Second generation B-Series Toughpad: higher resolution, much faster, overall much better
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

Sometimes it's not easy to be first, and Panasonic found that out with their original Android-based Toughpads. Nice products, great introduction at the Dallas Cowboys stadium November 2011, but, at least as far as the smaller Toughpad b1 went, just not quite right. That's all fixed now. On October 29th, Panasonic introduced a second generation of its 7-inch Toughpad, the FZ-B2.

Gone is the OMAP chip, gone is the narrow and rather low-res screen, and gone is the phone-like portrait-orientation. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with the initial B1, it's just that Panasonic's customers apparently wanted something a bit more conventional, even in an Android tablet. The table below shows the differences between the original Toughpad JT-B1, and the new Toughpad FZ-B2 that replaces it:

Panasonic Toughpad FZ-B2 vs. original JT-B1

Model	FZ-B2	JT-B1
Introduced	2014	2011/2013
OS: Windows	Android 4.4.4	Android 4.0
Processor	1.83GHz quad-core Intel N2930	1.5GHz dual-core TI OMAP-4460
RAM	2GB	1GB
Mass storage	32GB + microSD	16GB + microSD
Display aspect ratio	16:10	16:9
Display	7.0"/1280 x 800 pixel	7.0"/1024 x 600 pixel
Digitizer	Procap 5-point	Procap 4-point
Pen	Passive capacitive	None included
Battery Life	up to 7 or 14 hrs.	up to 8 hrs.
Size (inches)	8.0 x 5.2 x 0.7	8.7 x 5.1 x 0.7
Weight (oz.)	1.2 lbs.	1.2 lbs.
Cameras	720p front; 5mp rear	1.3mp front; 13mp rear
USB	1 x USB 3.0	1 x micro-USB
NFC	No	Yes
WiFi	802.11ac	802.11a/b/g/n
WWAN	4G LTE	3G or 4G LTE
Scanning	optional	optional
Mag stripe	optional	optional

The situation is pretty clear: whereas the original B1 was conceived as a "phablet" to be used in portrait mode like a phone, the new B2 looks more like a Windows tablet designed for use in the Windows-typical landscape orientation. The labels are in landscape mode and so are the controls. So it looks like even with Android, Panasonic customers prefer to work in landscape mode, just like one does on a desktop or notebook.

The aspect ratio of the display also went from the very narrow 16:9 to a more conventional 16:10. And going from 1024 x 600 resolution, which is what early netbooks had, to a more satisfying 1280 x 800 pixel means not only 2/3 more pixels, but also moving up from marginal resolution to something that remains contemporary even in this day and age of "retina" screens.

On the processor side, the step up from the dual-core OMAP-4460 to a quad-core N2930 is huge. Not that the OMAP chip was lacking, but the N2930, which is part of Intel's "Bay Trail" lineup with 22nm process technology and has a lot of Core processor technology baked in, is in an entirely different class.

At this point some readers may go, "Hmmm... that sounds an awful lot like a somewhat lower-end version of the Windows-based Toughpad M1..." And, at least judging by the specs, that's indeed the way it looks. The M1 has a full Core processor, more RAM, more memory, and the Microsoft-mandated 10-point multi-touch instead of "only" 5-point, but in most other aspects it seems virtually the same. Same dimensions, same weight, same looks. One big difference is the starting price. US$1,299 for the Android-based FZ-B2, US$2,099 for the Windows-based FZ-M1.

One thing we don't know is if the FZ-B2 also comes with the same next-gen capacitive touch controller that allows the FZ-M1 to be operated with gloves, in wetness, and also with a superbly precise narrow-tip passive capacitive pen. If so, the B2 would a lower-priced Android version of the Windows-based Toughpad M1 that we consider a milestone product. But even if it doesn't have that pen (unlike Windows, Android doesn't really need a precise pen), the FZ-B2 appears to be a very, very strong contender among 7-inch class rugged Android tablets. Well done!