Laptops Arena

One laptop manufacture that we haven’t discussed about lately is Panasonic. Just like LG, we know about Panasonic performance in terms of home electronics like TV or VCR. Not many of you have heard of Panasonic laptops so here is one review that can help you get an idea what their computers are all about.
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The Panasonic Toughbook W2 is one model that has been on the market for many years now. A couple of years ago, they started producing the eLite series which is about the same model as before only there have been some changes in the design part mostly. This laptop is very strong and durable, I’ll tell you that. The case is made entirely of magnesium alloy which is pretty reassuring if you accidentally drop this laptop on the floor.  The specs are very disappointing compared to the laptops of today. The processor is an Intel Pentium M ULV 713 and you only have 256 MB of RAM. The saddest part is that you can only upgrade to a maximum of 768 MB. It’s going to be difficult for us to start using this laptop since we are used to at least 2 GB of RAM on average laptop models. As for the graphics card, you have the Intel 855GM integrated video controller plus some 40 GB of free disk space. Except for this laptop being very old, size is another thing that may explain the low specs. This laptop weights only 2.8 pounds and it has a 12.1 inch display.

As far as design goes, this laptop is good looking. The lid comes in several colors, just like Dell always has the Inspiron line available in 8 different lid color choices. The magnesium alloys are usually found in lids to keep the LCD panel protected, but they are not usually found in the entire body like we see in the case of the Toughbook W2. The 12.1" display has a  1024x768 pixel resolution. Panasonic has chosen a display that can handle light pretty well and this anti-glare system makes this laptop easy to use outside. It also has 20 brightness levels, a lot more than any of us expected to find. The difference between two levels is quite unnoticeable so you have to change about 3-4 levels to see any difference. The horizontal viewing angles are good so if you want to gather some colleagues around and show them any documents, you won’t have any troubles. The W2 comes with Intel's ULV (ultra low voltage) Pentium Mobile 1.1 GHz processor. As far as performance goes, this system should handle office plus productivity tasks pretty well, but the included RAM seems to be getting in the way. This laptop only comes with 256 MB of RAM and 1 open slot for expansion.



The keyboard is nice and there is no flex in any of the delicate parts. The touchpad looks really funny and I bet you never used a touchpad like this one before. The round shape may be a bit uncomfortable if you are used to the rectangular shape of most touchpads. The left and right mouse buttons are easy to click but how you use the vertical scrolling function of this laptop has got me puzzled. The number of ports and connections is pretty small if you ask me. There are only 2 USB ports, one VGA out, an Ethernet jack, a modem port, a PCMCIA slot, one Secure Digital card, the stereo jack for headphones or speakers and the microphone in jack. The battery will last about 2 hours and 30 minutes which I believe to be a short time for an ultraportable. Battery life is very important if you are going to buy a laptop that you have to carry around with you everywhere you go and you may not always have a power outlet around you. Compared to today’s ultra portables that have batteries that can last up to 7 hours on a full charge, it’s fair to say that the Panasonic Toughbook W2 is somewhat of a baby.



The speakers represent another chapter with some issues. The quality… well, there is no quality. The sound coming out of the speakers is awful. You can barely hear the music especially since there is no bass. A possible solution to this problem is buying a good set of headphones or maybe attaching some external speakers. There similarly sized and prices laptops that offer much better sound quality. Of course, their release date is also closer to 2009. Considering the fact that this laptop only has 1 speaker, we can understand why things sound so terrible. One really special thing about this laptop is the location of the optical drive. It is probably the most unique place where an optical drive can be found so I have to give a big round of applause for the Panasonic originality.  The lid of the CD burner and DVD ROM drive pops out from under your left palm rest area. There is a special dedicated switch on the left side of the laptop that triggers the lid. Basically, it’s somehow located under the touchpad so it will also pop up together with the whole lid.



We have to admit that this Panasonic laptop is a very good choice for clumsy people because it is very resistant to different types of shocks. That does not mean you don’t have to care of it anymore because nothing lasts forever. It lacks a lot of features that can be found on the modern day laptop but for that period when it was launched about 4 or 5 years ago, it was certainly one of the best laptop choices. We don’t recommend this laptop for purchase. This article has been written merely to give you an idea about what Panasonic laptops are all about. The magnesium alloy case and the unique positioning of the optical drive are definitely 2 arguments in favor of this laptop but I can give you a dozen more choices which are better for people that are looking for a business travel laptop.

