(EMAILWIRE.COM, September 24, 2002 ) Panasonic Computer Solutions Company, the leading provider of ruggedized portable computers, on September 23 announced the release of the 2.2-pound Toughbook CF-R1 sub-notebook, the most durable, power efficient and technologically advanced computer in its class.

The Intel® 800MHz SpeedStep™ Mobile Pentium® III CPU-powered, 9.4" x 7.2" x 0.93" (WLH), R1 features new thin-screen LCD technology for increased brightness, reduced weight and decreased power consumption, a 20GB low-power, shock-mounted hard drive, and a revolutionary dimpled-magnesium case that dramatically reduces clamshell weight and bulk while providing a full measure of impact protection.

Panasonic Computer Solutions Company president Rance Poehler described the new model as a natural evolution of the Toughbook line.

"Make no mistake, the CF-R1 is a fully pedigreed Toughbook from its cast-magnesium case, to its shock-mounted hard drive, to its armored screen-mounting system," Poehler says. "We've always offered a full slate of state-of-the-art portable computers ranging from fully ruggedized MIL STD tested laptops to semi-ruggedized slimline notebooks. The R1 is a reaffirmation of our commitment to offer our customers a one-stop portable-computer solution.

"The R1 is targeted at, pardon a bit of a cliché, those executives who take off their coats and roll up their sleeves before getting down to work. Men and women who need a computer that is easy to travel with, looks impressive at board meetings, but -- most important -- enables them to get things done as efficiently and reliably as any full-size notebook.

"Look at it this way, every day thousands of police officers depend on Panasonic Toughbooks -- both standard form-factor ruggedized notebooks and law-enforcement specific models like our PDRC -- to give them the data and connectivity they need to do their jobs effectively and safely. We are very proud, particularly at this critical point in our nation's history, that Panasonic provides more law-enforcement agencies, over 2,000, with ruggedized computers than do all of our competitors combined.

"With the R1 we have created a high-performance, damage-resistant, 2.2-pound, aircraft-tray-table-friendly computer that the chiefs of all those police departments -- as well as top managers among our non-law-enforcement clients -- can slip into an attaché case and carry to budget meetings, legislative hearings, and conventions."

Damage-Aversion Chassis Construction Decreases Weight And Bulk

The Toughbook CF-R1 has been engineered from the ground up to minimize weight and bulk without sacrificing durability and performance. Its ultra-thin dimpled-magnesium alloy case is -- inch per inch -- 40 percent lighter than previous Toughbook clamshells while providing the best impact protection in its class. A bonnet-shaped, convex rear screen case and reinforced metal screen-case edges provide additional impact protect for the shock-dampened LCD and a stainless-steel clamshell hinge ensures a tight, secure case closure over thousands of use cycles.

New LCD Technology: Brighter, Lighter, Less Power Hungry

The R1's anti-reflection-coated 10.4-inch XGA active-matrix LCD uses thin-screen (0.4mm glass) construction that is 25 percent lighter than previous units. A newly designed ultra power-efficient backlight and the decrease in light absorption afforded by the thinner glass produces an appreciable increase in perceived brightness. The LCD panel is protected from impact by a floating mounting system and shock damper. Maximum resolution supported by the unit's Silicon Motion Lynx 3DM graphic card and 4MB of VRAM is 1024 x 768 pixels at 16M colors.

Optimized Battery Technology And "Green" Peripherals Maximize Runtimes

A newly developed four-cell high-capacity 2200mA/h lithium-ion battery pack offers 10 percent more power output in a lighter package than previous Toughbook six-cell units.

Contributing to the R1's outstanding runtime of up to six hours are a low-voltage (3.3) 20GB UDMA hard drive, a fanless cooling system, an ultra-low-voltage (0.95V) Intel Speedstep CPU, Panasonic's re-designed screen-backlight system and an advanced APM Rev. 1.2 power-management system.

Worldwide, World-Class Connectivity And Expansion Capability

The Toughbook CF-R1 features an integrated 56K-100BASE-TX/10 BASE-T combo modem, and one standard Type II PC Card slot, plus ports for an external monitor, USB device(s), serial device, mono microphone, stereo headphone, and wireless communication device. A new, reduced form-factor three-pin AC adapter enables the R1 to be operated and charged from either 120 or 240 power supplies.

Pricing and Configuration

CF-R1P82ZVQM- Intel® Speedstep™ 800MHz ultra-low voltage Mobile Pentium® III, 10.4" XGA TFT Active Matrix Display, 20GB HDD, 128MB RAM, 56K-100BASE-TX/10 BASE-T combo modem. Estimated Street Price: $1,850

Panasonic Computer Solutions Company

Panasonic Computer Solutions Company is the leading provider of ruggedized notebook PCs for mobile professionals in the USA. The company is a unit company of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. of Japan (NYSE: MC), which recorded annual sales of $51.70 billion in the most recent fiscal year. Matsushita Electric is one of the only manufacturers today that directly controls the process of design, manufacture and quality assurance of its notebook PCs. Many key components, including LCD panels, Lithium Ion batteries, DVD and CD-ROM drives, and board-level electronics are the products of its divisions. The products, people and business of Panasonic Computer Solutions Company are entirely dedicated to the needs of the professional user, including Fortune 1000 business and government professionals. Panasonic also supplies mobile computing solutions to over 2,000 police departments in the United States.

Note to Editors:

All brand and company/product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies. All specifications are subject to change without notice.

Information on Panasonic's full line of notebook PCs for the mobile professional can be obtained by calling 800-662-3537 or at http://www.panasonic.com/toughbook

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Produced for Panasonic Computer Solutions

Contact:

Jeffrey Ayers
917-324-2385
jayers@p2c2.com

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