Panasonic Unveils "Toughpad" Tablets

Both the company's A1 and B1 devices meet U.S. military requirements for shock, dust, water and temperature resistance. They even work after being dropped four feet to the ground. These are also the first devices to meet HIPPA health care standards as well, making them suitable for clinical use.

The 10-inch A1 is set to ship next spring for $1,300, making it the most expensive tablet to date. It can run Android 3.2 for up to 10 hours with its 1.2-gigahertz processor and 16-gigabytes of RAM. The tablet is just over two pounds and under one inch thick with two- and five-megapixel cameras.

The A1's defining features include a glare-resistant screen, multiple device ports, and LTE and WiMAX capabilities, besides its durability.

Panasonic has not yet made details public about the seven-inch B1, which is expected to ship in late 2012.

The Japanese company says its tablets aren't "just a bunch of toys" like others on the market, which it calls "the flavors of the week". It pits the Toughpad against competitors like the iPad, which the company suggests would be the first thing to break at a dangerous work site.

Panasonic may face difficulties selling its Toughpads, however, since they aren't due out until six months from now, which will put them at a software disadvantage unless they receive an upgrade.

In addition, the iPad reigns as leader of the tablet market with 11 million devices sold last quarter.

But according to Andy Rubin, Google's vice president of mobile, Android tablets are catching up and may eventually be able to undermine Apple's lead. Many Android manufacturers, however, are focusing on the lower-end market with tablets like the Xoom, Amazon Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet.

The A1's price tag, which is twice as much as the iPad's, may therefore prove a barrier to small construction firms, medical clinics or other such businesses intending to order them for employees. Unless Panasonic reduces the A1's cost, it may find that companies move to purchase iPads instead, no matter how breakable in comparison.