Panasonic spotlights its 'fearless' A1 Toughpad tablet

by Steven Mostyn - Nov 8 2011, 06:55

Considering that svelte tablet computers are ultra-portable by design, it can be quite a shock to note—when first handling one—that their construction tends to feel somewhat delicate.

Bearing that in mind, busking computer jugglers and other outdoor ‘professionals’ will likely be pleased to note that Panasonic has this week unveiled its line of aptly named Toughpad tablets.

In describing all other tablet platforms as “a bunch of toys”, Panasonic’s new “fearless” 10.1-inch A1 Toughpad can apparently withstand shocks and drops (of up to four feet), repel dust and dirt, shrug off all forms of weather, and even tolerate extreme temperatures (between 14 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit).

The Toughpad is no slouch where performance is concerned either, mainly due to its Marvell 1.2GHz dual-core processor, version 3.2 of Google Android, 1GB of RAM, LTE or WiMAX connectivity, and 16GBs of data storage (expandable to 32GBs via microSD).

Other contributing aspects connected to the A1 include a rather hefty shoulder weight of 2.13 pounds (i.e. Netbook weight), Wi-Fi, a built-in stylus pen, front and rear-facing cameras (2.0 and 5.0 mega pixels respectively), support for micro USB and micro HDMI, and a rechargeable internal battery.

And, beyond the peace of mind provided by the Toughpad’s rugged chassis and impact-resistant capacitive touchscreen, Panasonic’s tablet creation also protects its internal data via software encryption, custom deployment, device management and dual-factor authentication.

Panasonic will also be releasing a smaller, lighter Toughpad called the B1, which will arrive equipped with a 7.0-inch touchscreen and the same robust credentials. No information is currently available regarding the B1’s internal specifications.

Expect to pay $1,300 USD for the A1 Toughpad when it hits retail in early 2012.

Take a look at the following video clip of the Toughpad in action:

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