Panasonic enlisted the aid of its customers in developing the Toughbook 52. "Our customers play a significant role in the development of Toughbook products," says Rance Poehler, president of Panasonic Computer Solutions Co. "In this case, requests from a broad range of users, from the Department of Defense to some of the world's largest insurance companies, were heard loud and clear by Panasonic design engineers. The result is a semi-rugged notebook that has the power to run the most complex applications, yet is designed for double-duty as a mobile PC in support of all types of field operations."
The Toughbook 51 customers asked for improved security when they were surveyed by Panasonic. Consequently, the Toughbook 52 incorporates more security features than its predecessor, including the Trusted Platform Module security chip and the Computrace software agent in BIOS. In addition, customers can buy an optional fingerprint reader.
Other improvements built into the Toughbook 52 include a new carrying handle and optional embedded access to next-generation wireless data networks from major wireless carriers.
The Mil-Spec- certified Toughbook 52 also has improved durability features, including a magnesium alloy case, flexible internal connectors, and shock-mounted hard drives and LCDs.
Although the Toughbook 52 is classified as semi-rugged, it can take a beating. The computer is certified to MIL-STD-810F, which means it can withstand drops of up to 2.5 feet on all six sides. It also has a spill-resistant keyboard and the hard drive can withstand a three-foot fall.
