IT'S AN INDICATION of the popularity of notebook computers that Panasonic is able to sustain a niche like its Toughbook. Toughbooks come in different categories and my review unit was the fully "ruggedised" version. <\/p>\n
It can be dropped from a metre high, thanks to a hard-drive mounted on shock absorbers; you can jump on it if you have to (for example, if Windows crashes), douse it with water, drop it in the mud or cover it with sand. No wonder it's loved by oil rig workers, mining engineers, builders, tanker captains and the US military. <\/p>\n
However, you pay a price for all that toughness: R27 599 to be exact. The CF-19 series screen is just 10.4" wide and the processing speed (an Intel Core Duo at 1,06Ghz), hard drive (80Gb) and technical specs are below what's available from those sissy boardroom-only notebooks. The bottom line is: Don't bother with a ruggedised Toughbook unless you need to have a unit that can withstand the elements. <\/p>\n
It's not heavy – only 2,3kg – but is bulky, thanks to all those rubber edges on the magnesium alloy casing. It can be operated in 5C weather and if you're planning an Antarctic expedition you can store it at minus 20C. <\/p>\n
The CF-19 tablet version is the one to go for. Touchscreen tablet PCs have come a long way since being introduced five years ago and in the conditions in which you're likely to be using a Toughbook, it makes sense not to bother with a keyboard or touch pad. The stylus is attached with an elastic cord because it's the last thing you want to lose in a gale.<\/p>\n