Core i5 / i7 roundup: Panasonic fits Core i7 in netbook chassis, Dell and HP machines spotted at Staples

What we know as the astronomically expensive Toughbook laptops over here, the Japanese know as the wildly spendy Let's Note machines over there. Their nomenclature is today getting upgraded by one, as the F9, N9, and S9 Let's Notes make their debut housing a Core i5-520M processor. We like the F9's 14.1-inch display and 1440 x 900 resolution best -- those are pretty much ideal dimensions for a portable workhorse -- but the real new hotness is the R9, which crams a Core i7-620UM into essentially the size of a netbook. 2GB of DDR3 RAM and 250GB storage drives are standard across the range, and the Japanese release is scheduled for February 17. In other news, a 17-inch Dell Inspiron with Core i5-430M guts is now up for sale on Staples for a measly $649, while a similarly specced HP dv4 can also be found for a Benjamin more. Hit those source links for more.

[geekthree Posted Jan 25th 2010 6:39AM]

How do they continue to succeed in making laptops that look like their from 1995?

Its like a Ferrari with the aesthetics of a donkeys ass.

[Fez Posted Jan 25th 2010 7:00AM]

@geekthree
LMAO! u made my day!

[TRLKOR Posted Jan 25th 2010 7:06AM]

@geekthree Well, Panasonic's Let's Note line are generally known as IBM Thinkpads of Japan for their reliability and build quality...

[oproski Posted Jan 25th 2010 11:14AM]

@geekthree
I agree.
You. Gee. El. Why?

[wrsu1996gmailcom Posted Jan 26th 2010 4:19PM]

@geekthree
the tough books were never meny for gaming ,they were ment for millitary use, who card how they look a rugged and powereful takes my favor

[Ixon Posted Jan 29th 2010 7:46PM]

@geekthree

Lmfao, nice, well said.

[TareG Posted Jan 25th 2010 6:42AM]

Innoviative. I think I like the whole Ferrari thing...

[BluegrassGeek Posted Jan 25th 2010 6:51AM]

Those laptops are ugly as sin. What's with the round trackpad area?

[cosmicinglewood Posted Jan 25th 2010 6:57AM]

A round track pad for a rectangular screen? ^^ on the interesting optical door lid/ handrest :) USB just hit the scene in 1996 so that is a dead give away they are not from 1995, although the styling cues for the case; have a Clinton Era retro look to them. The L bracket on the screen hinge is an aesthetic mistake that dell seems to like lately. They keyboards also look like the kind that bend and flex like like a contortionist while in use. ^^ for stuffing an i7 in the sub $800 14.1 F9. The case tolerances look kinda sloppy, perhaps they should get down with machined metal like the Fruity computer company. All of that case noise makes them look a little cluttered. Likewise those plastic buggy bumpers on the screen bezel look kinda Duplo block like.

[RickStar Posted Jan 25th 2010 11:22AM]

@cosmicinglewood

They should hire you to be their spokesperson. That was oddly awesome. Maybe you could clean up the machine a bit, too? xD

[bigcow05 Posted Jan 25th 2010 6:58AM]

I like Toughbooks as much as I do Thinkpads, which is a lot, but the Toughbook touchpad has to be one of the most annoying input devices ever conceived.

First of all, circles are always smaller than rectangles given a certain height and width limit, so you are already starting out with a smaller surface area.

Then, the scrolling is done by moving the finger around the circumference of the circle a la ipod, except you have to be right at the rim of the circle, and if you deviate from it the scrolling stops. Not to mention that the scrolling is only in one axis (horizontal if there is only a horizontal scrollbar, vertical if there is a vertical scrollbar and/or a horizontal scrollbar).

[Reluttr Posted Jan 25th 2010 6:59AM]

one time use cd drive? Cause I don't see a way to get the disk out of that pit...

[onlymyrailgun Posted Jan 25th 2010 7:04AM]

@Reluttr
Ah, I remember those disc drives... the memory is fuzzy... oh, I see it... so that's how I used to get the disc out... wait... nah, lost it...
"The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see..." the past is.

[YpoCaramel Posted Jan 25th 2010 7:24AM]

If you think these look bad, compare them to Dell's rugged laptops or the Thinkpad line. I think the Toughnotes look positively progressive in comparison. Yes, these are somewhat rugged iirc.

[YpoCaramel Posted Jan 25th 2010 8:00AM]

@Solidstate89 If you think the Thinkpads are sexy as hell then I think these are sexy as hell.

[Verythrax Posted Jan 25th 2010 7:28AM]

What's the video card?

[YpoCaramel Posted Jan 25th 2010 8:07AM]

@Verythrax Arrandale mobile CPUs have an on-die GMA HD, as reviewed by bit-tech http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2010/01/25/intel-gma-hd-graphics-performance/1

This includes some of the mobile i5s and some of the mobile i7s, but not anything i7 7xx series and above.

That is, capable at video but not for modern games. Well, I wouldn't call 20fps@ 1200x800 lowest detail in MW2 a good experience anyhow.

[Verythrax Posted Jan 25th 2010 8:23AM]

@YpoCaramel Thanks!

Seems like engadget just read your coment:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/25/intel-gma-hd-graphics-review-deems-them-excellent-for-video-med/

:D

[YpoCaramel Posted Jan 25th 2010 10:43AM]

@Verythrax No, I read theirs. =) I only check bit-tech once a week...

[Eruanno Posted Jan 25th 2010 8:46AM]

WHOAH HELL those are some ugly laptops.

And why would ANYONE really, anyone, EVER make round trackpads? What is up with that?

[Oxyrt Posted Jan 25th 2010 9:26AM]

Wow. THe ugliest pair of devices I've ever seen..

[jellotime91 Posted Jan 25th 2010 10:12AM]

What the fuck are those things!? Let's NOTe and say we did!

[ismithxreloaded Posted Jan 25th 2010 6:51PM]

hmmmm.... Round trackpad...-1. overall design.... -1. overheat risk.... -1. battery life..... probably sucks (with that kind of processor). Core i7.... +5. the only good thing you can say.