Panasonic komt met Toughbook H1, een Computer specifiek voor de kliniek
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Het Panasonic Toughbook H1 is een notebook wat specifiek is ontwikkeld voor de gezondheidszorg. Het is een robuste machine met een Intel Atom processor. Met het Toughbook H1, Panasonic biedt een mooi alternatief voor Motion Computing. Deze computer is een solide pc speciaal ontworpen voor gebruik in en rond het ziekenhuisbed. Lees verder in het engels…
Panasonic is looking to combine the technology its uses for its line of Toughbook notebooks along with Intel’s Atom processor to offer a new type of notebook specifically designed for hospitals and health care workers.
On Nov. 4, Panasonic will debut its Toughbook H1, a rugged notebook for the health care industry. In addition to Intel’s Atom processors, the Panasonic Toughbook H1 is based on a reference design that Intel first brought to the health care market in 2006 called MCA or mobile clinical assistant.
Right now, the only other PC vendor that makes this type of MCA notebook is Motion Computing with its C5, which hit the market in 2007. For now, many hospitals and health care workers simply use a standard laptop or tablet with wireless capabilities to help them with their jobs, such as checking patient records or checking inventories.
While the health care industry remains a highly specialized vertical market, it is becoming a market where companies like Panasonic and Intel are looking to make additional investments. According to Health Industry Insights, U.S. health care providers will spend about $411 million on PCs and other hardware in 2008, and that number will increase to $605 million by 2011.
Now that Panasonic has joined Motion Computing in this market, Marc Holland, the Research Director at Health Industry Insights, believes that at least one or two other PC vendors will offer similar notebooks within the next six to 12 months.
“The MCA is a reference architecture that is published and Intel licenses it,†said Holland. “I was surprised it took this long for a second competitor to Motion to come to the market.â€
The benefits for health care and hospital workers are fairly obvious. MCA notebooks such as the Toughbook H1 and the Motion C5 will help nurses and doctors cut down the time it takes record information about patients by allowing them to bring the machine into the room. Since the Toughbook H1 also offers a RFID reader, hospitals can also use the notebooks to check and record inventory or to check patient records.
The Panasonic Toughbook H1 also shows that the company continues to use the Intel Atom processors creatively for vertical markets.
In June, Panasonic began selling the Toughbook CF-U1, which also uses an Atom chip. Unlike low-cost notebook or netbooks, which were designed to access the Web and support basic applications, Panasonic built the CF-U1 as a rugged, mini-notebook for use in vertical market such as real estate and local government.
With the Toughbook H1, Panasonic incorporated an Intel Atom Z540 processor (1.86GHz), along with other features found in a typical notebook. The H1 has 1GB of RAM, an 80GB, shock-mounted hard disk drive, a 10.4-inch dual-touch display, and uses 802.11 a/b/g and draft-n wireless technology. The machine also support Microsoft Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 and Panasonic allows for the XP downgrade.
Since the Toughbook H1 is fully rugged, it comes with a magnesium alloy chassis and is resistant to water, dust and vibration. Since it uses a low-watt Atom processor, the H1 does not use a fan. In addition, all the buttons are sealed and there a no exposed USB ports, which adds to security and allows for workers to disinfect the machine with cleaners.
“The [Intel] MCA reference design did not specify an Atom chip, but using one with the H1 allowed us to offer full Windows capabilities without sacrificing battery life and it also did not require a fan for venting heat out the device,†sad Kyle Wall, director of product management for Panasonic.
The H1, which weighs about 3.4 pounds, also offers six hours of battery life and comes with two, hot-swappable batteries.
While Panasonic introduced the Toughbook H1 this week, the notebook will not go on sale in January 2009 at a cost of $2,999.
