Panasonic updates ultraportables with Core 2 Duos

The Panasonic laptop division is in high gear this week, first recalling some 6,000 batteries in Japan, and now revving its ultraportable line with dual-core 64-bit capable 1.06GHz U7500 Core 2 Duos across the board. The $2,109 W5a features a 12-inch screen, a gig of RAM, an 80GB HD, and that snazzy top-loading DVD writer, while the $1,898 T5a drops the optical drive in favor of longer battery life (13 hours vs. 10 for the W5a). If that's sounding good to you but for some reason you also need to drop your laptop up to 30 inches into a puddle, Panny's got you covered with the 2.1-pound R6a, a $1,772 10.4-inch machine with a 7.5 hour battery. All three machines are expected to drop in Japan on May 18th.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 25th 2007 11:29PM]

"dual-core 64-bit capable 1.06MHz U7500 Core 2 Duos across the board"
you may need to double check those specs...

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 25th 2007 11:33PM]

That's a really sexy laptop case.
I'd like to see SONY and HP design cases similar to this one.

My only question is - with such as small screen, why would you need so much CPU power?
Its not like you can play complex PC games with it.
You wouldn't use it for graphic design or sound editing.
Would it not be more feasable to simply put one Core Solo in it so you maximize battery efficiency?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 26th 2007 10:30AM]

Eh.. I am a HUGE fan of Sony's SZ series laptops in black. It's far sexier than the black Macbook, and has carbon fiber.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 25th 2007 11:34PM]

K, are you trying to say that 1.06 Mhz isn't fast enough for you? You must be some kind of power user.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 27th 2007 9:14AM]

1.06GHz is pretty slow, I had the W5K model and it was somewhat slow on multitasking or anything CPU intensive. And I'm no power-user.

Core 2 Duo will help, but at only 1.06 Ghz, still gonna be slow becasue of the Vista overhead. But those machines have no fans so they are never gonna up the speed much other wise they will have heat-related damage,

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 25th 2007 11:50PM]

Dual cores can be useful even for the kind of stuff done with an ultraportable laptop, really.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 26th 2007 12:37AM]

i'm the computer equivalent of tim taylor. i need at least 1.2MHz to run my solitaire. those custom decks need more power (arrrgh, arrrgh, arrrgh)

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 26th 2007 1:51AM]

just wanted to say that I have the original W2 (posting from it now), I've had it for 3+ years, and I still love it to death.

It has never had any problems, has survived a few 2-3 ft drops onto carpeted concrete, and still gets frequent "nice laptop, who makes it?" comments.

When it's time for a new lappy, I'll probably get another (though maybe a T or R series) even at the premium prices they fetch.

[Paul D Posted Apr 26th 2007 2:19AM]

These Panasonics are extremely popular in Japan. They're ugly as all heck too, with that corrugated tin casing. If Apple wants to know why Mac sales are lagging in Japan, a major market for them, it's because everyone's buying these instead. Apple needs to make a Macbook that competes directly with Panasonic's 10.4".

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 26th 2007 2:38AM]

1.3mhz? i guess you only need a first generation IBM then.... oh.. maybe you meant GIGAHERTZ?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 26th 2007 1:30PM]

Dammmmmit! I got the older T5 model, 3 days before they updated with this one. Mine only has a Core Solo and Windows XP (but it has longer battery life than the new model) And I cracked the screen too- anyone know where I can get a replacement? Panasonic says they're going to charge $1000 for a replacement, and that's a bit much...

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 27th 2007 11:57AM]

I don't understand the comments with regards to the Toughbook's looks- what is it that you find ugly? I love my W5 and think its unique and modern looking. I like the profile and can't imagine using any other style mousepad.

[(Unverified) Posted May 25th 2007 1:19PM]

I too have had a W2 since it first came out. It has only had one problem, and that turned out to be due to a faulty memory card. I ended up expanding the memory, installing a 120GB hard drive (careful with the jumper hack!), and upgraded the mini-PCI to 802.11n. It's like I have a new machine (except could probably use a new battery too).

When the W5A arrives I will probably buy it. Four years is long enough for even the trustiest of laptops, so it's time to retire my W2. I personally could use the extra horsepower to run complicated excel models and stuff like that. Try doing that on a 6 hour plane ride with any other laptop! I also like the new DVD DL writer, 80GB hard drive (though smaller than my upgraded W2), more RAM, etc.

I hope by the time it makes it to the US they'll add 802.11n. That would make it the perfect package IMO. If not, I'm sure it will be possible to swap in a new miniPCI with 802.11n at some point.

These are the best laptops out there in terms of form and function, IMO. That includes the Sonys and the Apples.