NEW YORK — Panasonic Computer Solutions Co. this week introduced a new member of its Toughbook computer family, a full-function Microsoft Windows-based device designed for what the company called the “extreme rugged” segment of the mobility market.
The 2.3-pound U1, which can operate as a handheld or mounted device, runs Microsoft Windows XP and Vista operating systems and is the first “ultra mobile” PC that uses Intel’s new Atom microprocessor. Panasonic said the U1 is designed for use by field workers and other workers who are on the go.
At a press conference here on Wednesday to unveil the computer, Rance M. Poehler, president of Panasonic Computer Solutions, demonstrated the ruggedness of the U1 by dropping it onto a carpet from about six feet in the air, after which the U1 continued to work. The computer is designed to survive a four-foot drop on concrete 26 times in a row, Poehler said.
Although at 7.2" wide by 5.9" deep by 2.2" high, the U1 is larger than most PDAs, it can be strapped to a worker’s hand for mobility or docked to keep it in place, making it usable on forklifts and other equipment. The touchscreen U1 comes with a 16 GB solid-state hard drive and 1 GB of SDRAM, as well as options for a bar code scanner or RFID reader and a 2-megapixel camera. With the option of twin, hot-swappable batteries and a sunlight viewable screen, users can operate the computer in challenging weather conditions, Panasonic said. Other capabilities include standard WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as the option to add GPS capability, a fingerprint scanner, and 3G mobile broadband Internet connectivity. The unit also features low-power LED backlighting and a fan-less, sealed all-weather design.