Panasonic Toughbook F8 Announced
Sunday, September 28th, 2008Panasonic has announced what it calls the world’s lightest 3G ready notebook with a 14.1-inch wide display and internal optical drive. The notebook is called the Toughbook F8. Embedded 3G is from Gobi and can provide connectivity all around the world.

The Panasonic Toughbook F8, which possesses a 14.1-inch display, weighs just 3.7 pounds, has an internal optical drive, has a handle for easy carrying and is 3G-ready. Other specs include an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM and a 160GB shock-mounted hard drive. It’s seriously portable and offers serious flexibility for those that are a little rougher on their computers than most.
The rest of the 8-Series received an update as well, with the W8 and T8 models getting embedded Gobi 3G technology, making for the ultimate in connectivity with mobile broadband (WWAN) from Qualcomm. The 8-Series Panasonic Toughbook notebooks will be available starting in November. The W8 and T8 are expected to cost $2,900 and the F8 is slightly pricier at $2,499.
“The growing trend of portability in computers–lighter weight, longer battery life, advanced wireless capabilities–needs to be balanced by true durability,” said Daniel Longfield, industry analyst, mobile and wireless, Frost & Sullivan. “Highly mobile government, enterprise and small business users need reliable connectivity to drive continued productivity. Panasonic’s proven business-rugged notebooks enabled with Gobi address this requirement.”


Google also hope to take the lead over Apple, by making Android “open source” – meaning that no-one will be charged to use it on their handset or for writing applications for it. This means that anyone can write programs that will run on an Andriod-powered phone.

It Comes with Music handset will be available only from the UK’s Carphone Warehouse on a pre-paid basis.