Anyone used a Panasonic Toughbook?

[Narz]

I'm thinking of getting one, I toasted my last one by spilling water on it.

Thanks in advance for any reviews.

[Radek Pilich]

This is one of my possible future laptops, just put a solid state harddrive inside instead of standard one
But anyway, I still haven`t seen anybody with Panasonic laptop around to check them out.

TrustedReviews - Panasonic ToughBook CF-Y5

[Doku]

The problem with using the toughbook for daily use is that the ones that we have are heavy. They also don't look very sexy. Ours do, however, have a built in handle, so that you can carry it like a briefcase. (no real need to put it in a briefcase anyway. That thing will survive events that will destroy any normal briefcase. Another factor about them is that they generally have smaller screens than normal laptops. This is so that they can get enough protection around the screen, and still keep to the size of a somewhat normal laptop/notebook.

Another big problem with them is that they cost 1-2k more than a comparable non-rugged laptop.

[Narz]

Thanks, well I don't care about sexy looks, just durability. Screen size isn't such a big thing either (I watch movies on my iPod).

Price is a concern but I'll probably buy a used one. As long as it can get wireless internet and has at least 20 or 30GB hard drive I'm ok.

[Doku]

Good luck buying a used one. Most people/companies that buy them hang onto them until they are well beyond what most people would consider a usable life span. We just got rid of a few that had Transmeta CPUs in them. (horsepower less than an 800Mhz P3)

If you do happen to find a good source for used rugged computers that are in good condition, and relatively new, let me know. My wife is murder on computers.

[GenkiRichard]

I've got a Panasonic Y5. It's not one of the super "run over by a tank" toughbooks, but is supposed to be able to withstand 100kgs and is almost waterproof.

I got it in Japan last year and I really like it. It is expensive, but the whole lack of weight and feeling like I don't have to be super careful about bashing it around is fantastic. I daren't try the water proof thing yet, apparently water will drain from the keyboard, but you're supposed to send it in for a check.

Battery life is also fantastic, no need to really worry about it running down.

I just hope it lasts a long time as I wouldn't like to go back to using a normal laptop!

Be genki,

Richard

[renewpc]

Originally Posted by Doku

The problem with using the toughbook for daily use is that the ones that we have are heavy. They also don't look very sexy. Ours do, however, have a built in handle, so that you can carry it like a briefcase. (no real need to put it in a briefcase anyway. That thing will survive events that will destroy any normal briefcase. Another factor about them is that they generally have smaller screens than normal laptops. This is so that they can get enough protection around the screen, and still keep to the size of a somewhat normal laptop/notebook.

Another big problem with them is that they cost 1-2k more than a comparable non-rugged laptop.

Take a look at our site PANASONIC TOUGHBOOK, RENEWED, USED, REFURBISHED, SALES, SERVICE, PARTS We RE/new Panasonic Toughbooks and offer reasonable pricing. If you can't find it on our site give us a call. The CF-W5 is hot. Less than 4 pounds and up to 8 hour battery life, integrated cellular and touch screen available. We've rebuilt hundreds of Toughbooks and they don't fail ! You may pay a little more but considering a 3 year warranty standard on new product coupled with 3-5% failure rates these are one Tough laptop.

Originally Posted by GenkiRichard

I've got a Panasonic Y5. It's not one of the super "run over by a tank" toughbooks, but is supposed to be able to withstand 100kgs and is almost waterproof.

I got it in Japan last year and I really like it. It is expensive, but the whole lack of weight and feeling like I don't have to be super careful about bashing it around is fantastic. I daren't try the water proof thing yet, apparently water will drain from the keyboard, but you're supposed to send it in for a check.

Battery life is also fantastic, no need to really worry about it running down.

I just hope it lasts a long time as I wouldn't like to go back to using a normal laptop!

Be genki,

Richard

Richard

The CF-Y5 is not water / dust proof or water / dust resistant, the keyboard is water resistant. With open port doors (no seals, etc) keep this out of this type environment. It does however have a shock mounted hard disk drive and has been tested to survive a 1 foot drop. Weight and battery life are the winners.

The

[JerryS]

I've heard good things about them. Top notch. There's this Japanese site that specializes in these but I forgot the URL. Will let you know if it comes to mind.

[tamboureas]

Hi,
Just wondering if anyone would know whether a CF-47 HDD caddy will fit in a CF-28 panasonic toughbook?

Regards
Emma

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by JerryS

I've heard good things about them. Top notch. There's this Japanese site that specializes in these but I forgot the URL. Will let you know if it comes to mind.

Is this the site you're talking about?

Dynamism.com - Next Generation Japanese Notebooks and Electronics

If performance isn't a huge issue, one might also check out the XO laptop from the one laptop per child program.

Explore the XO

For a little while last year they were available for a $400 donation, providing one to a child and one to the donor, and now the donor ones can be found on ebay.

For a similar price to the XO, though likely not quite as sturdy, the Asus Eee PC looks like it would better fit my uses, and I'm looking forward to the 9'' model said to be coming out around June.

Dynamism.com - ASUS Eee PC

[ragtag]

There was a video of a guy on YouTube that intentionally and repeatedly dropped his Asus Eee PC on a hard floor, and the machine kept running through all this, so it seems pretty tough. Of course, it's battery life is nowhere near the ToughBook.

Then again, you could buy about 6 or more Eee PC's for one ToughBook.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by ragtag

There was a video of a guy on YouTube that intentionally and repeatedly dropped his Asus Eee PC on a hard floor, and the machine kept running through all this, so it seems pretty tough. Of course, it's battery life is nowhere near the ToughBook.

Then again, you could buy about 6 or more Eee PC's for one ToughBook.

Or the owner of an Eee Pc could by an after market external battery to use and have a lot of battery life relatively inexpensively.