Before anything else, let’s clear things up: specifically, they’re claiming that the Toughbook C1 is the world’s lightest 12.1-inch convertible tablet PC. Just so we can eliminate weight comparisons to slates that “cheat” by dropping the keyboard. Now that that’s out of the way, here’s the C1’s deal: weighing in at 3.2 pounds, the Toughbook C1 features a system built around Intel’s Core i5 processor, and a shell that can survive one-foot drops and up to 225 pounds of pressure. The keyboard is spill-resistant too, so you can rest assured that it’ll also survive the misadventures of the typical office klutz.
The spec is rounded out by 2GBs of memory and a 250GB hard drive that’s listed to be protected from 2.5-foot drops. Panasonic also designed a “unique, durable triple-hinge design” for this notebook to add to its durability, as well as another unique feature: dual hot-swappable battery packs that can extend the tablet’s runtime to 10 hours. For the times that you need a connection during a weekend camping trip, the C1 also comes with an optional Gobi 3G modem so you’re always connected—as long as you’re camping within the range of a mobile network.
The C1 is expected to be out by June, with a price that starts out at $2,499.
Tags: Notebooks, Panasonic, Rugged, Tablet PCs, Toughbook
