Consumer electronics giant Panasonic announced the release of the latest tablet in its line of rugged products, the Toughpad 4K UT-MB5 tablet, a 20-inch tablet with a 4K resolution display.
The business-rugged 4K UT-MB5 is powered by an Intel Core i5 vPro processor, features Windows 8.1 Pro and offers a 3840×2560 pixel display that boasts better resolutions than Ultra HD, with a 20-inch in-plane switching (IPS) Alpha LCD screen featuring 230 pixels per inch, a 15:10 aspect ratio and wide viewing angles.
With a magnesium alloy frame enclosed in a reinforced glass fiber case, the tablet is built to handle a 30-inch drop to its back while operating and 12-inch drops to 26 angles when non-operational.
In addition to its 10-point multitouch input, the tablet comes with an optional Electronic Touch Pen, a device that offers pixel-level precision and a pen-and-paper-like feel for freehand sketching, annotation or handwriting.
The pen uses infrared signals to read each pixel on the screen and communicates with the tablet through Bluetooth technology and can be held from various angles and can interpret more than 2,000 levels of pressure for more accurate drawing or handwriting.
The tablet also features a 256GB solid state drive (SSD), 8GB RAM and 2GB VRAM, as well as Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235 WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless connectivity, USB 3.0, a secure digital extended-capacity (SDXC) card slot, smart card reader and docking connector.
The 4K UT-MB5 will be available in January for a list price of $5,999, and all Toughpad tablets can be purchased through authorized Panasonic resellers and come standard with a comprehensive three-year warranty.
“In our highly connected and visual world, having access to the best quality, most detailed visual information available can be a critical component of success in many fields,” Rance Poehler, president of the Panasonic System Communications Company of North America, said in a statement. “By delivering an unsurpassed level of image quality, running on an Intel vPro processor and using Microsoft’s most advanced operating system, the Toughpad 4K UT-MB5 tablet allows decision makers in various visual fields to view, share, manage and interpret information to drive their innovation.”
Since the system is built on the Intel vPro platform, it is designed to bridge the gap between the needs of IT professionals and workers by including unique hardware-enhanced security features, remote manageability and capabilities designed to increase user productivity and data protection.
Combined with accessories such as the optional Panasonic desktop cradle and carrying case, the device can be used as both a desktop PC and tablet. The cradle offers three USB 3.0 ports, Ethernet and HDMI-output connectivity. A Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA)-compatible mounting adapter plate will be available early next year, the company said.
“Professionals in all fields need tools that help them do their work more effectively and rely on a range of computing devices, including tablets,” Rick Echevarria, vice president of PC Client Group and general manager of Business Client Platform Division at Intel, said in a statement. “The 4K UT-MB5 provides portability to the all-in-one horsepower, hardware enhanced security, and collaboration capabilities to maximize productivity in the office, field or wherever the job takes them.”