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"Only good for durability" on by pjamese3
Pros: You can run over it with a Hummvee and it keeps on ticking. The keyboard is okay.
Cons: Bad design. Awkward port placement. Weak sound
Summary: I don't own one (I wouldn't!) but I have to use one while I'm deployed to Iraq. I much prefer the Dell laptops. The Toughbook's USB ports are placed too deeply in the protective casing. If you have an older, wider thumbdrive - or don't have an extension - you are out of luck. The headphone and microphone ports are in back of the laptop. Not too big a deal if you have it on your lap on a plane, but a royal pain if you have it set up in a semi-permanent position and you have to reach around the back. Also, on 2 of the ones we use. The sound is almost non-existent. Max out all the sliders and you can barely hear it...in a quiet room. All this system is good for is checking email and letting PowerPoint Rangers do their stuff. Also, the touchscreen drivers wouldn't work after loading required security updates...even after reloading the drivers.
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"Good for work in a rugged enviroment" on by Ddeere2
Pros: Rugged, and fully sealed
Cons: Not Good for home use
Summary: This laptop is good for enviroments where your laptop is going to get abused. I used this when i was depolyed in Afganistan and Iraq. Not once did it stop working with all the abuse i gave to it. Dropped from a helicopter, ran over, you name it, it happened. This computer also has a long battery life. Don't listen to everyone else complain about it, of course it doesn't compare to a dell or something high end, its for a tough enviroment and not for home use. I had another version of this same laptop, it was a tablet pc version, it was just as good with this one, with a touchscreen. I'm not sure if this one has it. One draw back to that one is that it has no cd drive. Other than that, i loved this pc, but i would not recomend for home use, at it was not made for this.
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"Everyone has put a bad rating on the book. Why" on by 4u92
Pros: To lay it down when you drop your lappy and the screen dose not work anymore. witch I have sceen everyone I know do. Or spill on it. I will still be running on my CF-74. And when you shell out for your next lappy and do the same to it.
Cons: the charger is pretty bulky. No Linux support
Summary: The book is sick. You can not go wrong. It is way worth the price to have a book that will last nomatter what you do to it.
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"The modern briefcase: handle carry all your work everywhere." on by Blathering1
Pros: Powerful to run all apps, semi-rugged, handle, 4 gb RAM, wireless WAN, touchscreen
Cons: 6lbs-- the Y5 is a bit lighter. Touchscreen is odd to use on a clamshell-- would be a cool convertible!
Summary: Panasonic Toughbook 74 is a fast unit, quite rugged, the handle is great—since the battery life is excellent, I can carry it by itself, like an attaché. A rep at USAT Corp claimed I could pull the live DVD-R drive and put in a second battery for more runtime, while the unit was on—I haven’t felt the need yet though. It runs Photoshop CS2, huge Excel spreadsheets, Adobe In-Design, Lightroom and Nikon Capture NX very well.
Might want to wait a few months--- according to USAT Corp. http://www.usatcorp.com you will soon be able to get the new Toughbook 74s with HSDPA or 1x-EVDO Rev A (as in the newest fastest network that is not available really anywhere yet) as integrated wireless WAN for Verizon, Sprint / Nextel and Cingular. This would be a collapsible antenna hanging off the back, and an on-off button. USAT Corp said the weight gain with WAN would be negligible, so the weight should still be <6 lbs, and the affect on battery life a consideration, but probably less than a PC-Card since this will be an internal module (USAT sales guys opinion).
FWIW-- I am effusive about this company USAT (and have gotten every Toughbook I have purchased from them -- a bit hard to find but located here www.usatcorp.com ) since they always seem to have the inside track on Panasonic Toughbooks and mobile computing and they have stuck with me up after I have purchased. Phone is 888-550-8728 -- the sales rep who helped me last was Lisa. -
"xps m1210 .." on by bjones1910
Pros: xps m1210 is better
Cons: $5,000 ........
Summary: this sucks
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