Up until now, we've talked quite a lot about rugged solutions, belonging either to the portable computing or the telecommunications fields. However, there's a huge difference between talking about a product after taking a look at its specs sheet or some press shots and actually carrying out some hands-on tests on it, and this is exactly what we managed to see for ourselves when testing out one of the toughest and most rugged, but, at the same time, most versatile portable computing systems out there, namely Panasonic's Toughbook CF-19.

The Toughbook series in general and the CF-19 model in particular have been around for quite some time, but Panasonic constantly updated the devices in this family in order to answer the overall requirements in this field. And, while you won't be able to play any serious games on this thing, nor take it with you within an elegant meeting room (unless you really want to make an impression there), this thing will really manage to prove its worth while being used in the field, in real-life, hard conditions.

In fact, this is one thing we'd like to point out right from the start, in order to help you understand our approach to this product. The CF-19 is more or less a dedicated, niche product, which is not targeting mainstream consumers, but rather those who tend to find themselves in direct contact with the harshest possible environments, including here the military, construction workers, and many more. For this reason, its overall features, design and functionality have been specifically adapted, making the CF-19 a prime solution in its category.

So, don't expect extreme computing power out of it, the latest mobile CPUs and GPUs or connectivity options. Also, don't expect some elegant and streamlined design. However, do expect a product that can really take a beating, that can be dropped and stomped on without suffering any consequences, that can be splashed with water and dragged through sand and mud and come out fully functional at the other end. Now, admit it, just how many of the fancy notebooks available out there can do that?