Panasonic has added to its Toughbook range today with the introduction of the hardiest looking tablet you’re likely to see anywhere. The new Toughbook H1 Field is billed as the world’s most rugged handheld tablet computer and it certainly looks the part. Indeed, we’re pretty certain it will find itself being used by some form of high-tech criminal mastermind in an average action movie starring Jason Statham within months.

Targeting “field sales personnel, first responders, supervisors, inspectors, maintenance workers and other highly mobile professionals” a Panasonic release today stated that, “with optional SmartCard, RFID, and barcode readers, camera, GPS and Qualcomm’s new Gobi2000TM mobile broadband technology, the device helps to maximize mobile worker productivity”.

Leveraging Panasonic’s advanced battery technology and a 1.86 GHz Intel AtomTM processor, the Toughbook H1 Field offers, “a category-leading six hours of battery life, complemented by twin hot- swappable batteries that allow for limitless use, virtually eliminating down time and maximizing return on investment”.

Elsewhere, the Toughbook H1 Field includes a 10.4-inch dual-touch display that offers both tablet and touch-screen functionality. The display also includes a circular polariser, plus anti-glare and anti- reflective screen treatments, making it easily viewable in direct sunlight. “Weighing only 3.4 lbs, this mobile computing platform features 2GB of RAM and a 64GB reinforced flex-connect solid state drive,” continued the Panasonic press statement.

On sale next month in the US it will initially be priced at $3,379 (€2,459) and should make its way over here soon enough.