Panasonic updates Toughbooks: W5, T5, Y5 all Vista ready

In addition to launching the new R6 today, Panasonic gave their W5, T5, and Y5 Toughbooks new silicon in preparation for the new Vista OS. First off, the W5 and T5 get their first taste of Core Duo with the 1.06GHz U2400 processor. That nudges battery life from 8 to 10.5 on the 12.1-inch W5 all the way up to 14-hours -- as claimed by Panny -- on the touch-sensitive, 12.1-inch T5. Meanwhile, the 14.1-inch Y5 steps it up to the 1.83GHz L2500 Core Duo processor with battery life now upped from 6 to 8.5-hours. All other specs and prices remain relatively unchanged. All three hit January 30th in line with the consumer release of Vista yet, for whatever reason, these slabs come pre-loaded with Windows Vista Business released back in November.

[kev @ Jan 17th 2007 11:32AM]

They need to make the T6 a real full fledged convertible. They have the knowhow, and they have no reason as to why they shouldn't take the initiative and show the world what a real convertible tablet should be like.

[hotspam @ Jan 17th 2007 11:52AM]

Why not toss in a SSD drive to further increase battery life and durability.

[Callum @ Jan 17th 2007 11:50AM]

the mouse pad is circle, yet the screen is still square... why do panasonic do this? y'know Packard Bell started the 'craze'... idots.

Nice robust laptops of the past, there newer ranges appear pretty flimsy in-person- couldn't speak for this batch. Aluminium - i hope its not paint. :D

[assparagus @ Jan 17th 2007 1:10PM]

The mousepad is round because your finger's range of movement is circular. Won't really make a difference in-use.

[Tokoro @ Jan 18th 2007 3:14AM]

I love the circular mouse pad -- my Toughbook has a scroll function that allows me to move up and down a very long document or a long web page by using a circular motion on the circular touch pad. If you don't use that function, the circle may seem odd -- but it is a great time saver for me, allowing me to zoom up and down without having to move the cursor to the side to use the slide bar.

The W4 only weighs 2.2 pounds, yet it's tough as a brick. I can't wait to get my hands on this new kid.

I've had to disable the touch pad on other laptops because it toggles at all the wrong times. I don't have that problem with the Panasonic layout.

The top load for the CD works just fine. I wondered how it would work, but unless you're constantly changing CD's, it's dandy.

[Craig @ Jan 17th 2007 4:44PM]

Oh, and the main material on these things isn't aluminum, it's magnesium, which is why they're so light, so tough, and so expensive.

[nhansen @ Jan 17th 2007 12:00PM]

Panasonic makes computers? Where have I been? I'd expect something useless like this from their red-headed stepchild JVC, but not from them. They must conceal them well at CES and NAB - I've never seen them on display.

[kev @ Jan 17th 2007 12:05PM]

Panasonic has been making laptops and particularly this light series since the beginning of the century. Get with the program. =P

[kev @ Jan 17th 2007 12:07PM]

Their first laptops were back in the age of fat wide laptops (late 80s) with screens that resemble the Nintendo DS.

[gecko @ Jan 17th 2007 1:25PM]

Those are by far the UGLIEST laptops I have ever seen! That abomination they call a touch pad looks like it might eat your hands if you leave them on the computer for too long. And what's the deal with that stupid looking drive? Have they not heard of a simple thing called slot loading? Not to mention that those core duo's speeds- even in the high end model- are going to scream under the load that Vista is going to throw at them. Another disgusting attempt at revolutionizing laptop design.

[Chris @ Jan 17th 2007 4:24PM]

Maybe the slot-loading drive would become clogged with dust more easily, or maybe how the slot loading disk ejects disks and lets them sit halfway outside the laptop is a problem? People could accidentally hit eject, not know it, then break the disk by putting an elbow down on it. Not saying it's likely, but the disk drive where it is might be just a precaution.

[Jamar @ Jan 17th 2007 11:02PM]

if you went to their site you would find out that the "shell drive" is to increase the casing strength, and also to make things easier on planes or cars (the tray sticks out a lot- don't want the person next to you accidentally breaking it off).

[Russ @ Jan 17th 2007 1:40PM]

I'm typing this on the current Panasonic CF-T5 (Japanese). I love this laptop. I use it for business, and the quality is unmatched. The battery life is rated at 15 hours, and I just used the computer for the entire 11-hour Hong Kong-Moscow flight playing games and watching movies. As for the circular trackpad, it works far better than it seems. I'm totally used to the touchpad, and it's very precise. I just don't know any laptops that compete in Panasonic's niche market. If you can read Japanese, this may be the laptop for you. If not, expect to spend extra money to replace the OS.

[Craig @ Jan 17th 2007 4:37PM]

I've had a W2 for 2.5 years now and love it. I know three others who have picked up one of these Panny eLite subnotes and love theirs. One cool thing is that, beyond the generous 3-year warranty, you get lifetime free phone support. Of course, nobody I know who owns one has ever had a problem, but it's nice knowing Panasonic has your back if you do. I'd definitely buy another one knowing how tough and durable these things are. Are they fastest? No. Are they the prettiest? No. But they work, work well, and are light as a feather (seriously...I don't think any of the same size screen with internal optical drives weigh less).

[mign @ Jan 17th 2007 4:41PM]

actually, these laptops are very durable and extremely well built. I've used a W4 for the last two years with no problems. And the round mouse pad is perfect because you can use it to scroll up and down pages; it's much better becuase you have so much more control during a continuous scroll. But it's one of those things that until you try it, you won't buy into the concept.

[nhansen @ Jan 17th 2007 6:18PM]

Looks like Panasonic PR has come to the rescue with these last few gleaming comments ...

[Nick @ Jan 17th 2007 6:57PM]

If Panasonic are releasing the T5 with Vista pre-installed, do you think they could be so kind as to post the touch-screen drivers on their web site? I have a month-old t5, but can't use the touch screen as there's no vista drivers released for it so far. And they have the cheek to put a Vista capable sticker on it!

[Jamar @ Jan 17th 2007 10:56PM]

Something's wrong- my Japanese T5 doesn't have a touchscreen, and I'm on XP. Oh, and they're not that durable- broke the LCD when I knocked it off a coffee table (about 2ft drop) by accident. The long battery sure is nice, though.

[ccs malaysia @ Sep 16th 2007 2:42AM]

How to purchase the Panasonic Toughbook CF-Y5?
What is the suggested retail price?
what will the lead time?

Best Regards