Latest Updates To Panasonic Toughbook Industrial Tablet Will Maintain Its Position As Automotive Industry De Facto Standard
Windows 8.1 Pro operating system, increased performance & communications for rugged Toughbook CF-D1
Bracknell, UK. 4th February 2014: Panasonic today unveiled the latest version of its market leading Toughbook CF-D1 rugged industrial tablet. Designed for the world of Engine & Machine Diagnostics, the Toughbook CF-D1 has been updated with the Windows 8.1 Pro operating system and increased performance and communication capabilities to ensure it continues to dominate as the first choice rugged tablet for the European automotive industry.
With this latest upgrade, customers can continue to benefit from the rugged and ergonomic Toughbook platform and its comprehensive range of peripherals, whilst taking advantage of the latest improvements in user functionality and the Enterprise benefits of the Windows 8.1 Pro operating system. In addition, the latest Toughbook CF-D1 has been equipped with a third generation Intel® Core™ i5-3340M vPro™ (2.7GHz) standard voltage processor with 500GB hard drive (Up from 320GB) and optional 256GB SSD.
Designed for diagnostics
The Toughbook CF-D1 was designed with and for technicians performing diagnostics on engines, automobiles, trucks and machines in either the workshop or field environment, as well as emergency services command and response teams that need large and clear screen visibility to display technical drawings and maps.
With its full shift battery life of 9 hours (Mobile Mark 2007™, 60cd/m²) and 13.3” widescreen HD LCD display with LED Backlight , the CF-D1 is equipped perfectly to handle today’s intensive diagnostic applications. In addition, the tablet combines all the rugged intensity expected of Toughbook and is built to stand-up to the knocks, falls, liquids, dust and extreme temperatures of the workshop and outdoor environments.
Unrivalled screen clarity
The 13.3” widescreen HD LCD display with LED Backlight allows technicians to easily run real-time diagnostic programmes, read telematic data and view schematics and designs. The resistive touchscreen allows for easy data input using fingers, gloves or a pen even in wet condition.
The screen has been specifically built for clarity both inside the workshop and for use outside in bright sunlight. The Automotive model delivers LCD brightness of 400cd/m². The Field version for outdoor display delivers up to 1,000cd/m² with a circular polarizer and anti-reflective coating, providing the best screen visibility on the market.
Triple modular bay designed for customisation
Designed specifically to meet the wide-ranging needs of diagnostic technicians, the device has configurable triple bay ports fully designed for customisation, and able to support all specialist ports for reliable diagnostic data transmission. The ports can be easily configured to meet specific requirements such as a Serial or VGA interface, a second LAN port or up to two rugged USB connectors.
Built for communication
Other improvements ensure the device is optimised for use in the workshop or at the roadside or in the field to diagnose faults, including the latest Gobi 5000 4G module (optional), Bluetooth v4.0, Wireless LAN IEEE802.11a/b/g/n and GPS (optional). The refreshed device also includes 1x USB 3.0 and 2x USB 2.0.
A wide range of security features, including AMT, vPro™ (optional), Kensington lock, Smartcard reader (optional) and Panasonic security utilities, maintains the highest security requirements for data protection.
The high-resolution rear camera, to capture diagnostic documentation or paper information electronically, has also been upgraded from 3 to 5 megapixels.
Russell Younghusband, General Manager Diagnostic Sales, at Panasonic, said: “The Toughbook CF-D1 was conceived by working closely with the leading vehicle manufacturers to create a tablet for diagnostic technicians that could stand up to their harsh industrial environment and run the high-powered applications they need for their precision work. The device quickly established itself as the de facto standard for the European automotive industry and this latest range of upgrades will ensure customers continue to benefit from the latest, proven technological innovations, in a long-lasting and stable form factor, designed for their business needs.”
Built to last and for convenience
The CF-D1 has all the rugged elements expected in a Toughbook. Drop tested to a height of 90cm* and with water and dust protection giving it an impressive IP65* rating.
For convenient use by technicians whatever their environment, the device has been ergonomically designed with semi-mobility in mind. Weighing approx. 2.25kg, the CF-D1 can be carried by the handle, held in one hand for data input using the hand strap or stand alone alongside the technician using extendable legs (Project driven). The device can also be used in a docking cradle with adjustable viewing angle to allow optimized viewing in various scenarios or back at the technician’s desk in the office.
The latest Toughbook CF-D1 Automotive and Field versions, along with a Value device, equipped with an Intel® Celeron 1037U (1.8GHz) CPU, will be available from March 2014 and start at £1,827 plus VAT (Automotive version).
*Tested in Panasonic Factory
About Panasonic System Communications Company Europe (PSCEU)
PSCEU is the European branch of Panasonic Systems Communications Company, the global B2B division of Panasonic. PSCEU’s goal is to improve the working lives of business professionals and help their organizations efficiency and performance. We help organizations capture, compute and communicate all sorts of information: image, voice, and textual data. Products include PBX telephone switches, document printers, professional cameras, projectors, large visual displays and rugged mobile PCs. With around 500 staff, engineering design expertise, global project management capability and a large European partner network, PSCEU offers unrivalled capability in its markets.
The new PSCEU is made up of four business divisions:
· Communication Solutions including professional scanners, multifunctional printers, telephony systems and HD video conferencing systems.
· Visual System Solutions including projectors, interactive whiteboards, presentation aids and displays. Panasonic is the European market leader in projectors with 28% revenue share.
· Professional Camera Solutions including professional audio visual, security and industrial medical vision (IMV) technology. Panasonic is one of the top two professional camera vendors in Europe.
· Computer Product Solutions including the Toughbook range of rugged notebooks, Toughpad business tablets and electronic point of sales (EPOS) systems. Panasonic Toughbook had 63.3% unit share of the European rugged and durable notebook market and a 29.2 unit share of the rugged business tablet market in 2012 (VDC, March 2013).
Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and engineering of electronic technologies and solutions for customers in residential, non-residential, mobility and personal applications. Since its founding in 1918, the company has expanded globally and now operates over 500 consolidated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 7.30 trillion yen (68 billion euros) for the year ended March 31, 2013. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company strives to create a better life and a better world for its customers. For more information about Panasonic, please visit the company’s website at www.toughbook.eu
For further information visit www.toughbook.eu.
