(Click here for a larger view of Panasonic's CF-U1)

The CF-U1, whose final pricing and specifications were released today, was the first-ever Atom-based Windows computer when it was announced in March. Unveiling the device at Germany's CeBit tradeshow, Panasonic showed itself willing to defy conventional wisdom: It put Vista on the device, even though Intel was saying most Atom-powered devices would bypass that operating system in favor of Windows XP or Linux.

Now, we know that the company is marching to its own drummer in another respect. At an announced price of approximately $2500, the CF-U1 costs significantly more than the Asus Eee PC, Acer Aspire One, MSI Wind, and other Atom-based "netbooks."

But Panasonic -- which incidentally does offer CF-U1 customers a Windows XP "downgrade" -- counters that its UMPC offers unparalleled ruggedness, and leverages the Atom to provide extended battery life. Like the Sharp WS016SH UMPC announced in April, the device employs the 1.3GHZ Z520 version of the Atom, with the SCH (system controller hub) companion chip, rather than the larger N270 employed by the netbooks listed above.

The CF-U1 measures 7.2 x 5.9 x 2.2 inches and weighs 2.3 pounds, with carrying strap (shown at right). It includes twin hot-swappable batteries which are good for a claimed nine hours of operation. In addition, a magnesium-alloy case resists rain, dust, and vibration, and allows the UMPC to survive four-foot drops, says Panasonic.

The device has a 5.6-inch "sunlight-viewable" display with LED backlighting and 1024 x 600 resolution. With 1GB of RAM, it uses SSDs (solid state drives) for mass storage, offered in 16GB and 32GB capacities.

The CF-U1 also includes 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth radios, and can be purchased with an optional integrated GPS receiver based on the SiRF starIII chipset. An integrated 3G cellular modem is also available.

A bevy of other planned options includes an integrated camera, fingerprint scanner, a barcode reader, an RFID reader, and a magnetic stripe reader. The CF-U1 does not have Ethernet or serial ports, but these too will be available as expansion modules, promises Panasonic.

Features and specifications listed by Panasonic for the CF-U1 include:

• Processor -- Atom Z520 clocked at 1.33GHz, with 533MHz FSB and 512K second-level cache
  
• Memory -- 1GB of RAM
  
• Storage -- 16GB or 32GB SSD
  
• Display -- 5.6-inch touchscreen display with 1024 x 600 resolution
  
• Keyboard -- "thumb-friendly" backlit QWERTY keyboard
  
• Wireless:
  • WLAN -- 802.11a/b/g/n
    
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
    
  • GPS (optional)
    
  • 3G cellular (optional)
• Other I/O:
  • 1 x USB 2.0
    
  • 1 x mic in
    
  • 1 x headphone
• Expansion:
  • 1 x SD slot
    
  • proprietary expansion bus connector
• Environmental:
  • MIL-STD-810F tested
    
  • IP 54 compliant
    
  • Withstands four-foot drops
• Dimensions -- 7.2 x 5.9 x 2.2 inches
  
• Weight -- 2.3 pounds

Venture Development Corporation analyst David Krebs said, "The entrance of the largest rugged notebook manufacturer onto the UMPC market is a key validation of the UMPC. Enterprise applications require the balance of device portability, application richness, and functionality that an x86 device with a full OS provides."

Further information

The CF-U1 will be available worldwide in August, according to Pansonic. U.S. pricing starts at $2,499.

For an added take on Panasonic's unconventional use of the Atom, see an article by Scott Ferguson of our sister site eWEEK.com, here.

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