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Panasonic Toughbook CF-54 Review



Laptops may be the pinnacle of portable technology, but not all are made to withstand jobs that take you outside of an office and into a more rugged environment. In tough conditions, screens can crack, frames can dent, and performance can suffer. If you find yourself frustrated by the delicate nature of your laptop, it may be time to switch to a semi-rugged or rugged option.

What Is a Semi-Rugged Laptop?

As the names suggest, semi-rugged and rugged laptops are made to withstand heavy handling and tough conditions like those you might find in an industrial or commercial environment. They are much more durable than traditional laptops, continuing to perform in situations where other laptops may break or fail. They meet MIL-STD-810G standards, which are set by the U.S. Department of Defense to be used by soldiers in combat.

They are made to survive high and low temperatures, vibrations, drops of up to three feet, dust, altitude, humidity and conditions that would end ordinary laptops. As such, they are optimal for professionals who work in highly mobile environments, such as first responders, construction contractors and mechanics. If you are looking for a sturdy laptop that can stand up to your profession’s day-to-day realities, it’s worth considering the semi-rugged Panasonic Toughbook CF-54 line.

Panasonic Toughbook Prime CF-54

The Panasonic Toughbook CF-54 line of laptops is built with magnesium alloy casing to withstand the rigors of fieldwork. Equipped with a shock-mounted caged Solid State Drive (SSD), this line is much more resistant to damage and has a better battery life than computers with a traditional Hard Disk Drive (HDD). This model can run on Intel Core i5 or i7 processors and includes integrated graphics processing through Intel HD Graphics 620, which makes workloads easier to handle. With two upgradeable RAM slots and DDR4 options of 8GB, 16GB or 32GB, you’re guaranteed to find an option to create optimal peak performance for your needs.

In an active environment, accidents are inevitable. To bring peace of mind to its users, the Panasonic Toughbook 54 comes with a handle built into its damage-resistant magnesium alloy casing to simplify portability. It also includes a backlit and spill-resistant keyboard to ensure that whether you are working in a dark environment or accidently liquid spill on the system, you won’t have a problem. And for the IT pro, these laptops bring peace of mind through their TPM v2.0 and NIST BIOS compliance paired with security features such as a Kensington cable lock slot, Persistence technology by Absolute for enhanced endpoint security and optional fingerprint scanner and SmartCard CAC reader.

The Panasonic Toughbook Prime CF-54 has a 14-inch HD screen that has been treated with anti-reflective and anti-glare coatings. It supports up to three monitors and has a configurable “concealed mode” that allows the user to easily turn all of the device’s lights off without powering down. In the display, you’ll find a 1080p webcam with a dual mic and camera that’s ideal for video conferencing. And audio won’t be an issue because it’s Intel High Definition Audio compliant. To enhance your Toughbook experience, you can choose from optional add-ons such as:

  • DVD Super MULTI Drive
  • 4G LTE multi carrier mobile broadband with satellite GPS
  • Dedicated GPS
  • Dual antenna pass-through
  • Second storage drive with heater
  • OPAL-encrypted SSD
  • USB 2.0 or rugged Fischer USB
  • Insertable or contactless SmartCard CAC
  • VGA
  • Serial

Panasonic Toughbook Lite CF-54

The Toughbook 54 Prime is already the lightest and thinnest semi-rugged laptop in its class, but the Panasonic Toughbook Lite CF-54 takes convenience a step further with an even slimmer profile. Don’t let its light weight fool you though; this easy-to-handle 8GB laptop meets the same durability standards as its larger cousins.

The main difference is the Prime’s long-life battery and the Lite’s lightweight battery. The Prime’s battery boasts around 12 hours of life at 11.1V and a typical 4200mAH, whereas the Lite only offers around seven hours at 10.8V with a typical 3050mAh. Other key differences between the models are that the Lite does not have an anti-reflective coating on the display, does not have the Prime’s webcam and only comes with Intel Core i5 processor. The Lite also offers a smaller number of optional add-ons; by choosing the Lite version, you’re missing out on the opportunity to add a second storage drive, fingerprint reader, dual antenna pass through, dedicated GPS, rugged Fischer USB, contactless SmartCard CAC and Serial.

Ultimately, Prime owners get more power, features and capabilities than those who choose the Lite for only a small increase in price. But if you’re working in an environment where a lightweight rugged laptop is imperative, and you don’t need an excess of power and storage, the Toughbook Lite is an ideal budget-friendly choice.

Conclusion

When you need a laptop that can withstand the tough conditions of your job, look no further than a Panasonic Toughbook. You’ll receive all of the benefits and convenience of a durable, semi-rugged notebook at an affordable price. Plus, their light and flexible design means bringing your tech along for the ride is never a hassle.

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