FIRST GLIMPSE: Panasonic Tablet

Set to be launched in 2012, Panasonic's tablet doesn't look like being as lightweight as the iPad 2 but like Lenovo's offering it's likely to be pitched at corporate customers.

By Neerav Bhatt ·
16 Sep 2011

An engineering sample of Panasonic's planned rugged Android Tablet made a surprise appearance during a behind the scenes tour of its Toughbook laptop testing facility in Kobe, Japan.

The 10.1 inch Tablet will be launched in early 2012 as part of Panasonic's Toughbook range. It features a matte finish 1024x768 (XGA) display with a bezel all around it. Panasonic says it will be easier to view outdoors than other Android tablets and the iPad which have glossy reflective screens.

Thick rubberised edging and a chunky look are strong hints that this will not be a lightweight tablet like the iPad 2 and it will draw heavily from know how gained from designing Panasonic Toughbooks during the last 15 years.

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While not being specific about the technologies in use, Panasonic says security will be included at the hardware level to satisfy the needs of the corporate target market. Other features include GPS capability, what is described as “fullshift battery life” (we assume 8 hours minimum) and a range of accessories that connect to the proprietary dock.

While Lenovo is first to market with a secure Android Tablet aimed at corporate customers, Panasonic is the first to plan the launch of a secure rugged Android Tablet for business.

The commodity laptop computer market is a highly competitive business with cut-throat margins and a declining netbook segment. However other segments such as ruggedised PC laptops are experiencing solid growth. Panasonic has 60-65 per cent of sales in this area.

Organisations that employ a lot of workers in difficult field conditions like Telstra, Western Power and NRMA roadside assistance are typical users of rugged computing devices. Telstra has purchased over 3500 Toughbooks in the last few years and reports that 25 per cent of its non-rugged laptops needed to be repaired each year, compared to 3.7 per cent of Toughbooks now.

Neerav Bhatt is part of a group of Australian journalists visiting Toughbook manufacturing and testing facilities in Japan as a guest of Panasonic.