 14-inch notebook earns this distinction thanks to its spill-proof keyboard, magnesium alloy case, and a shock-mounted hard drive. It meets MIL-spec 810G standards for drop and shock resistance.
Three versions of the Toughbook 53 are offered, including a 2.1GHz Core i3-powered model, a 2.5GHz Core i5 model, and a Core i5 model with a touchscreen. It will also become Panasonic's first Toughbook to offer the option of a 4G radio using LTE. Also new is a 25 percent larger touchpad with multi-touch, zoom and scroll support along with USB 3.0 ports. Standard models get 2GB or RAM, while Core i5 notebooks have 4GB. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are standard across the range.
The 14-inch touchscreen has a 1366x768 resolution, and the basic notebook weighs 5.6lbs even with its protection. The LED screen can also be had in an 800-nit brightness, sunlight-viewable CircuLumin touchscreen. A fingerprint reader, SmartCard port, and a webcam are all optional as well.
Core i5 models have up to 10 hours of life, while Core i3s are rated at up to six.
The Toughbook 53 i5 ships in June for $1,899, the same one with a touchscreen comes in July for $2,449 and the standard model arrives in August for $1,599. The Toughbook 52 i5 Discrete will continue to be sold for those who need a larger screen and a dedicated graphics chipset.
