There has been a lot of talk about Intel’s new Atom platform of late, much of it centred on the Asus Eee PC and its imitators. Already we’ve seen the Eee PC 901 and MSI Wind, both of which employ the Atom platform. However, this “Netbook” category, as Intel has decided to call it, isn’t where the Atom was originally pitched.
Back when Intel was first talking about the Atom chip, using its codename Silverthorne, the story was about Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), or the evolution of the Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC), and although there have been many prototype MIDs shown at various events, the first actual MID/UMPC device to hit the market comes from a rather unusual source – Panasonic.
According to Panasonic, the Toughbook CF-U1 was designed for deployment in environments as diverse as construction, mining operations, oil and gas refineries, manufacturing, railroad yards, city streets and storage warehouses, and to be used by insurance adjusters, building inspectors, police officers, firefighters and other first responders.
The magnesium-bodied 7.2 x 5.9 inch device is just over two inches thick, weighs a bit over two pounds, and it powered by Intel’s new and super-efficient Atom Z520 processor that runs at speeds up to 1.33GHz with a 533MHZ Frontside Bus but has a stunningly low TDP (thermal design power) of just two watts.
A fanless design, the Toughbook U1 promises to deliver both decent performance as well as exemplary battery life (Panasonic claims nine hours from its twin batteres with a total capacity of 42 watt-hours).
The Toughbook U1-Ultra has a 5.6-inch display with a maximum resolution of 1,024 by 600. The display is designed for visibility under a variety of circumstances, with anti-reflective and anti-glare coatings and an LED backlight and ambient light sensor that adjusts brightness up to 6,000 nits for full visibility in direct sunlight.
Instead of a mouse, the screen of the U1-Ultra is touch-sensitive, with a stylus for navigation. In true Toughbook fashion, the stylus is tethered to the device with a heavy-duty plastic lanyard, and an integrated stylus holder. It may be the only stylus-dependant device you won’t lose the stylus for.
Panasonic Toughbook U1 Ultra rugged handheld computer is running Gobi2000 mobile broadband (EV-DO and HSPA), GPS, a barcode reader, a fingerprint reader, a 2.0 MP webcam and a numeric keypad. 1.6Ghz Intel Atom Z530 processor and a TransflectivePlus display for up to 6000 nit viewability in direct sunlight.
Additional specs include a 2GB RAM, a 64GB SSD, up to 9-hour battery life, and the Microsoft Windows 7 OS. Other features include 802.11a/b/gn Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, WWAN/ Gobi2000 mobile broadband (EV-DO and HSPA), GPS, a barcode reader, a fingerprint reader, a 2.0MP webcam, and a numeric keypad.
The Panasonic Toughbook U1-Ultra may not win any prizes for speedy performance or stylish design, but those factors aren’t always important. This rugged handheld PC is designed primarily for business and military use, in circumstances that would cripple a lesser PC.
If you need more processing power, but still require an uncompromisingly rugged machine, take a look at the Getac V200 or the Panasonic Toughbook CF-52. When you need basic PC functions that will work under the most extreme circumstances, the Panasonic Toughbook U1-Ultra is the handheld computer you’ll want by your side.
