Panasonic has introduced the first rugged laptop based on Intel's new Sonoma mobile platform. Aptly named the Toughbook CF-73, the system is housed in a rugged magnesium-alloy case and contains a shock-and-vibration resistant hard disk. The display is impervious to pain too, sporting a shock-and-intrusion hardened 13.3in. daylight readable, anti-reflective, transmissive touchscreen running at a native resolution of 1024x768 pixels (optional touchscreen).

Pros: First rugged laptop based on Intel's Sonoma mobile platform
Cons: Price premium for ruggedness; low resolution screen


Panasonic's Toughbooks have long been ruggedised brutes built to withstand real abuse in the field, including wetting and severe shock. They look the part, too, although the armoured exterior makes them hefty beasts. Nevertheless, the Toughbook is an industrial tool engineered to withstand hostile environments, not for messing about in the office. People who actually need one are unlikely to worry if it is big and rather ugly.

As well as a rugged design, the Toughbook CF-73 has a decent set of specifications for mobile workers. It's based on an Intel Mobile 1.86GHz CPU with a 533MHZ front-side bus, Mobile Intel 915 Express chipset (formerly codenamed Alviso), dual-channel low-power DDR2 memory, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 graphics core, PCI Express gigabit Ethernet, Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG integrated wireless chips, V.92 modem, DVD/CD-RW drive, and GPRS/GSM support.

BIOS, Mar 10, 05 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Laptop