computer science

Toughbook

Toughbook is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Toughbook rather than just read about it. In short: The Panasonic Toughbook is a line of rugged computers produced and marketed by Panasonic. The first model, the CF-25, was introduced in 1996.

Key takeaways

Toughbook belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Toughbook to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Toughbook from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Panasonic Toughbook is a line of rugged computers produced and marketed by Panasonic. The first model, the CF-25, was introduced in 1996. The Toughbook brand mainly competes with other lines of rugged computers, such as Dell's Rugged Extreme. In 2011, Panasonic introduced the Toughpad brand of ruggedized tablets, built to many of the same specifications as its Toughbook laptop line.

Design All Toughbook models have a magnesium alloy case. Many current models have liquid-crystal display (LCD) panels. Other design elements include a shock-mounted hard drive and, on many models, a moisture and dust-resistant LCD, keyboard and touchpad. Panasonic markets the Toughbook series in several configurations ranging from "business-rugged" and "semi-rugged" to "fully rugged" in laptop, convertible tablet and tablet configurations, and in several specialty designs with numerous customizable add-on features.

Toughbook fully rugged models

Toughbook CF-25

The CF-25 is the first fully rugged Panasonic Toughbook, released in 1996. Unlike other Toughbooks, it does not have the "Toughbook" logo on the outside (back) of the LCD case, instead displaying "Panasonic" in extruded plastic. The CF-25 featured an Intel Pentium processor with MMX and could support a maximum of 96MB of PC100 system RAM. The Toughbook did not have any USB and because of IRQ limitations could not allow any via PCMCIA. It was generally shipped with Windows 98.

Toughbook CF-27 The CF-27 was a Pentium II era Toughbook introduced in 1997. It was the first one to bear the "TOUGHBOOK" logo on its back cover. It was also the first Toughbook with an XGA display and Wireless WAN built-in.

Toughbook CF-28

The CF-28 was available with Intel Pentium 3 CPU's ranging from 600 MHz (Mk1 28), 800 MHz (Mk2 28) to 1 GHz (Mk3 28). This Toughbook featured a multitude of ports which at the time were industry standard. Additionally, some models had IrDA ports or built-in 802.11b WLAN. This model generally shipped with Windows 98, Windows 2000, or Windows XP. However, the majority of these came with Windows 2000 and XP, though older models (like the 600 MHz models) came shipped directly from Panasonic with a 98 COA sticker and an install of it as well.

Toughbook CF-29 The CF-29 was introduced in 2003 and came in 5 "Marks". It featured an Intel Pentium M processor in speeds ranging from 1.2 to 1.6 GHz in either Ultra Low Voltage (1.2 GHz) or Low Voltage (1.3 GHz and up), depending on mark of laptop. The laptop featured Intel Centrino technology for power saving ability. The Mark 1, 2 and 3 used DDR RAM and the Mark 4 and 5 used DDR2. The CF-29 Toughbook offered multiple configurations from the factory including backlit keyboard and touchscreen. Notably, from the CF-29 on, Panasonic changed the power supply connector previously used on the CF-25, CF-27, CF-28, etc. for a new connector. This Toughbook generally shipped with Windows XP with Windows 2000 as a downgrade option.

Toughbook CF-30

The Toughbook CF-30 incorporates low voltage dual core processors. The MK1 version shipped with a 32-bit Intel Core Duo processor, while the MK2 and MK3 versions switched to the 64-bit Core 2 Duo processors. As with the CF-19 Mk1 to Mk3, it uses DDR2 SDRAM. It is another in the fully rugged line of their laptops. It came in many configurations, some including: Emissive backlit keyboards, touchscreens, WWAN radios, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi b/g/n. Like the other fully rugged models, the CF-30 has a hard drive heater for cold environments. On some models Panasonic disabled access to the Gobi WWAN cards GPS function; a different WWAN card or a dedicated GPS card in the WWAN slot must be used. The CF-30 supports a second battery in the media bay, as well as DVD drives and other accessories. This Toughbook was generally shipped with Windows Vista, with the Mk3 models shipping with Windows 7.

Toughbook CF-31

The Toughbook CF-31 was first released in 2010. As part of the sixth generation of Panasonic's Toughbook line. The Toughbook CF-31 has MIL-STD-810G and IP65 certification. It is designed with a touchscreen. Specifications for the Toughbook CF-31 include a shock-mounted hard drive, removable through locking reinforced port doors. It runs on either an Intel Core i3, Core i5 or Core i7 processor with 4-16 GB of DDR3 SDRAM. Integrated options include 4G LTE multi carrier mobile broadband as well as satellite GPS. CF-31 units may also be equipped with a sealed backlit keyboard or a rubberized backlit keyboard, as well as a fingerprint scanner or smart card reader for additional security. Just like the CF-30 and below, it also supports a DVD drive, secondary battery, or if one removes a rubber "bumper" strip on the inside of the media bay door, a dummy insert. The CF-31 had a resolution of 1024 x 768, and was the last Panasonic laptop to feature a 4:3 fullscreen display. It was discontinued in April of 2020. Panasonic no longer makes laptops with 4:3 displays.

Toughbook 40 The Toughbook 40 is the latest Toughbook model, first released in 2022. The Toughbook 40 has MIL-STD-810H, MIL-STD-461G, IP66 and optional C1D2 certification. The specifications of a Panasonic Toughbook 40 include a 14" FHD nit multi touch display, magnesium alloy chassis with handle, replaceable screen protector, user-removable xPAK's, RAM, keyboard, battery and caged SSD (with heater), reinforced locking port covers, a 5MP webcam with privacy cover & tetra-array mic infrared with Windows Hello support. The Panasonic Toughbook 40 also includes an optional Blu-ray drive with xPAK and optional DVD drive with xPAK.

Convertible Toughbook tablets

Toughbook CF-19

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Toughbook

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Toughbook claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Toughbook before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Toughbook ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Toughbook

In research: Toughbook appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Toughbook in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Toughbook is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Business laptops, Computer-related introductions in 1996, Consumer electronics brands, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Toughbook outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Toughbook in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Toughbook means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Toughbook out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Toughbook in simple terms?

The Panasonic Toughbook is a line of rugged computers produced and marketed by Panasonic. The first model, the CF-25, was introduced in 1996.

Why does Toughbook matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Toughbook?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Toughbook.