Panasonic Unveils Intel-Powered Toughbook 31 to Equally Tough Guests

by Michelle Maisto

Panasonic’s newest fully rugged notebook is the Toughbook 31, which company officials said is the fastest such PC in the industry. It also boasts seven times the 3D graphics performance of previous models.

All covered up: The Toughbook 31 is military spec STD-810G- and STD-461F-rated, as well as IP65-certified. Covered ports help it handle wind, rain and temperature extremes. A video shown during the event showed the Toughbook being heaved 20 feet to the deck of the USS Intrepid.

Connectivity options for the Toughbook 31 include Gobi 2000, for compatibility with any wireless carrier, 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 and GPS. Better still, all four modes can be deployed simultaneously.

More than a touchpad, users get a display panel. Battery life for the Toughbook 31 surpasses 11 hours, according to Panasonic, and feature options include a Webcam, backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, SmartCard reader, and HDD and battery locks. Pricing starts at $3,799.

Panasonic President Rance Poehler announced that Panasonic is creating a new organization. For the first time in the company’s 90-year history, it’s deploying a single B2B strategy across all segments, shifting the company focus from simply devices to overall solutions.

One of the evening’s guest speakers was Capt. Richard Phillips, whose ship, the Maersk Alabama, was hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009. To protect his crew and cargo, Phillips agreed to be taken to a smaller ship by the pirates, and was later rescued by Navy Seals. “The Seals are customers!” added Panasonic’s Poehler.

Phillips offered three lessons for life and good business. You’re stronger than you know; the only time that all is lost is when you choose to give up; and a dedicated, motivated team can overcome most any obstacle or problem.

Another speaker during the evening was Jim Onalfo, the CIO and deputy commissioner of the NYPD. Using high-tech technologies like those offered by Panasonic, said Onalfo, the NYPD has averted 12 attacks on New York since Sept. 11, 2001—including the attempted car bombing in Times Square May 1.

Panasonic’s Poehler invited Onalfo, who obliged, to toss the new Toughbook 31 from the stage. To little surprise, the laptop continued on without a problem.

A fitting location for the Panasonic event, the interior of the USS Intrepid is a museum to all things rough and tough. At left is one of the four massive propellers that once helped to power the aircraft carrier.