- Average user rating:
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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4.5 stars
"Rugged, light, and long battery life."
Pros: Rugged, light, and long battery life. Cool and space-saving top-loading DVD multi drive. Round wheel-pad. Large keyboard for its class. Downgradable to XP.
Cons: Expensive. Thick. The cord of the AC adopter is stiff. Now it has a fan for the CPU.
Summary: Now that the new W8 is out, I got a significant discount on W7 -- and it serves me just fine. I wanted a rugged and relatively light one to do basic things (Web, Office, etc.) with a decent battery and a DVD multi drive, and I didn't need the fastest processor or breath-taking LCD. So Toughbook W was the natural choice.
In addition, there are a few features that won me over:
1) Top-loading DVD drive -- My desk is messy and the table at my favorite coffee place is small. It's so easy to change CDs when I'm on the couch!
2) Relatively big keyboard -- I type a lot and it's enough for my small hands. I also like the surface of the keys are smooth. They don't stick to my finger.
3) The wheelpad -- I must admit I first thought it was too round and too small, but it turned out it was just large enough and I can use it naturally. I love scrolling by "wheeling" too. I also like the corner tap (although there's no corner exactly). I love being able to do things like minimizing the window without moving the pointer.
4) Downgradable to Windows XP -- It came with Vista Business, but none of my stuff requires Vista and XP is much faster.
5) Well-built -- Although the interface ports are exposed, I could feel it when I plugged in connectors to these ports that these are built to last. Especially the DC IN and the headphone jack. Also the prints and paints look durable.
I think this computer is unique. I like it partly because I hate having the same thing with everyone else. But more, I like it because I appreciate what they spend their energy for. It's all about packing this much stuff while keeping it light, yet rugged. Being light and rugged are completely opposing ideas. I take pride in owning a piece of craftsmanship (and it is - it's semi hand-assembled in Japan, and that might explain the high price.)
