When it comes to tough notebooks, only one company comes into mind for most people - Panasonic and their range of Toughbooks. The name itself gives the game away, I suppose, and today we have major updates to the Toughbook line, spearheaded by the thin and light F8, the T8 which is a tablet alternative that you can use as a bullet proof shield (I jest, but you get the idea on just how tough it is) as well as the extremely portable W8 that targets those who are always on the go. The common denominator would be the number 8, and the 8 Series Toughbook mobile computers will all feature the Gobi 3G mobile broadband solution courtesy of Qualcomm that allows one to remain connected to high speed mobile Internet no matter where they are.

Panasonic Toughbook F8
Adding to the business-rugged basic concept of delivering lightweight and durable systems with long battery life, the new Toughbook F8 is the world’s lightest 3G-ready notebook with a 14.1 inch wide display and an internal optical drive. Weighing 3.7 pounds, the Toughbook F8 has an integrated handle for maximum portability. The handle is tested to the same standard as the flagship rugged Toughbook 30 handle, which is used in the most extreme computing environments. With the Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB of RAM, bright widescreen LCD and a 160GB shock-mounted hard drive, the new F8 is the ideal tool for the road warrior who needs both an extremely portable and high performance PC.

Panasonic Toughbook W8
The ultraportable Panasonic Toughbook W8 notebook, with its integrated DVD Multi drive, 12.1 inch anti-glare LCD, and weight of approximately 3 pounds, is ideal for mobile professionals. Equipped with an ultra-low voltage Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB SDRAM (expandable), 120 GB hard disk, and battery life of approximately 7 hours, the W8 is as useful on an airline tray table as it is in the board room.

Panasonic Toughbook T8
Designed with input from “walking workers,” the Toughbook T8 notebook is a tablet-alternative notebook with a touch screen, stylus and screen rotating software. The system features a 12.1 inch touch-screen LCD and convenient rubber hand strap. Equipped with an ultra-low voltage Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, the 3.3 pound T8 provides an 120GB hard drive and 1GB SDRAM (expandable) and delivers up to 7 hours of battery life, depending on operating environment.

The W8 and T8 will retail for $2,099 upwards, while the F8 is a wee bit more expensive at $2,499. They will be available from November onwards, so don’t go breaking your notebook before then.

Press Release