14 DAY TRIAL // Panasonic is extending their line of rugged tablets aimed at professionals and government workers, so it has introduced the ToughPad FZ-M1 Windows 8.1 Pro tablet at CES 2014 in Las Vegas.
As accustomed, Panasonic has poured all its “anti-damage” technologies into the 7-inch slate, designing it to be capable of surviving impact, water and even harmful chemicals, an indestructible device meant to be handled in dangerous or hazardous environments.
Under the hood, Panasonic has packed a pretty serious configuration to ensure professionals can run everything they need. The ToughPad is powered by fan-less 4th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, so running enterprise level applications should pose no issue.
Users can also opt for an Intel Celeron processor, which should offer a long battery life, perfect for situations when having the highest performance on your device isn't a priority but having an workable tablet is.
As we mentioned before, there’s nothing that this tablet can’t take, a fact proved by its MIL-STD-810G certifications.
This translates into the product being capable taking drops, vibrations, humidity, even extreme heat and cold, and come out unharmed. On top of that, the product is also rain and dust resistant.
The Panasonic ToughPad FZ-M1 has a 7-inch anti-reflective surface for outdoor use with an average resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, which is workable since the tablet is not designed for watching HD movies.
Professionals can also bundle the tablet with an optional stylus in case they need a more accurate input on their tablet.
Other specifications include 128GB SSD (upgradable to 256GB), 8GB of RAM with the Intel Core i5 version, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi, USB 3.0, micro SDXC card slot, optional GPS, barcode scanner, Ethernet, serial port and NFC.
The tablet weighs only 1.2 lbs / 0.5 kg and is 7 inch / 17cm thick. Battery should last professionals up to 8 hours of use with a replaceable battery.
The Intel Core i5 version of the ToughPad FZ-M1 will become available this spring from Panasonic and will set you back with $2,099 / €1,541.
