Travel Technology - Panasonic Toughbook W2: any experience?

Does anyone have experience with the Panasonic Toughbook W2? What is your opinion of it compared to the IBM Thinkpad of comparable weight? I want an ultralight rugged computer with a decent keyboard, a reasonable size screen, and good battery life - and this seems to fit the bill. I've just seen a friend with one today, and on first glance am lusting after it. It's a pricey little toy, over $2K. Is it worth it?

Very nice machine, good price, just keep in mind that Panasonic isn't that big a brand when it comes to notebook computers so their support will be less extensive than the larger brands.

Just how rugged a machine do you need? And how small should it be?

We have one here. It definitely does NOT live up to the toughbook name, but then again you're talking about comparing it to machines that can stop bullets (Toughbook 28 which we also have here and which is amazingly durable and has lasted through two years of daily in-plant use). I mean, the top is PLASTIC fergawdsake! It's not a bad laptop and is VERY thin but I prefer the Fujitsu P7000 (http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P7D).

It's available for the same price, has more expandability, is smaller and I KNOW is durable as I've been carrying one in my backpack for eight months and 85,000 miles now (or rather the P5000 which is the same model but older with a slower processor). It also uses metal in the right places to protect sensitive components. No failures and nary a problem and it gets BEATEN on. It also makes an amazing DVD player.

The Sony TR-XA (TR-1A, 3A, 5A) have better screens but they're slower and also have proprietary hard drives making upgrading much more difficult. The Fujitsu uses a standard hard drive so when bigger and faster comes out you can swap very easily. Their support is also lightyears ahead of Sony (not that that's hard to do).

We have one here. It definitely does NOT live up to the toughbook name, but then again you're talking about comparing it to machines that can stop bullets (Toughbook 28 which we also have here and which is amazingly durable and has lasted through two years of daily in-plant use). I mean, the top is PLASTIC fergawdsake! It's not a bad laptop and is VERY thin but I prefer the Fujitsu P7000 (http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P7D).

It's available for the same price, has more expandability, is smaller and I KNOW is durable as I've been carrying one in my backpack for eight months and 85,000 miles now (or rather the P5000 which is the same model but older with a slower processor). It also uses metal in the right places to protect sensitive components. No failures and nary a problem and it gets BEATEN on. It also makes an amazing DVD player.

The Sony TR-XA (TR-1A, 3A, 5A) have better screens but they're slower and also have proprietary hard drives making upgrading much more difficult. The Fujitsu uses a standard hard drive so when bigger and faster comes out you can swap very easily. Their support is also lightyears ahead of Sony (not that that's hard to do).

Who are you and what are you doing posting here? :D

(welcome back ;))

Thanks to the two of you ;), I now have a longer list:

1. Fujitsu P7000D
2. IBM Thinkpad X40
3. Panasonic Toughbook CF-W2
4. Sony Vaio TR-3A

I've been out today and seen all but the IBM Thinkpad. I eliminated the Sharp Actius MM20P, deciding I wanted an internal DVD player. The four above all seemed acceptable. Are there discriminators? The Sony has a webcam which is cool - are there other features unique to one of the models? How do I decide? Do I toss a coin?

Thanks to the two of you ;), I now have a longer list:

1. Fujitsu P7000D
2. IBM Thinkpad X40
3. Panasonic Toughbook CF-W2
4. Sony Vaio TR-3A

I've been out today and seen all but the IBM Thinkpad. I eliminated the Sharp Actius MM20P, deciding I wanted an internal DVD player. The four above all seemed acceptable. Are there discriminators? The Sony has a webcam which is cool - are there other features unique to one of the models? How do I decide? Do I toss a coin?

In my opinion you should pick on price, support and available accessories.

Are there extended batteries, empower chargers etc...

I have been admiring the Fujitsu notebooks lately (I'm currently looking for a windows laptop that would join my 12 inch PowerBook on my travels), but you may find 1024x768 resolution on a 10.6 inch screen to be rather small. The same resolution on my 12 inch PowerBook is about as small as I would want to go. You might want to consider one of Fujitsu's 13 inch notebooks for a happy compromise between a 12 and 14 inch screen.

I guess you need to ask yourself what your specific needs are, it seems you're looking for a very compact notebook based on the models you mentioned.

Saw the Sony TR3 at Costco today for just $1749!!!!

I've been using a Fujitsu S6110 for about 18 months and had to use their service area a few times (the laptop didn't have any flaws, I just kept dropping it :( )

Without a doubt, their service was the best of any computer company I have ever dealt with. They have little or no wait times on their phone lines and the techs are pretty knowledgeable. If your problem has to be moved to the next level of techs, they are real pros!!

Things I like about the W2
a) 2.8lbs
b) Great battery life (I get 5hrs)
c) Built in DVD
d) If you buy a US W2, you get 3 years of Panasonic Support.

