A few weeks ago, I returned from a trek with a fantastic group to the base camp of Mount Everest and summit of Kala Pattar in the Himalayas of Nepal.

Along with the usual supplies, I took a Panasonic Toughbook 19 computer. Throughout the trip, I was able to send updates via email and Facebook to the rest of the world from some incredibly extreme and remote locations thanks to the connectivity and durability of the convertible notebook.

When the group trekked to the summit of Kala Pattar, at an elevation of about 18,500ft, I had a comical experience with the Toughbook 19 computer. I wanted to get a quick snapshot of the group despite the space limitations on the rocky and cramped summit. So in my haste to capture a photo, to free my hands and get the Toughbook 19 laptop to a more safe location, I tossed the computer onto the side of a large boulder without thinking. My colleague looked at me in horror after tossing the unit. I calmly smiled at him and said, “Only with a Toughbook computer can you do this!” He laughed and of course, the Toughbook 19 was just fine.

We took some great shots during our trip; you can find a full album of photographs on Panasonic Toughbook’s Flickr page, here.

To learn more about our next adventure to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro this July, please visit: http://www.everestpeaceproject.org/kilimanjaro/kilimanjaro.html.

Or to learn more about Panasonic Toughbook computers, visit: http://www.panasonic.com/business/toughbook/laptop-computers.asp.

Sincerely,

Lance Trumbull

The Everest Peace Project

Lance Trumbull using a Panasonic Toughbook 29 computer at base camp.

While the success of our climb is a testament to the brave individuals who participated, the entire adventure would have been much more difficult and dangerous, and certainly less entertaining, without the rugged computer technologies we brought along.

We received fully-rugged Panasonic Toughbook 29 notebooks; they were absolutely essential for communication throughout our adventure. Their wired and wireless connectivity, even at incredibly high elevations, allowed us to keep in touch with the rest of the planet – the Toughbook computers were our lifeline to the world.  We used a satellite connection to share video, audio, images and emails with our friends and family. And at night we used the Toughbook as our entertainment center for music and videos. We watched several movies, and the television shows Friends and South Park!

But more importantly, the Toughbook 29 rugged computers played an even more significant role by enabling us to be constantly aware of weather forecasts on the mountain. I can speak for the entire Everest Peace Project climbing team when I say nothing feels as vulnerable as climbing to the top of Mt. Everest in freezing temperatures and in horrible storms. And having these weather forecasts not only gave us piece of mind, but also helped make our climb much safer.

While we knew the severity of our reality climbing to the highest point on earth, computing at base camp (17,000 feet) and advance base camp (21,000 feet!) and being able to connect with the rest of the world greatly helped our morale. We were able to literally connect with our friends and family thousands of miles away. Having the ability to turn on a Toughbook 29 and read an email from a loved one or send pictures to a friend was incredibly comforting and encouraging.

A documentary of our climb titled Everest: A Climb for Peace has since been produced and released on DVD. I am excited to announce that in late October, the documentary began its television premiere on PBS stations across the United States!

Over the coming weeks and months, the film will continue to air on PBS stations throughout the United States – including major markets such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston and Atlanta. Please check your local listings to find when the documentary is showing in your area; I am sure you will enjoy watching it.

To learn more about our climb, the film, and upcoming events and expeditions, please go to www.EverestPeaceProject.org.

You can also check out select images from the Everest Peace Project’s 2006 journey, here.

Sincerely,

Lance Trumbull

The Everest Peace Project

These communication professionals depend on Panasonic’s Toughbook mobile computers to restore and install network service immediately. Rugged Toughbook computers enable crews to get the job done, despite harsh outdoor weather. The high reliability of Toughbook devices allows field technicians, engineers and supervisors to solve problems quickly and efficiently, with little or no downtime.

Our newest addition to the fully-rugged Toughbook line is the U1, an ultra-mobile-rugged PC that is ideal for the communications industry due to its portability and integrated features. You can see our National Sales Manager, Troy Pingree, discuss the U1 and its benefits for the telecom industry in this video interview with TMCNet at SUPERCOMM.

If there is a story you’d like to share about your use of the Toughbook mobile computers, please leave us a comment.