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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
the first impression of the Panasonic Toughbook CF-R1 is that it is tiny, like a toy computer. It's not much bigger than a trade paperback book, thinner than most books, and weighs just over two pounds with the battery installed. The display is about 10 inches diagonally, which is about as small as you can get and still be useful enough to work with. Even so, icons and text on the display are pretty small. It's fine for conventional work, but using this machine as a mobile data terminal in a patrol car might cause some eyestrain
The CF-R1 is a departure from the usual Toughbook configuration, in that it is not designed to withstand being dropped off of the top of a building, run over by a Humvee, or subjected to dousing with soft drinks or coffee (the capacity of Toughbooks and other ruggedized computers to resist this sort of treatment is frequently demonstrated at trade shows) . It does have a shock-mounted hard drive, and the external ports are sealed with attached rubber plugs for dust and moisture resistance. It has a titanium alloy outer case and is at least as sturdy as any conventional notebook that you are likely to find. This computer is for those who travel a lot and need ultra-portability, but are mindful not...