NEWARK, N.J. — Panasonic is preparing to release what it describes as the world’s first fully rugged detachable laptop. Combining the best features of a laptop and tablet, the Toughbook 20 is the perfect tool for today’s modern service bay.

The Toughbook 20 features a sixth Generation Intel Core vPro processor technology, 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM and choice of Windows 10 Pro or Windows 7 Professional (available through downgrade rights from Windows 10 Pro).

“Our customers are constantly pushing the boundaries of how and where our devices are used,” said Jan Ruderman, vice president of Panasonic’s business mobility group. “As a truly customer-driven solution, the Toughbook 20 delivers what many of our customers are looking for — a single rugged device that delivers all the advantages of a fully functioning laptop and tablet.”

The Panasonic Toughbook 20 offers six usage modes. It can be used as a traditional laptop or a tablet that can use by itself or flipped 180 degrees to show content in presentation mode. The device’s convertible mode allows users to see the display with the keyboard attached. Using the built-in handle, the device can also operate in carry mode or hanging on a wall, while vehicle mode provides full functionality and operation of the device when on the move.

The Toughbook 20 is designed to meet MIL-STD-461F for electromagentic interference and MIL-STD-810G for drop, shock, vibration, explosive atmosphere, temperature, humidity, rain and sand, as well as waterproof and dustproof ingress (IP65). The device features a magnesium alloy case, fanless design, locking port covers, raised bezel, Solid State Drive (SSD) heater and a built-in handle that also serves as a kickstand for desktop stability and enables use while hung.

“While relatively easy to design from a consumer perspective, the stresses a detachable laptop will endure in the environments in which our customers operate created serious design challenges. A significant amount of engineering went into this device to ensure it would deliver the reliability the Toughbook brand is known for,” Ruderman added.

The Toughbook 20 also features a 10.1-inch sunlight-viewable 800 nit IPS display with gloved multi-touch capabilities, a waterproof stylus pen and a backlit keyboard. It also comes with a standard 2MP webcam (optional 8MP rear camera also available), and offers an optional bridge battery for continuous operation.

Optional features include a true serial port, magstripe reader, 1D/2D capable barcode reader, and a dedicated GPS or 4G LTE multi-carrier modem.

The Panasonic Toughbook 20, which comes with a standard three-year limited warranty, will be available in February 2016 from authorized Panasonic resellers at an estimated starting price of $3,099.

Sales inquiries for Panasonic’s Toughbook and Toughpad product lines should be directed to sales.psc@us.panasonic.com.