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Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest
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alaTest.com
Editors' rating: 86
Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 33 reviews of Panasonic Toughbook CF-52 from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 75/100 and users 80/100. Comparing these reviews to 171452 other Laptops reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 86/100 = Very Good.
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news.com.au
Editors' rating: 80
Summary: For demanding users who tend to miss their mouth while they sip, or for anyone who is always using their notebook on the road, the semi-rugged Toughbook CF-52 is a worthy proposition. But it won't withstand everything you throw at it.
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laptopmag.com
Editors' rating: 80
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pcmag.com
Summary: If you thought Toughbooks were aimed only at military personnel and service professionals, the performance and media features on the Panasonic Toughbook CF-52 might have you thinking differently.
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goodgearguide.com.au
Editors' rating: 80
Summary: For demanding users who tend to miss their mouth while they sip, or for anyone who is always using their notebook on the road, the semi-rugged Toughbook CF-52 is a worthy proposition. But it won't withstand everything you throw at it.
CNET editors' buying advice
We have not reviewed this product but here is CNET's buying advice on Laptops. This content was chosen based on the features included with this model of laptop.
Mid-size laptop computer
Not all midsize laptops are inexpensive, but most inexpensive laptops are midsize. Why? Whereas a desktop replacement is designed to deliver high performance and a thin-and-light is optimized for portability, the typical midsize laptop isn't specialized. Rather, a midsize laptop gives you everything you need for basic computing (word processing, storing digital photos), home entertainment (burning CDs, watching DVDs), and online communication (e-mail and Web surfing). Slightly smaller than desktop replacements and with limited battery life, midsize laptops aren't particularly well suited for regular travel.
Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide
See more Mid-size laptop computer products
Microsoft Windows 7 system requirements
Ready for Windows 7?
If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here's what it takes:
- -1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
- -1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
- -16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
- -DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
Additional requirements to use certain features:
- -Internet access (fees may apply)
- -Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
- -For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
- -Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware
- -HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7
- -DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
- -BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2
- -BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive
- -Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on
- -Music and sound require audio output
from windows.microsoft.com
See more Microsoft Windows 7 system requirements products
Home user laptop computer
Home users are increasingly turning to notebook computers as their primary PCs, as they like that laptops can offer similar performance and features to those of a desktop PC, and can be easily moved from room to room. Though of course almost any notebook computer will do for typical home use, there are two types of laptops most suitable for home users: mid-size notebooks, which tend to be budget-friendly, and desktop replacements, which are usually packed with features.
Read more in the Laptop Buying Guide
Laptop computer memory size
To maximize battery life, notebook computer processors are often designed to save more energy and run cooler than desktop processors. The drawback is slower performance, but more memory can help, which it won't consume energy or radiate heat. Even better, up to 4GB of RAM can now be found in budget configurations. If you want more memory later, expansion is often a simple procedure.
See more Notebook computer RAM products
Notebook computer processors
The central processor (CPU) is the heart of any computer system and an excellent litmus test as to whether a desktop computer or notebook fits your needs. The trouble is, processor names like Athlon and Celeron are as cryptic as system names like Latitude and Pavilion. Here's a quick guide to see which chip is a fit:
| Manufacturer | Processor name | Processing power | Designed use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel | Core 2 Extreme Quad | Very high | Gaming and graphics |
| Intel | Core 2 Quad | Very high | Gaming and graphics |
| AMD | Turion | High | Mainstream |
| AMD | Athlon | High | Mainstream |
| Intel | Core 2 Duo | High | Mainstream |
| AMD | Sempron | Medium | Entry level |
| Intel | Celeron | Medium | Entry level |
| Intel | Pentium Dual Core | Medium | Entry level |
| AMD | Athlon Neo | Low | Netbook |
| Intel | Atom | Low | Netbook |
| Via | C7-M | Low | Netbook |
| Via | Nano | Low | Netbook |
| Intel | Pentium | Low | Budget |
See more Notebook processor products
CNET product brief
Description: This configuration of the Panasonic ToughBook 52 is a 7.5-pound, rugged notebook computer.Compared to other durable notebooks on the market, it is very inexpensive at around $1,405.The 15.4 inch widescreen has a native resolution of 1280 x 800, which is fairly standard among laptops.Built around the Intel Core 2 Duo CPU.This notebook has a 160GB hard disk drive and 2 GB of memory.
Pros: Has 7-hour estimated battery life.This is longer than the average notebook on the market today, but is to be expected for a notebook of this price.An anti-theft security tether can be fastened into the built-in lock slot.
Cons: Has a 7.5-pound weight, which is considerably heavier than some similarly priced notebooks.For example, the HP EliteBook 2530p, at around $1, 445, has only a 3.2-pound weight.Also, this notebook has only a 160GB hard drive.This is not out of line with the product's price, but is smaller than the average notebook on the market today.Graphics-intensive applications (such as texture-rich games, DVD playback, and video editing) will hinder performance on a system that relies on shared video RAM.
Suitability: A durable notebook, suited for for industrial use.The sturdy frame and other features are part of this system's rugged design which make it more suitable for outdoor or industrial settings.If you have a wireless network at home, wirelessly browse the Internet from any room in your house with this Wi-Fi enabled laptop.The good battery performance will keep your system running longer without plugging in.Comes with a DVD writer, allowing you to convert home movies from your digital Handycam onto DVDs.
Value: In general, this notebook's features seem a bit weak, even for its very inexpensive price.However, if you were to judge strictly by how large the screen is, the average price of durable products with a similar screen size is considerably more -- right around $2,071.
Suggestions: (1) Given this device's Wi-Fi capability, you may want to get a wireless access point for your home, so that you can browse the Internet more conveniently from any room.(2) For help in deciding if this is the right computer for you, see CNET's buying guide for notebooks.
CNET's Product Briefs are generated by a software tool that combines product specifications with knowledge of our editorial experts. They do not reflect hands-on assessment or labs testing. For more information about how we create Product Briefs, contact us.
Where to buy
Panasonic Toughbook 52 - Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26 GHz - 15.4" TFT:
$1,359.00 - $5,999.00
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$1,359.00 | Yes |
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$1,396.24 | Yes |
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$1,381.99 | Yes |
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$1,429.99 | Yes |
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$1,407.04 | Yes |
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