The new CF-53 offers 3 models designed for light field working duties, road warrior business users and automotive technicians

Bracknell, UK. 10th May 2011: Panasonic Toughbook, the world leader in rugged and durable notebooks, today announced the CF-53, its latest product in the semi-rugged notebook category. The new model combines Panasonic’s 16 years of experience in rugged notebook engineering with the latest laptop technology in an affordable, semi-rugged design. It is ideal for light field working duties and business road warriors looking for a laptop device offering desktop performance, all day battery life and the ability to take knocks and spills that leave conventional business notebooks dead.


Toughbook CF-53The Toughbook business all-rounder has been updated with the 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5-2520M vPro™ Processor for increased performance and the Intel® Q67 Express Chipset for enhanced multimedia capabilities. The 14” widescreen HD LED display has an anti-reflective and anti-glare combination coating for easy-on the-eye use outside or indoors. Thanks to USB 3.0, the users can much more quickly transfer data to other external devices correspondent to USB 3.0.

The Toughbook CF-53 is 15% lighter and 5% slimmer with an in-built special carry handle but maintains all of the semi-rugged design features making it ideal for SoHo and SME business users or mobile workforces. With Toughbook’s durable features and semi-rugged product design, the CF-53 meets military standard criteria, meaning it can withstand drops of 76cm, vibration and humidity. The Toughbook CF-53 can easily handle the knocks and scrapes of everyday field working or road warrior life due to its magnesium casing, precision steel hinges and flexible mounted Tough-cushioned key components such as display, hard disk drive and water protected keyboard.

Ensuring mobile workers can always stay in touch when on the move, the Toughbook CF-53 uses the Ericsson -F5521GW- HSPA+ (DL: 21 Mbps) module with wireless ready connection manager and optional Wake On Wireless[1]. With the Intel® QM67 Express Chipset, Anti-Theft-Function is also available.

For added flexibility and customization options, the Toughbook CF-53 also features the classic legacy ports as well as a serial connector or 2x PC card slots (Automotive model) and a 2nd LAN port making it ideal for automotive and machine diagnostics.

In addition to the Standard Model, the CF-53 has two additional varieties.

CF-53 Touchscreen
The Toughbook CF-53 Touchscreen model has been designed for people requiring a touch screen interface working outdoors in bright sunlight; the unit includes a wide-screen HD, high brightness touch screen with circular polarizer to minimize sunlight reflection. Its Panasonic CircumLuminTM technology also provides clear visibility in all conditions from high levels of brightness down to a pitch black dark display. The device also comes with a backlit-chiclet keyboard option for use in dark environments.

CF-53 Automotive
The Toughbook CF-53 Automotive model has been designed to be used as a versatile device for automotive research and development or workshop environments. With its optimized ports, double PC card slot and positioning to industry standards, the device can be customized to meet the requirements of technicians in many different roles.

Enhanced options for flexibility and customization
To enhance the flexibility and customization capabilities of the Toughbook CF-53, the device comes with a number of options. The rugged “Fischer” USB port or sub-zero temperature hard disk drive can make the CF-53 tougher for semi-outdoor environments.

An optional high capacity “road warrior” 9 cell / 92Wh battery can be added to ensure mobile workers can use the device all day long without recharge.
 
Other optional features such as the front webcam, the popular backlit-chiclet keyboard and the flexible configuration slot[2] with new and additional interfaces provide a new level of customization comfort on a project by project basis.

In addition to the Panasonic safety software utilities, the PC can also be upgraded to full security mode with the addition of optional smartcard, fingerprint and anti-theft device management.

“The Toughbook CF-53 combines performance, ruggedness and affordability. It is equally at home in small or large organizations, indoors or outside, the workshop garage or economy class aircraft seat. Due to its ability to support so many types of field working tasks at an affordable price for a MIL-STD certified design, we expect it to become the biggest selling semi-rugged notebook in Europe.” said Stephen Yeo, Panasonic Toughbook European Marketing Director.

The Toughbook CF-53 is available from June. The Standard version retails for €1,544 plus vat and the Touchscreen model for €1,999 plus vat.

[1] Special pre-setting and support are required.
[2] Please consult Panasonic sales person