14 DAY TRIAL // The Toughbook H2 is Panasonic's solution for people who work in hazardous environments but want a good and strong tablet all the same: it is a rugged thing, with a polycarbonate-encased magnesium alloy chassis.
Which is where the first upgrade comes in: while before the case was already quite strong, it couldn't survive drops from six feet (MIL-STD-810G1 certification) or withstand weather as well as it does now (IP651).
It also did not have the best CPU ever, but now it gets the Intel Core i5-3427U which, while still not the utmost best in the world (it's not even a Core i7 after all), is a ULV one (ultra-low voltage) with 2.8 GHz speed.
The hard disk drive has been changed as well. Instead of a 320 GB platter spinner (7,200 RPM), a 500 GB unit has been added.
Not only that, but the latest WiFi support has been implemented (Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n), along with Bluetooth 4.1+EDR.
All of these things come for the price of $3,349 / €2,605–3,349.
Beyond that, customers may buy a slew of add-ons, like 3G (based on a Gobi adapter), LTE (long-term evolution), GPS, and even protection against electromagnetic interference (MIL-STD-461F).
Ultimately, it depends on how hard the computing tasks that need to be carried out are, versus how hard the living conditions at the work site are.
"With its versatility, portability and sheer toughness, the Toughbook H2 is a critical tool for workers in diverse industries," said Kyp Walls, director of product management, Panasonic System Communications Company of North America.
"The improvements we're announcing only serve to increase its value in helping these workers stay efficient and productive, no matter where their jobs take them."
The operating system continues to be Windows 7. Windows 8, right now, is probably not right for industrial use, being more consumer-optimized, and unfamiliar to most workers. Eventually, when Microsoft puts the finishing touches on Windows 8 Pro, Panasonic may change the spec sheet.