Panasonic has launched the Toughbook 55 rugged 14-inch laptop. This latest Toughbook release is said to be the thinnest and lightest laptop in its class. It has lots of tough features which make it invaluable in challenging environments, as usual. And it packs modern processors, excellent RAM and storage options, and all-day battery capacity. However, a new standout feature for the Toughbook 55 is its modular bay which can be used for; I/O ports, a fingerprint reader, dedicated graphics, or a second storage device.
Above you can see a good summary of the attractive qualities of the Panasonic Toughbook 55. Running though its rugged and outdoorsy features first, it is worth highlighting this laptop's; MIL-STD and IP53 certified magnesium alloy design with built-in handle, the optional 1000nit screen, touch-screen plus stylus, built-in tetra-array microphones, 92dB speakers, easily replaceable colour LED backlit keyboard, and all day battery life. The single battery can last up to 20 hours but you can double that with the optional second battery pack.
Moving on to more regular laptop style specs, the Toughbook 55 comes with a 14-inch HD screen with optional FHD 1000nit touch model, an Intel 8th Gen quad-core i5 and i7 vPro processor, up to 64GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, USB Type-A x2, USB Type-C port (with PD option), HDMI 2.0, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, MicroSDXC, Nano SIM and 1080p webcam, Audio I/O. These I/O options can be added to using one of Panasonic's modular expansion packs (for DVD, Blu-ray, serial, extra USB and extra Ethernet. Moreover, the graphics processing of the Toughbook 55 can be boosted by adding a module with an optional AMD Radeon Pro WX 4150 GPU. The Toughbook 55 weighs a modest 2.1kg without added modular options, and measures 33mm thick.
If you are thinking of buying the Toughbook 55 you might be happy to hear that it offers backwards compatibility with existing vehicle and desktop docks. Buyers get a 3-year warranty. The starting price in the US is $2099.