Things I hate about the W2
a) Cramped keyboard. Space bar is small, some keys are laid out all wrong for my use. IMHO the Thinkpad keyboard is the best.
b) Speaker sound is terrible.

I have also upgraded my W2 from a 40GB/4200RPM to 80GB/5400RPM

http://www.leog.net/fujp_forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5649

Thank you to everyone who has helped me. My urge to get a tiny computer is very much FlyerTalk's fault. ;) SP! has a new Sony TR5, a birthday gift, with which I immediately fell in lust. Then wingnut showed up with the Toughbook in my title. ScottC and kanebear of course have all the toys - and have been enormously generous in sharing their knowledge about them.

In the end, I bought a Sony TR3, thanks to ScottC finding it on sale at Costco. fewmiles has already helped me program it to get out annoying tribalfusion ads, etc.

FlyerTalkers are the best! ^ ^

SanDiego1K: Bad news? (http://www.vaio.sony.co.jp/Products/VGN-T70B/) ;) :p

FewMiles..

My beloved Sony Vaio TR3, discussed above, now has a problem with the space bar. Sometimes it works, more often it does not. I called a computer repair guy,who is not an expert on laptops - and thinks it is non repairable. Do I really have to return it to Costco for exchange? I've got about 5 days on their 6month, no questions asked warranty - but I truly hate to give up my computer that is all configured just the way I likeit.

My beloved Sony Vaio TR3, discussed above, now has a problem with the space bar. Sometimes it works, more often it does not. I called a computer repair guy,who is not an expert on laptops - and thinks it is non repairable. Do I really have to return it to Costco for exchange? I've got about 5 days on their 6month, no questions asked warranty - but I truly hate to give up my computer that is all configured just the way I likeit.

It could be as easy as some dirt in it, or it could be worse :(

Exchanging it will be a hassle but might be the only solution...

I researched and agonized for months. Finally bought the W2 from portableone.com. I have to say, I was very disappointed with it.
* It was, believe it or not, TOO light. That's hard for me to admit, b/c I'm always looking for the lightest and smallest. But it just felt cheap. Not enough substance.
* The front is this cheesy plastic. It dents in and out with a small push. My friends called it my Saturn. :)
* The keyboard is just too hard to work with.
* The screen was nothing to write home about.
* There's no switch or keyboard way to toggle wireless (sounds little, but it is annoying).
In the end, I just couldn't justify the cost. I really, really wanted to like it. I begged the guys at portableone.com to take it back. They were nice enough to do so.
End of story? I did someting I swore I'd never do...I bought a "non brand". I bought a Portableone UX. Surprise, I really like it. For the price, got a lot of power and ram. It looks good, keyboard is fine, runs great.

An alternative perspective from producer's:

Yes it's light. Things which are light will feel, well, light. If you equate lightness with substance, then that'll be a problem! ;)

It does dent. Mine has a small dent. But it's like a crumple zone on a car. The outside gets a bit roughed up in order to keep the inside safe. If you want something that will always look pretty, buy a mac. I normally get through a laptop every 12-18 months. This time I spent more hoping it would last longer. I'm only 9 months in, so it's too early to compare, but normally within 9 months I would have broken something on a laptop even if I hadn't rendered it inoperable... the W2 is still fully functional.

I don't have a problem with the keyboard. It is a little "scrunched" but that's what happens on a small laptop and if it's your primary keyboard it's easy to adapt to (I grant it might be trickier if you're constantly switching between a full size keyboard). And I have fat fingers.

The wireless toggle is a fair point, but on a laptop this small you're always going to have to sacrifice some functionality. For me, the sacrifice was bluetooth rather than a wireless toggle.

I wanted a laptop that was very lightweight, offered good functionality (eg onboard DVD combo) and I was prepared to pay over the odds for ruggedness (which they back up with a 12 month accidental damage warranty). I'm very happy with mine. The fault I have with it? Well, it could be faster. And then again, I could pull one of my fat fingers out and double the RAM from 256 to 512, so it can't be that bad...

ETA: the only problem I did have was finding the right igo Juice tip. In fact I still haven't found it, and thus returned the igo Juice I bought. If anyone has any tips (for want of a better word)...

i am using it since 1year.

now i can say, it is incredible good.
it has no fan! so you only hear the HDD. but normally there is no noise. this was one of the important things for me.
i am using it nearlly 24h a day. as i never pull the plug.

in my work and @ home i have 19inch lcd and i am using that. so it is like a workstation.

the only thing is that you have to by another 512mb mdim.
with 256mb it is too slow.

with 1.2kg it is really so nice to take everywhere and you can work nice with the display.

the built in DVD-R is nice. (only in new models.)

in japan w2 is about 1800usd new one .
in us should be different and more expensive.

dp