These three new
Toughbooks from
Panasonic, the CF-W5, CF-T5 and CF-Y5, aren't quite the type of laptop you can leave out in the rain or dropkick across the room, but they should handle a bump or three just fine with their magnesium-alloy bodies and shock-mounted hard drives. To start things off, the 12.1-inch CF-W5 sports a 60GB HDD, Core Solo processor and a purported 8 hours of battery. The 1.8-inch thickness isn't revolutionary, but the 3.1 pound weight isn't bad at all. Next up, the CF-T5 has a the same specs except for a touch sensitive screen, 3.5 pound weight, and a crazy-silly-fresh 10 hour battery. Finally, the CF-Y5 (pictured) hits up a 14.1-inch display, Bluetooth and a DVD/CD-RW drive, while still managing to weigh a mere 3.5 pounds. All three of the new Toughbooks have options for EV-DO or UMTS/HSDPA wireless modems,
but sadly RAM is capped at 512MB for the W5 and T5, though the Y5 can scale up to and each max out at 1.5GB of RAM. The two 12-inchers should be dropping in October for $1,899, while the CF-Y5 is coming in December for $2,199.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hello Moto @ Sep 12th 2006 9:42AM
*first comment!*
Well I think its good to see some more ultra portables coming into the world, especialy strong ones since laptops are so easily destroyed or at least damaged.
Even more important to me and most others would probably have to be the "crazy-silly-fresh 10 hour battery."
Question: Is that image one of the new toughtbooks? It looks way not strong.
- New website everyone, see my name! -
fastm3driver @ Sep 12th 2006 9:49AM
These look nice, but where do you buy them?
Where do you get them serviced...
It would be nice for BB or CC to pick them up, but I hate the fact they aren't configurable. I need a 7200rpm drive.
bob @ Sep 12th 2006 9:55AM
that cd/dvd tray lid looks anything but tough
skljdfngvwker @ Sep 12th 2006 10:30AM
yay! more ultraportables to choose from!
but i'll stick with the ultraportable from vaio, panasonics dont look so attractive.
kOa7 @ Sep 12th 2006 10:46AM
These Panasonic lines been around for a long time. Is the announcement really that they will be more available in the US?
PS Panasonic makes great stuff, I'd expect them to last better than Sony &c.
razl @ Sep 12th 2006 10:54AM
FTFA: "The Y5's RAM is expandable to 1.5GB, unlike the W5's and T5's which are locked at 512MB."
Uhhh, they just killed the W5 and T5 for me. WTF can you do with 512?
Panther_V @ Sep 12th 2006 11:02AM
My Buddy at work has the older tough book and they are tough :( We tested it by dropping it on floor and nothing happened to it... at that time my buddy was on the 5th floor ;)
My old P3 500Mhz Dell 1600x1200 res laptop is not fitting my needs anymore ;( it can't play any HD content video which really sucks so i think i will buy one of these laptop if the price is arround $2K.
Ebzy @ Sep 12th 2006 11:44AM
These babies (plus the w5 not reported) have been around for the best part of this year (see dynamism.com) and their predecesors (t4, c4, y4 and w4 very similar build and specs) have all been on sale from a long while before then. The only problem is that they haven't really been available for the US or UK. I've been wanting one for a while but would want it from a local dealer. I'm pissed off with panasonic for thinking so little of us.
Blathering1 @ Sep 29th 2006 11:18AM
Ebzy-- Not sure what local is to you, but in the US try www.usatcorp.com 888-550-8728, I have gotten US models of Toughbooks from them for years and they are in the know with panasonic.
These Tougbhook are vastly better than anything else on the market, and these guys have the inside track to procuring them-- the only thing I am really left wanting is a bit more graphics horsepower... but then nothing beats a $600 desktop graphics card with 512Mb!
Perrey Z. @ Sep 12th 2006 12:11PM
Hello Moto: You're an idiot with your "First Comment".
Koa7: These Toughbooks are the same newly release "Let's Note" notebooks from few months back in Japan, Engadget picked that article.
