The CF-U1 is a newcomer to the ToughBook range, and can be likened to an armoured netbook. Running on an Intel Atom processor, the CF-U1 includes 1GB of RAM and a 5.6-inch LED backlit display. It also includes a couple of unusual and exciting features: a solid state drive and dual Li-ion batteries which are hot swappable.
The CF-U1's screen is very bright, and its large QWERTY keypad is easy to use once you become used to the key layout. The CF-U1 is available for an RRP of $3,500.
(Credit: Panasonic)
The A$3,600 price tag is explained as justified by being rugged. Of course the One Laptop Per Child project's laptop is the comparison that needs to be made. The OLPC is selling (very large quantity orders only) for US$200, and it is able to take water and dust over its screen and keyboard etc.. and uses a SSD in place of HDD. The only real holes for dust or moisture on the OLPC are the USB ports on the side. Of course the OLPC does not have up-market specs, but rather just sufficient grunt to do all needed apps under Ubuntu. But if you are a utility's staff doing remote meter reading, remote job logging etc, either laptop could do those jobs!