Panasonic today unveiled the semi-rugged Toughbook CF-54, which (as the name suggests) packs a punch and can withstand some degree of impact. The device itself is protected by magnesium plating on all four sides, supports a full keyboard and display, boasts a battery life of 11 hours, and is slated to be 50% thinner and 25% lighter than the current market leader in its category.
Powering the Toughbook CF-54 is an Intel i5 processor with the i7 as an option, should you desire slightly more performance from the device. Matched with Windows 8.1 (and soon Windows 10), the 14.0" touch screen display comes in HD (1366x768), FullHD (1920x1080) and FullHD configurations. If you seek an SSD option, you'll possibly want to go with one of the FullHD variants.
As for ports and connectivity, the CF-54 supports LAN, VGA, HDMI, a True Serial port for connection to legacy systems, USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports and a SD card slot. Wireless LAN a/b/g/n/ac is included in the deal, alongside Bluetooth 4.0. The device comes with a docking connector for vehicle or desktop mounting, and there are even options for 4G LTE, dual pass through antenna, Contactless Smart Card Reader and a Fingerprint reader.
The Toughbook CF-54 will be made available from the end of February 2015 at three price points:
- Toughbook CF-54 HD Model (with 500GB HDD) – £1142 + VAT ($1750)
- Toughbook CF-54 FullHD Model (with 128GB SSD) – £1325 + VAT ($2040)
- Toughbook CF-54 FullHD with Touchscreen Model (with 128GB SSD) – £1662 + VAT ($2558)
See the press release below for more details.
Panasonic redefines Semi-rugged notebooks with the Toughbook CF-54
WIESBADEN, GERMANY. 13th February 2015 Panasonic has redefined the design of semi-rugged notebooks with the launch of its Toughbook CF-54. Created for workers in the automotive diagnostic industry and field service workers specialising in mainly indoor repairs and maintenance, the new Toughbook CF-54 is the thinnest and lightest** semi-rugged Toughbook in its category and is equipped with the latest 5th Generation Intel® Core™ vPro™ Processor delivering increased performance and lower power consumption.
Breaking the mould for semi-rugged notebooks, the Toughbook CF-54 is approx. 50% thinner and 25% lighter than the current market leader in this category**. Equipped with the new 5th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-5300U vPro™ Processor (3MB cache, 2.3GHz up to 2.9 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology) which delivers faster computing power, better graphic performance and lower power consumption over its 4th Generation counterpart, the Toughbook CF-54 has all the attributes required to set a new benchmark. For those requiring even higher performance, an Intel® Core™ i7 vPro™ Processor is available as an option.
Crystal clear display options
The 14.0" display comes in HD (1366x768), FullHD (1920x1080) or FullHD with capacitive multi-touch touchscreen to offer the clarity and visual detail required by different operatives. There is also an option for a discrete AMD FirePro™ M5100 graphics for even higher graphical display performance. CF-54 comes with the latest Windows 8.1 Pro Update operating system with an option for Windows 7 Professional (available through downgrade rights from Windows 8.1 Pro).
"This latest Toughbook redefines the semi-rugged notebook category," said Jan Kaempfer, General Manager of Marketing for Panasonic Computer Product Solutions. "Its slim design and customisation options combined with its durability make it the new semi-rugged PC benchmark for operatives in automotive, field services, utilities, Telecom and desk-based defence."
The best of Semi-rugged durability
Although a semi-rugged device, the Toughbook CF-54 is the best protected in its category with magnesium plating used on all four-sides, full keyboard and display area spill protection, and a honeycomb-style bonnet to provide maximum protection from impacts. The device can survive drops of up to 76cm. For ease of use, the device comes with its own integral carry handle and as an option can be easily branded with a company logo.
With a single battery life of 11 hours, this workhorse can keep pace with the requirements of today's busy mobile workers and comes with a hot swappable battery option, which means the device can continue working and the battery changed without switching off the device. There is also a possibility to have a 2nd battery* with which a total battery life of up to 18 hours could be obtained.
Comprehensive connectivity and modularity
For mobile workers moving from one location to another, the versatility to connect when on the move is an important consideration. The Toughbook CF-54 comes with the complete range of interfaces including a standard LAN port, VGA* and HDMI for data projectors, printers and displays, a True Serial port* for connection to legacy systems, USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports* and a SD card slot. Wireless LAN a/b/g/n/ac (up to 866 Mbps) and Bluetooth® v4.0 are included for fast data transfer. The device comes with a docking connector for vehicle or desktop mounting and an option for 4G LTE*, dual pass through antenna*, Contactless Smart Card Reader*** and Fingerprint reader***.
This modular Toughbook is also the most configurable semi-rugged notebook to be designed by Panasonic. Thanks to the optional configuration area, a DVD drive or 2nd Battery or PC card slot or USB key or Smart Card Reader could be configured based on customer requirement. In addition, a separate configuration port* is also available which can be used for a 2nd LAN or Rugged USB or dedicated GPS or 4th USB 2.0 port.
The HD model comes with a 500GB HDD as standard and the FullHD models (with and without touchscreen) have 128GB SSD as standard. Camera options include a 2 megapixel webcam* ensuring communications can be carried out in any location or environment. The device also has a backlit* keyboard for easy operation in the dark.
Peace of mind
Every Toughbook comes with a 3-year warranty covering hardware failures for systems used as designed and a 5-year spare part guarantee with a 96-hour repair commitment. Additional upgraded services are available including: Extended Product Warranty (4th/5th year), Accidental Damage Warranty, Battery Warranty (3/4/5 years) and HDD Warranty.
Pricing and availability
The Toughbook CF-54 is available from the end of February 2015 (ex-factory).
- Toughbook CF-54 HD Model (with 500GB HDD) – £ 1142 + VAT
- Toughbook CF-54 FullHD Model (with 128GB SSD) – £ 1325 + VAT
- Toughbook CF-54 FullHD with Touchscreen Model (with 128GB SSD) – £ 1662 + VAT
For further information visit: www.toughbook.eu