Mobile clinical assistants are extremely useful in the healthcare industry because of their capability of keeping hospitals’ personnel up to date with patients’ conditions in real-time. Such devices include the well known CliniScape tablet from Philips, which is among the latest gadgets in technology, as well as the new Panasonic Toughbook computer designed for medical professionals. Toughbook H1 is characterized by a durable construction, an important aspect when it comes to working in the hospital environment, plus a long battery life, high ergonomics level, various connectivity elements and ease of sanitization.

Unlike Philips CliniScape, which is powered by an Intel Core Solo 1.2GHz processor, the fully-rugged Panasonic Toughbook H1 is the first tablet PC of its kind that integrates Intel’s smallest chip processor with world’s smallest transistors, the Intel Atom, featuring low power consumption and longer battery life of up to 6 hours, using dual hot-swappable batteries.

Qualcomm’s Gobi technology simplifies complex multi-carrier wireless deployments for IT departments and delivers mobile broadband speeds via EV-DO and HSPA connectivity types.
In addition to all these, the new Toughbook computer brings an integrated RFID reader, Bluetooth 2.0, wireless module with draft N support, a built-in 2MP camera with auto-focus and dual LED lights, a barcode reader, and contactless smart card reader and fingerprint readers.
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For the design, Panasonic chose a fanless system to reduce germs, sealed buttons, gapless LCD display, no exposed ports, and a special software tool that can be set to remind users to clean the tablet at specific time intervals.

Tests results demonstrated that the Panasonic Toughbook H1 can withstand 3-foot drops and is water and dust resistant. It comes with a 3-year warranty.

It will be available on the market at the beginning of 2009 at a street price of $2,999 with Windows Vista Business with Service Pack 1, the 1.86GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB RAM memory, 80GB shock-mounted hard drive, integrated docking connector, GPS receiver, and the 10.4-inch 500-nit touchscreen display with 1024 x 768 resolution, all weighting 3.4lbs.

Panasonic introduced its newest Toughbook series called 8 series, featuring the lightest form factor among ruggedized laptop computers. W8 ultra-portable computer, F8 laptop and T8 tablet PC alternative weight between 3 lbs and 3.7 lbs and all come with the Gobi 3G technology for mobile broadband transfer speeds, as well as shock-mounted hard drives, spill-resistant keyboards and flexible connectors. In addition, there is the 802.11a/b/g/draft-n support, Bluetooth 2.0, and the Hybrid Cooling System for adjustable fan speed depending on the environment conditions.

Panasonic ToughBook F8 sports a 14.1-inch widescreen display providing a long battery life for running applications in the field operated by the Intel Core 2 Duo processing technology. Inside there are up to 4GB RAM memory, 160GB HDD drive with shock-resistance, built-in DVD Multi drive, and 6 hours of battery life.
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Next come Panasonic Toughbook W8 ruggedized laptop computers optimized for ultra portability with a 12.1-inch anti-glare LCD display, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, expandable 1GB SDRAM memory, 120GB HDD, and 7 hours of battery life.

Panasonic Toughbook T8 is a rugged tablet PC alternative introduced with a 12.1-inch touch-sensitive display featuring stylus input, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor characterized by ultra low voltage-based technology, 120GB HDD storage, 1GB SDRAM, and 7 hours of battery life.



The security features include trusted platform module, BIOS-based Computrace theft protection agent, cable lock slot, password security and fingerprint scanner.

If you are curious about the prices for the 3 new ruggedized laptop computers, there are street prices set at $2,099 for the W8 and T8, while the F8 notebook costs $2,499.

Yet another new mobile computer powered by the Intel Centrino 2 technology. Panasonic Toughbook CF-52 are ruggedized laptop computers with increased performance, thanks to the new Intel technology, and featuring expanded graphics capabilities, larger hard disk drives and Draft N Wi-Fi connectivity support. The other model upgraded by Panasonic is the Toughbook CF-74, which also runs on the Intel Centrino 2 processor technology, coming with 160GB hard drive storage capacity, and Wi-Fi 802.11 Draft N compatibility.


"In addition to driving innovation in mobile computing, Panasonic also commits to our resellers and customers that we will help them manage image stability through measured product changes over time," said Kyp Walls, director, product management, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company. "Both the Toughbook 74, which has been a workhorse for field forces since its initial launch in 2006, and the desktop replacement Toughbook 52, launched last year, are undergoing their first significant upgrades after a year of image stability. Through these measures, we help to achieve our dual aim of enhanced ROI and lowered total cost of ownership."



