Issue link: https://let.epubxp.com/i/206367
PROD UC T R E V I E W B Y J O N AT H A N K O Z L O W S K I Tough as nails Will Panasonic's Toughpad be strong enough for your day? P anasonic's Toughpad name puts two ideas to mind whether intentional or not: The popular Toughbook and the iPad name. Once you have the device in your hand it's very evident the concepts behind its creation. It's also evident where it diverts from an "i" product. So it runs apps? This is where this "computer" concept becomes interesting—the association between tablet and app. In case there are any questions regarding the Toughpad, it's not a traditional tablet. Yes it looks like one. It even feels like one in your hand. It even has a responsive touchscreen and stylus. All that, yet it's a PC. I was sent a clean Windows 8 version (there is also an Android-based alternative) and returned it a bit less pristine. There were a few programs within the Windows operating system pre-installed and I figured I could use a few of them to test basic performance: a handwriting recognition program as an alternative for the touchscreen keypad, the camera (front and rear) and Internet Explorer. Out of the box each launched and performed as expected. ■ Rugged: MIL-STD-810G, IP65, 14 degrees to 122 degrees F (operational temp range) ( JT-B1 and FZ-G1) 5-foot drop for the Android, 4-foot drop for the Windows version ■ Display: 7 inches, daylight viewable, 500nit, WSVGA (1024 x 600) ( JTB1), 10.1 inches, sunlight viewable, touch screen and active digitizer, 800nit, WUXGA (1920 x 1200) (FZ-G1) ■ Camera: Front is 1.3Mp fixed focus, Rear is 13.0Mp auto focus with LED light ( JT-B1) ■ Battery: 8 hours (user-replaceable) ■ Dimensions: 8.7 inches by 5.1 inches by 0.7 inches ( JT-B1), 10.6 inches by 7.4 inches by 0.75 inches (FZ-G1) ■ Weight: 1.2 pounds ( JT-B1), 2.43 pounds (FZ-G1) ■ Wireless: Bluetooth V4.0, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, optional embedded 4G LTE + 3G ( JT-B1 and FZ-G1) Key Specs ■ Operating System: Android 4.0 ( JTB1), Windows 8 Pro (FZ-G1) ■ Processor: TI OMAP4460 1.5GHz Dual core ( JT-B1), 3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3437U vPro 1.9GHz up to 2.9GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology (FZ-G1) ■ Memory: 16GB ROM, 1GB RAM, micro SDHC ( JT-B1), 128-256GB SSD, 4-8GB RAM, optional micro SDXC (FZ-G1) 10 Law Enforcement Technology November 2013 www.officer.com ■ I/O: Micro USB ( JT-B1), Full size USB 3.0, HDMI, optional micro SDXC, Full size USB 2.0, wired LAN, true serial port or dedicated GPS. (FZ-G1) It got rough The 2.4-pound PC has a MIL-SPEC810G rating. I have no doubts in this testing standard and it's one I don't question. However, the real life applications of this standard do raise the occasional eyebrow. In other words, with its cost are you really planning on bringing this mountain climbing? (You're more than welcome…with your own.) The more I used the tablet the more I came to realize that these standards brought up some extreme situational assumptions—hail, sandstorms, torrential downpours…handing it to an elephant. While these conditions aren't "typical", I've come to conclude having these protections allow you the option. Whether