Panasonic's Toughbook SX2 Slims Down, Still Takes A Beating

There are quite a few names when it comes to rugged gear, but few speak volumes the way Panasonic does when it comes to rugged laptops. The company's newest Toughbook is out and about, with the SX2 looking as mighty as ever. The new machine offers up 14.5 hours of battery life and uses an Intel Core i5-3320M vPro CPU, a magnesium alloy body, 12.1" LED-backlit display, a 720p webcam and two USB 3.0 ports. It's also been made 40% slimmer than prior models, though it's still offering a shock-mounted flex-connect hard drive allow it to handle up to a 30-inch drop to the base of the unit while operating, as well as a 12-inch drop from all other angles. Both the lid and base of the notebook are designed to withstand more than 220 lbs (100 kgf) of pressure, and the Toughbook SX2 also features LCD mounting protection. Other specs include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, with the starting tag set at $2,649. Rugged and cheap? Nah.

Panasonic Unleashes the Toughbook® SX2 – Powerful, Portable Business-Rugged Notebook PC

Mobile computer for today's road warrior features 14.5 hours of battery life, turbo-enhanced processor and lightweight, drop-resistant design

Secaucus, NJ, October 11, 2012 – Panasonic, an industry leader in rugged, reliable mobile computers since 1996, today announced the next generation of its business-rugged notebook PC line, the Toughbook SX2. With advanced features such as 14.5 hours of battery life, an Intel® Core™ i5-3320M vPro™ processor (3MB cache, up to 3.3GHz) with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and a lightweight, drop-resistant magnesium alloy design, the Toughbook SX2 is engineered to meet the standards of quality for which Toughbook mobile computers are known while providing maximum portability for highly valued executives and professionals.

Panasonic Toughbook SX2: Key Features

Leading battery life: Delivers 14.5 hours of continuous use depending on usage conditions (per MobileMark 2007 testing)
Turbo-enhanced processor: Intel® Core™ i5-3320M (3MB cache, up to 3.3 GHz) with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
3.13 lb. magnesium alloy design, capable of withstanding a 30-inch drop to base while on/off and a 12-inch drop on all other faces when off
HD+ 12.1-inch, 16:9 LED backlit display
High-definition 720p webcam with built-in microphone
USB 3.0 ports: Includes two backward-compatible USB 3.0 ports that allow file transfer speeds up to 10x faster than USB 2.0 ports
Optical drive
Approximately 40% slimmer than previous Panasonic business-rugged models

For a full list of Toughbook SX2 specifications, visit http://www.Toughbook.com.

"Technology enables many professionals today to work from virtually anywhere, but this freedom creates a new set of issues when users are not equipped with the right tools for the job – device failures mean frustration, lost productivity and revenue, plus substantial repair and replacement costs," said Kyp Walls, director of product management, Panasonic Solutions for Business. "Like the other computers in our renowned Toughbook line, the Toughbook SX2 is engineered to provide the reliability high value professionals require with the portability they desire."

Business-Rugged Durability and Quality

The Toughbook SX2 is designed to withstand a highly mobile work environment,Its magnesium alloy case and shock-mounted flex-connect hard drive allow it to handle up to a 30-inch drop to the base of the unit while operating, as well as a 12-inch drop from all other angles. Both the lid and base of the notebook are designed to withstand more than 220 lbs (100 kgf) of pressure, and the Toughbook SX2 also features LCD mounting protection.

Connectivity for a Life on the Road

The Toughbook SX2 allows workers to stay connected virtually all of the time with embedded wireless technologies including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth®.

Pricing and Availability

The Panasonic Toughbook SX2 is available later this month from authorized Panasonic resellers starting at $2,649. The Toughbook SX2 includes a standard three-year limited warranty.