Panasonic Toughbook L1

Many organisations now have mobile and/or outdoor workforces and with that growth, the variety of needs is widening – and customers today don’t want to compromise. They want a device that can be carried around all day without difficulty, sturdy enough to withstand something more than the usual bumps you’d expect a standard tablet to cope with and looks good too.

They will expect their trusted advisor on technology to find just such a product for them. In such cases, you need look no further than the Panasonic Toughbook L1. This slim, lightweight yet tough 7-inch tablet device is just as suited to use in retail and hospitality, as it is to field service, transport and deliveries, or many other environments where the user is likely to come into contact with consumers or customers but where other tablets – which are, arguably, more beautiful but also somewhat more fragile – simply won’t cut the mustard.

Indoors or outdoors
What’s more, the premium that customers might otherwise expect to pay for such a sturdy device simply is not there with the L1. It is eminently affordable. It also has a great spec’ and optional extras that include a barcode reader and 4G capability and can thus be deployed very quickly and effectively for indoor use where there is good WiFi, or outdoors and in more remote locations. All of which makes it easier to sell.

The edges may be softer on the L1, with rounded corners and a smart-looking screen, but don’t be fooled. This is a Toughbook and it is built to withstand treatment that’s goes some way beyond everyday expectations.

It can survive drops of up to 1.5m or more onto hard surfaces and can’t be penetrated by dust and liquids and meets the MIL-STD-810G standard. It is also IP67 rated, which means it can be left in water up to 1m deep for half an hour.

In terms of its spec’, the L1 is powered by a Qualcomm quad-core 1.1GHz Snapdragon 210 processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of flash storage and runs Android 8.1. Its full dimensions are 7.6 inches x 5.2 inches, so it is very compact; it’s around half an inch thick and weighs less than 1lb (422g). The 1280 x 720 HD display supports 10-point touch and there is an optional passive stylus. It also has both Glove and Rain modes – so it can be used with the former and in the latter.

Perfect choice

The battery will run for up to 12 hours under normal use and charge-up via Micro USB in around two hours. It also has a ‘warm swap’ function, so the battery can be changed while the tablet is suspended. There is an 8MP FHD camera with LED flash on the rear and the tablet comes with a three-year warranty – a testament to Panasonic’s confidence in its technology, which is bound to be tested to the limits by users.

The Toughbook L1 is a hugely impressive but compact, affordable and light rugged device. For any organisation that has customer-facing staff who need to use a tablet that will, on occasions, need to withstand a knock or two – as most will in busy and pressurised environments such as retail and field service – this is surely the perfect choice that brings the very best of smart tablet and ruggedized mobile worlds together, very nattily indeed.