Panasonic's latest Toughbook 30 unboxing and hands-on
By Tim Stevens 
posted February 25th 2009 12:03PM
posted February 25th 2009 12:03PM
posted February 25th 2009 12:03PM
powered by gdgt
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
Some sarcasm from Panasonic?
Panasonic AKA matsuSHITa
ahahahhah!!!
Who let this guy in?
it looks tough and I'm sure it is but after my last toughbook I think I would rather have clamidia
Im pretty interested in one for the workplace..... what issues did you have?
We've been running hundreds of these for about five years, absolutely no problems. And they travel, a lot. CF-52s for in-house and CF-30s for on-the-road work. The CF-30s take some getting used to, with the keyboard and latched covers and all, and are slower than other standard laptops, but they're very strong.
I think they are a marvel of design but unless I'm jumping out of an aircraft into a war zome or using it in a steel mine I found that my eeepc can do the job and is much lighter and cheaper. I used to use it when I went on demolition sites but there was such a little chance of it being damaged I didn't bother taking it most of the time
I think it's great but I think unless you are going to drop this thing everyday or there is bound to be something thrown at you there are much better solutions.
You do have clamydia , dude.
The "it won't break" aspect is nice but there are WAY too many negative working with these.
The guys on the Aircrafts don't like them and neither do the guys setting them up (me). Hopefully the keyboard is a little better, it was terrible for typing anything.
Dell has come out with an alternative, its basically a 'tough' D630. While they aren't great (smart card reader requires card to go 98% of the way in). Full size keyboard and has same features as ToughBooks.
One thing we've had a problem with both of these models is that the card readers seem to overheat. Other than that, the Dell model is VERY nice. Wish I could say same for toughbook. I was excited to get to mess with the ToughBooks when they came in but they are nothing but problems.
*Will work for toughbook(s)*
tough on your wallet
Chuck Norris doesn't own a Toughbook, he roundhouse kicks you to the jaw and uses yours.
Chuck Norris doesnt need a toughbook, he scares calculations into doing themselves.
i never understood why people say those type of things about chuck norris
Because we're bored and Chuck Norris doesn't know where we live...yet.
o... how about "skyblaze" instead?
(interesting avy by the way)
When Chuck Norris is done with a Toughbook, it is just a Book.
Is skyblaze really your name?
You must have awesome/worrying parents
"We call him Little Bobby Tables"
Are you kidding? Chuck Norris knows where all of us live off the top of his head.
@ skyblaze
watch "Delta Force" and then you'll understand
A brown cardboard box doesn't quite say 'Toughbook' to me. I was expecting a lead-lined shipping container or something.
How about aluminum diamond plating? Surf the net AND use it as a step stool!
I would personally like mine to be delivered by parachute from a Hercules.
like one of those cages they transport raptors in.
Do raptors fear fire?
hold on, Oli D, I need to take my anti-confusion medication.
putting a thing on a tough box means the thing it contain is fragile. which is the opposite of toughbook
Just slap a label on the side, then you'll see.
Are you the same strider_mt2k from BBG?
The laptop looks smaller than previous models. Do you have specs? screen size?
Specs: TOUGH
Screensize: RUGGED
Price: a MANLY expense
It's the exact same size.
Lol very nice
Hahaha
Drop it!
Our patrol cars here use these. I have seen them work after massive crashes that destroy the vehicles. Very tough and reliable.
Your police department should think about taking Solitaire off their laptops. ;)
The only thing you can access on them is the MDT functions. No windows, no nothing, just the program that allows access to all the databases :(
i was gonna ask if these are what coppers used.
I first used Toughbooks before they were branded as such. Panasonic simply called them by their model names. The first one I had was a CF-25mkII back in 1997. I asked Panasonic for a demo unit to see if I could properly run the OS of my choice which at the time was BSD/OS. They sent me one as soon as I got it, I called up Panasonic and asked them if I could reload the OS that came with it. They said okay. I then asked if I could abuse it a bit like run it ovedr with my Jeep. They said okay.
So I promptly loaded up a fresh copy of BSD/OS-3.1, dropped an mp3 onto it and started it playing. Then I rolled the thing down a two-story staircase all while it was playing Tubthumping. I then took it outside and ran it over with my Jeep... not a scratch. After I got back, I called up the Panasonic retailer and asked for a batch for my group. They served my group faithfully through quite a bit of harsh conditions without fuss. I also liked the huge abundance of PCMCIA slots.
Panasonic told me that their biggest customers were law enforcement, military and the medical field. They said that the only people who abused their laptops more than cops were nurses and medics.
Looking at the pictures of the box it is clear you ordered the *French* version of the Toughbook. That one isn't nearly as tough, and runs away from trouble, but has an air of superiority.
/I keed, I keed.
//Monsieur Grenouille
I thought it was an american version, you know, a few years late to the party?
Douche... I dont keed, I dont keed. An air of superiority these days is achievable easily compared to you and you're country.
Hello, Argot and Agent25, I'm calling to let you know that I found your senses of humor out here in the backyard. They look kind of lost, would you like them back?
@ jarofchris.
Yes, I would like it back. I left it there the other night when I was out with your Mom.
My sister needs one of those ... she destroys hardware... (even rugged, anti-water, anti-shock hardware) ... the problem is that is so expensive that i can usually buy 6 nice laptops for the price of that one...
The "filament - Compact fluorescent" dichotomy
Now please shoot some pictures of you bashing the 17" iBook to pieces with it.
Dance on it, drive over it with your SUV!
We had these a while back in the Fire Department, and I think I remember we accidently ran one over with an ambulance once. Worked like a champ even after!
Now they stuck us with crap Motorola ML910's :( I want our Toughbook's back