5 Qualities That Make Toughbooks the Toughest Laptops

Everybody knows that Panasonic makes some of the toughest laptops in the world. They’re routinely used by the military, in aviation, by public works and utility companies, and even by the police. But, what makes these laptops so tough and durable? Explore this breakdown to find out what elevates Toughbooks above and beyond other mobile computing technology available for those who routinely work in the field.

1. IP Ratings

One of the standards of Panasonic Toughbook design is the requirement that all their laptops meet IP ratings. These are international benchmarks that ensure your mobile computing technology is equipped to handle a variety of situations.

The toughest laptops achieve an IP rating that guarantees it effectively seals internal parts from moisture, dust, dirt, and contaminants. This rating is constructed from two numbers that determine protection against solids and liquids. Protection from solids goes up to six — which means your laptop is completely dust-tight — while liquid protection goes up to eight — meaning your computer can handle complete, continuous submersion in water beyond one meter.

Toughbooks are rated at IP65 to provide complete dust-protection and efficacy against water projected from a nozzle at any angle. As the best sturdy laptop for nearly any application, it has the highest level of protection available against solids and does pretty well against liquids too.

2. NEMA Ratings

Another standard of protection that Panasonic requires from its toughest laptops is a NEMA rating above a five. These are the national standards that are equivalent to the international measure of excellence from IP ratings. NEMA does use some unique testing procedures to determine durability levels, so it’s good that Toughbooks have both.

There are currently 20 NEMA ratings that vary from rain and ice proof computers to oil and dust tight laptops. Toughbook NEMA ratings can vary significantly depending on their purpose, so make sure you always check the rating before you buy.

3. MIL-STD-810F

This designation for the toughest laptops is the military standard which covers everything from mechanical shock and altitude testing to humidity and random mechanical vibration testing. They even have explosive atmosphere testing to ensure your laptop is protected against hazardous materials.

All Toughbooks meet the MIL-STD-810F requirements in addition to achieving high ratings with IP and NEMA.

4. Weather Resistance

Panasonic has always gone above and beyond requirements and standards when building their mobile computing technology. One of their main goals is to protect hard drives and other internal components from extreme temperatures. If you work in ultra cold or super hot environments, Panasonic has designed a variety of failsafes that keeps your unit at an optimal temperature. Heaters and fanless cooling protect the hard drive without compromising the sealed design that keeps out debris, liquid, and contaminants.

5. Shock Mounted Hard Drives

Another element of the toughest laptops is an internally shock mounted hard drive. Instead of securing the hard drive in place with a few screws, there’s an entire enclosure with foam pieces and ribbon connectors to hold everything securely. No impact or vibrations can knock your hard drive loose in a Toughbook!

Do you think Toughbooks deserve their title as the best sturdy laptop on the market? Test these computers in the field to find out!