Robs rant and rave thread against anything that isn't a Toughbook!

[Dr Blood]

The thing that always comes to mind regarding processing power is do most people really need the latest most powerful processor? In my opinion, most do not and it's mainly a marketing tool to sell new computers.

To some extent I agree but because of the way that the internet has developed with huge, bloated, multimedia sites, you at least have to have a pretty good graphics card to take the strain off the older processors otherwise you are screwed.

Many years ago a TV programme in the UK highlighted that, with Broadband, anything over a P90 was overkill for the internet but since Flash videos have taken over even some of the more recent computers struggle to keep up.

Also gamers just have to go for the latest, greatest, lap-melting computers and that's what keeps them selling new ones.

For office work I could still run everything on a Pentium 133 if I really wanted to. For games, a Pentium II or III is still good enough for Quake, Tomb Raider and such. It really is a case of it's not the size but what you do with it.

[ToughNut]

I can't relate much to other brands since my first laptop was a CF-17, then a CF-M34, then a CF-27, a CF-28, CF-48, CF-50, CF-73, CF-51, CF-29 and the most recent to join the stable, a CF-18.

A few of these fell off the desk, abused by kids, pounded by the Mrs (frustrations from work) and one was accidentally ran over by two cars (it's still alive).

Prior to Toughbooks, I avoided laptops like the devil... considered them wimpy and fragile to lug around on a motorbike... at least that was until I first saw the 17 and that changed everything! d@mn... it's contagious and the itch is terrible!!

Oh wait... I did get to use a HP tablet (like the CF-18) during my part-time stint and was quite nice to use except for the bloated "default utilities" (and things don't work right if you uninstalled them).

[moral hazard]

Here is why I hate panasonic:

The toughbooks are bigger than normal notebooks and they are less powerful.
That is not a reasonable compromise for being "tough".

You have to pick one thing only.
They must either be bigger with the same performance, or they must be the same size and normal notebooks, but weaker. You can't make that crappy combination of bigger + weaker.

Panasonic is lazy.

[KLonsdale]

Here is why I hate panasonic:

The toughbooks are bigger than normal notebooks and they are less powerful.
That is not a reasonable compromise for being "tough".

You have to pick one thing only.
They must either be bigger with the same performance, or they must be the same size and normal notebooks, but weaker. You can't make that crappy combination of bigger + weaker.

Panasonic is lazy.

10-9, I guess I am not making the connection to be able to understand your logic.

[moral hazard]

Let me make it more clear:

For ~$2000AUD (because I'm in australia) you can get:

Panasonic Toughbook 52 ($2098):
http://www.ht.com.au/part/W3830-Pana...n-T/detail.hts

Or for $1999AUD you can get a dell studio:
http://configure.ap.dell.com/dellsto...=dhs&cs=audhs1

Compare the specs, compare the size.

So you get a much weaker notebook, which is a lot bigger for more money.
Something is not right.

Since nobody else makes toughbooks, panasonic has a monopoly. They set their prices too high and keep their specs low.

Basically they are ripping you off because they know you can't buy a tough notebook from anyone else.

[jimrx7]

I don't think that Panasonic markets their laptops as being on par with other companies laptops when compared to their respective specs. I believe their main selling points are that the durability is unmatched and battery life for maximum portability. that is just my two cents, I am sure that the Toughbook has other advantages to other laptops but remember that Panasonic targets a very specific user with very specific needs and sometimes the wallets are very very deep.

[moral hazard]

Ok, I didn't realise the battery life was very good, now I see why they are not too powerful.

[Toughbook]

I don't think that Panasonic markets their laptops as being on par with other companies laptops when compared to their respective specs. I believe their main selling points are that the durability is unmatched and battery life for maximum portability. that is just my two cents, I am sure that the Toughbook has other advantages to other laptops but remember that Panasonic targets a very specific user with very specific needs and sometimes the wallets are very very deep.

What he said..... I don't think the other guy "gets it".....

[Azrial]

Here is why I hate panasonic:

The toughbooks are bigger than normal notebooks and they are less powerful.
That is not a reasonable compromise for being "tough"....

I know that this will be hard to believe, but there some people in the world who use a notebook for work, they could care less about being able to run Halo 4. If the notebook will not survive the conditions they must work under, it is useless, no matter how powerful its components.

[Dr Blood]

I know that this will be hard to believe, but there some people in the world who use a notebook for work, they could care less about being able to run Halo 4. If the notebook with not survive the conditions they must work under, it is useless, no matter how powerful its components.

Agreed. How powerful does a laptop need to be to run all of Office XP for instance? It runs perfectly on a CF-27 and that's only got a Pentium II 300 processor!

I would like to say that I use my Toughbook for "work" but the truth is that I just take it with me to work to play games on during my breaks. All the SNES and Genesis emulators work just fine on it.

Also since I work with animals it's pretty good to not have to worry about my laptop getting knocked to the floor and peed on by a Rottweiler or being choked up by cat fur.