Bob: Yes you're right. the Titanium casing only covers the back of the screen and the bottom, not the DVD-ROM tray, keypad or input bays., but i've seen them and is a pretty piece of solid ABS plastic.
People, these are NOT consumer notebooks, they are designed for professional individuals {"prosumer"} like architects, field technicians and office rats., these type of customers do not play games or watch HD movies on them, that's why they have some-what limited features compare to ordinary notebooks. Their most influential benefit is their nearly indestructible casing.
shinobi @ Sep 12th 2006 12:21PM
Yea, see the problem with this is that those are not the Toughbooks, but the Let's Note series.
islandmanagers @ Sep 12th 2006 8:10PM
I've owned two VAIO T-series and they are crap. The first died at 10 months and Sony wouldn't honor the warranty. The second (purchased before the first one died) has been back to factory twice in the first 6 months - new Motherboard already!! I JUST ordered a Toughbook today (the 74).
bruteostrich @ Sep 12th 2006 10:10PM
Well, this is just dandy, I just imported a t5 from japan, and they decide to come out with them in the states. Grrrr. At least mine weighs 2.78 lbs and has 15 hr battery life and can go up to 1.5gb of ram. I don`t feel as bad. These are awesome laptops that serve their purpose well...as a laptop ie portable computer. Go to a store and feel a comparable size sony. I did and that`s why I now have this durable little gem. Needless to say, these are sweet.
durian @ Sep 20th 2006 2:21PM
These seem completely diferent than the Japanese versions of the W5, T5, and Y5 that were released earlier this year. So confusing.
Blathering1 @ Sep 29th 2006 10:56AM
These thin & lights have been around for years as US models with 3 yr US warranties.
USATcorp.com has been the place I have gotten mine (R1, T1, W2, Y2, Y5 on order).
This have shock mounted drives, shock impact absorbers around the screen, metal magnesium alloy cases, flexible internal connectors, the Y5 has a sealed keyboard underlayment.
I have never had mine fail from damage-- and carry it daily but never use a case. Very light, reasonable speed (runs Photoshop CS2), and phenomenal battery life.
RAM-- My Y2 takes 768, the Y5 is 1.5Gb. The W5 and T5 will take 768Mb to 1Mb at a minimum once the chips are available (BIOS supports this).
USAT Corp. told me that the new Y5 will offer integrated WAN in addition to A/B/G WLAN (USAT rep said WAN maybe on first release, and definitely after several months-- 888-550-8728, no name unfortunately). Think Sprint/Cingular nationwide wireless integrated into the unit.
The Y2 was a workhorse for me14 screen, 1400x widescreen resolution, external support to 1600x1200, long batt life, very tough, and 3.3lbs., although it was rough giving up the W series, which is a perfect size to have always at hand on the outside.
Sergey @ Oct 1st 2007 3:46PM
For example,I'm really in desperate condition!Few weeks ago I have bought my Let's note CF-Y7 AWDBJR in Japan!It looks fascinating. And what?I still can't use it,because none of the computer geniuses can't help me to install Vista or XP in English,they say there are no drivers. I even tried to use translate.google.com on japaneese websites,and still no results!I'm from Ukraine. Please help me,if you know how to get through this,or if you know an internet link, so that I could download drivers!I would be the happiest man in the world, if you or somebody else could help me!
Blathering1 @ Oct 2nd 2007 6:47PM
Tough break Sergey-- I checked with USAT Corp (USA Master Panasonic Toughbook Partner) and they said the Toughbook Y7 is not released as a 'Toughbook' yet. Since it is out only as a Let's Note-- the Japanese drivers are all that are out. You might be able to get most functionality by using the Y5 drivers, until the Y7s come out. USAT noted that the video card should be different -- so check the chipset (Intel embedded?) and see if you can download these form Intel's site. The WAN Drivers should be the same, unless they jumped chipsets. These guys will announce it as soon as the toughbook Y7 version is out-- http://www.usatcorp.com
Hope this helps.
Tokoro @ Jan 18th 2007 3:15AM
Not as gorgeous at the Sony VAIO ultraportables, but a whole lot less trouble. I'll continue to sacrifice a little on the looks side to avoid hassles.