They’re called Toughbooks, but what really makes these computers so tough? There are a lot of reasons why these units can take such a beating and still not throw in the towel - in this post, I’ll be giving you a more intimate look at just how these units can be dragged through the mud and dropped from six feet and still boot up afterwards.

Shock Mounted Hard Drive 

Panasonic Toughbook Hard Drives are shock mounted, which means that instead of just being secured into the computer with a couple of screws, it’s mounted in an enclosure specifically for the hard drive. Pieces of foam on either side of the hard drive absorb impact so that the hard drive doesn't have to, and the ribbon connector is held securely in place to ensure that impact and vibrations do not knock the connection loose.

Resistant to Extreme Temperatures 

Panasonic made sure to protect their hard drives against extreme temperatures as well. To keep Toughbooks reliable in extremely cold environments, there is a heater around the hard drive which kicks in as soon as temperatures start to get dangerously low.

To combat excessively hot temperatures, Panasonic has utilized heat pipes to create a fanless design, which cools the unit without compromising the Toughbook's sealed design.

Water/ Dust Proof 

Toughbooks are thoroughly sealed to prevent water and dust from getting into the more delicate parts of the computer. The keyboard, touchpad, screen, and even the hinges are sealed tight, and every port, connector, multimedia pocket, and PC card slot has a protective door on them to make sure nothing can get in.

Magnesium Alloy Case 

All of these rugged features wouldn’t be complete without a reliably strong case, and that’s exactly what you get with a Toughbook. The magnesium alloy case provides much more protection than you would get from your average consumer laptop, ensuring protection from bumps, drops, and knocks.

Tested in Accordance with Military Standards

Toughbooks are not only designed to be tough, they are tested in accordance with military standards to prove that they are. MIL-STD-810G means that the units have passed a rigorous testing procedure approved by the Department of Defense to ensure that they can withstand any harsh conditions they might encounter.

As you can see, it is not just one feature that makes Panasonic Toughbooks more durable than consumer grade laptops, but a culmination of rugged features that work together to ensure you get the toughest computer on the market.