Panasonic shows Windows 8-running Toughbook C2 for $2,949
updated 10:23 am EDT, Fri October 26, 2012
12.5-inch Toughbook C2 arrives in December running on Windows 8 Pro
Panasonic on Friday revealed its latest Toughbook-series convertible notebook, the C2. It runs on Windows 8 Pro 64-bit and is powered by an 1.8GHz Intel Core i5-3427U vPro CPU and 4GB of RAM, which can be doubled. The 12.5-inch notebook is semi-rugged and promises to withstand drops from 30 inches without any ill effects. The computer is aimed for workers in the field, and thus offers a claimed 11-hour battery life.
The screen offers five-point capacitive multi-touch capability and has 500 nits of brightness along with an anti-reflective/anti-glare treatments for viewability in direct sunlight. The IPS screen also contains a digitizer that can read inputs such as signatures from the included stylus. There is also a 720p camera facing the user, with a three-megapixel unit that faces outward offered as an option.
The bridge battery can be swapped out without powering off the system. As for storage, a 500GB hard drive is standard, though 128GB and 256GB SSDs are optional.
Clumsy types should appreciate the notebook's ability to shake off spills of up to six ounces of liquids onto its keyboard. Otherwise, the notebook has two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, and its magnesium alloy chassis helps it tip the scales at just under 4lbs.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios are standard, with 4G LTE, 3G Gobi, and NFC connections optional.
The Toughbook C2 ships in December, priced from $2,949. A three-year warranty is included on all models.