Choosing between the 15.4-inch widescreen Toughbook CF-52 and the 13.3-inch Toughbook CF-74, means having a great mobile computer for field work in extreme environment conditions, drop- and spill resistant, with magnesium alloy cases, flexible internal connectors, and shock-mounted hard drives. Toughbook CF-74 has a touch-sensitive display.
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Both ruggedized laptop computers feature the Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system pre-installed, high definition audio, stereo speakers, DVD super multi dual layer optical drive, Bluetooth, increased security including data encryption, and mobile broadband support.



The upgraded Panasonic Toughbook CF-52 will be available in August at $1,949 for the value configuration and $2,849 for the model equipped for high performance. Panasonic Toughbook CF-74 will come at a street price of $3,199.

The mobile field worker needs a durable handheld with wireless connectivity and powerful processing. Panasonic Toughbook U1 ultra-mobile PC seems to meet these requirements, being powered by the Intel Atom processor technology.

"Panasonic has always been at the forefront of making mobile computing technologies work for users in all conditions," said Rance M. Poehler, president, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company. "We were the first to deliver rugged notebooks in a standard form factor, the first to create a rugged convertible tablet and we have made incredible leaps in mission-critical business computing with our innovations in semi-rugged desktop replacement and sub-notebook technologies. The ultra mobile rugged U1 is another example of how we take advances in mobile technology and make them reliable advances--with new product categories designed for users on the frontiers of mobility where value is truly driven for organizations."



The Intel Atom is recognized as one of the world’s smallest chip measuring almost 25 mm, with the lowest power consumption and packing 47 million transistors. It is one of the most powerful processing chips available and is designed for small devices requiring increased system responsiveness and longer battery life.
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"Panasonic builds the new Toughbook CF-U1, but our customers designed it," said Kyp Walls, director of product management, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company. "The form and functionality is a direct result of more than two years of feedback we solicited from an array of government and commercial organizations seeking to address the needs of a broad range of mobile users. We've responded with a highly portable and durable device that offers integrated features such as an LCD touchscreen, solid state drive as well as an optional fingerprint scanner for user authentication. Data capture is enabled using 1D and 2D barcode and RFID readers and a 2-megapixel digital camera. The Toughbook CF-U1 offers full-shift battery life, a sunlight viewable screen and seamless connectivity with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G-mobile-broadband internet connectivity, all within an extremely rugged package for maximum reliability."

Pansonic Toughbook U1 can be used in extreme working environments such as construction sites, mining operations, oil and gas refineries, manufacturing facilities, railroad yards, city streets and storage warehouses. It is a great handheld computing unit for insurance adjusters, building inspectors, police officers and firefighters.

"The Intel Atom processor delivers high performance at dramatically low power while maintaining PC compatibility and enabling the best internet experience in small devices," said Anand Chandrasekher, Intel senior vice president and general manager of the company's Ultra Mobility Group. "Intel's low power technologies, combined with Panasonic's longstanding leadership in rugged PCs, are making it possible for mobile field workers to be more productive while reducing TCO for the IT manager."

The ultra-mobile PC runs on Windows Vista or Windows XP operating systems, which provide a friendly user interface, while being designed with an ergonomic QWERTY keyboard with backlight for easy typing in dark environments, the 5.6-inch Panasonic LCD 1024 x 600 pixel display with increased sunlight readability, LED backlight and anti-reflective coating, no fan to eliminate noise, hot-swappable batteries so the user won’t have to stop the operations when replacing the discharged battery, and a durable magnesium alloy chassis with protection against bumps and drops from 4 feet high.

"The entrance of the largest rugged notebook manufacturer onto the UMPC market is a key validation of the UMPC for enterprise applications," said Venture Development Corporation analyst David Krebs. "VDC's research validates that UMPCs will receive strong consideration for enterprise applications that require a balance of device portability and application richness and functionality that an x86 device with a full OS provides."



Specifications include optional 3G mobile broadband, Wi-Fi module, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, optional GPS module, 1.33GHz processing speeds, up to 32GB removable Solid State Drive storage, 1GB memory, USB, SD card, microphone, headphone jack, expansion bus, optional built-in camera, optional fingerprint reader, optional bar code scanner, and 9 hours of battery life.

It’s a powerful handheld device measuring just 2.2 x 7.2 x 5.9 inches at 2.3 lbs with both batteries, and will be available in August. Panasonic Toughbook price starts at $2,500.