Toughbook helps you work better
The Panasonic Toughbook CF-D1 is a unique tool that allows diagnostic engineers the ability to take their diagnostic tool right to the vehicle, without having to worry about it slipping off and falling onto the floor.
Rugged computers differ from standard devices in several ways. Foremost is their ability to withstand dust, rain and splashes of water. But you don’t have to take the manufacturer’s word for it; rugged devices have an Ingress Protection Rating or IP Code.
The IP code classifies and rates the degree of protection provided against the intrusion of dust, accidental contact, and water, by the casing of the device. The code is independently published by the International Electrotechnical Commission.
The IP number is made up of two parts; for example, most Panasonic Toughpad and Toughbook devices have an IP65 rating. The first number – 6 – indicates ”dust tight” and is the highest rating for dust ingress. The second number – 5 – indicates “Water projected by a 6.3mm nozzle from any direction shall have no harmful effect”. The water rating scale runs from 0 to 9.
Rugged devices are designed to deliver the ultimate in mobility, and that means the ability to use them in trucks or 4x4 vehicles, while also delivering the ability to handle knocks and drops that come with hard core use. That’s where the MIL-STD-810G standard provides an independent assessment of the rugged computer’s ability to soak up some abuse.
This is a United States military standard that emphasises the environmental design and test limits of certified equipment to meet the conditions it will experience throughout its service life.
Carrying MIL-STD-810G, Panasonic’s Tough products are drop test certified (capable of drops of between 90cm and 1.5 metres, depending on specific model); vibration tested; capable of withstanding thermal shock (rapid variations in temperature); and operate in temperature ranges from -10°C to +50°C.
When a device is designed to take the knocks and drops of the outdoors, its usefulness is only as good as your ability to see what’s on the screen.
Brightness is measured in “nit” units; rugged devices have higher nit ratings than standard devices. For example, the Toughpad has a nit rating of 500, which is 25 percent more than an iPad 4’s estimated >400 nit screen. Consumer devices aren’t rated by their manufacturers. Daylight readability is further enhanced through anti-reflective screen treatment to reduce glare and make the screen easier to see from wider angles.
No matter how rugged, if a device runs out of power while in difficult terrain, it is of no use whatsoever.
That’s why rugged devices are designed to deliver long battery life – and, perhaps more important, offer the ability for the user to swap out the device, which you wouldn’t find in an everyday tablet.
While battery life of up to 10 hours can be expected on a 10.1-inch Android Toughpad FZ-A1 (and a fresh battery can be swapped out), it is the full Windows 8, Intel-powered Toughpads which present more of a challenge, since these devices need more power. Despite its diminutive size, the 7-inch Toughpad FZM1 will run for eight hours before needing a recharge or spare while only weighing just 540g.
Where consumer tablet computers tend not to offer USB or other ports, rugged devices are designed for the kind of flexibility demanded by the workplace. That’s reflected in the availability of Micro-USB,
MicroSD and Micro HDMI connectivity. Rugged devices also carry dedicated GPS for professionalgrade accuracy. There is now a wide-range of vehicle mounting accessories and personal mounting options such as harnesses, straps and carry-cases.
Where consumer devices are typically supplied with a one-year warranty, their rugged counterparts such as those in the Panasonic range are covered for three years. Just as important as the warranty itself is the availability and quality of local support that stands behind it: designed for business, rugged devices tend to have clear lines of support with overt service level agreements.