Panasonic Toughbook W8 Deal about $400 Shipped

[elray]

[With apologies to the faithful Thinkpad crowd]

Panasonic apparently has a large cancelled order - so these units have a sticker on them that covers up the original Panasonic logo. Note that to get the price you have to enter a coupon code at checkout: TW8F&F.

http://www.fatwallet.com/best-deals/pan ... w8-laptop/

Product Details:
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor SU9300
2GB DDR2
160GB hard drive (shock-mounted and removable
DVD Super MULTI Drive with Dual Layer Support
12.1" 1024 x 768 XGA LCD
7-8 hours of battery life
Intel GS45 (GMA 4500MHD video controller)
Intel Wireless WiFi Link 5100 Draft-N
Bluetooth v.2.0 + EDR (Class 1)
Lithium ion battery pack 6 Cells
Three-year limited warranty
Windows Vista Business COA w/XP Downgrade

[amujee]

Any way to replace the LCD panel to a higher resolution panel?
1024x768 is the only thing keeping me from purchasing.

[kge420]

Extremely tempting. Where is the info/image of the sticker?

[elray]

Extremely tempting. Where is the info/image of the sticker?

"Because this model was originally built for a special customer order, the Panasonic logo on the back of the display has been covered by a special adhesive tape per our original customers request. This tape will remain in place on the unit you receive, but in no way will impact your warranty."

Given that its a magnesium case, I don't know how successful removal of the tape would be, nor if one can obtain replacement logos as one can for Intel / Thinkpad stickers.

[ajkula66]

elray wrote:

Given that its a magnesium case, I don't know how successful removal of the tape would be, nor if one can obtain replacement logos as one can for Intel / Thinkpad stickers.

I've removed all types of nonsense from ToughBook lids. One has to be very careful, and it's perfectly doable. No clue on replacement logos, I'd just buy a dead TB for $20 on fleabay and swap the logo if I really wanted it that bad.

amujee wrote:

Any way to replace the LCD panel to a higher resolution panel?
1024x768 is the only thing keeping me from purchasing.

No.

kge420 wrote:

Extremely tempting.

An understatement of the millennium, in all honesty. This is not a deal, but a steal...

[emtee3511]

LogicBuy has the same coupon code -- but there is no mention of a sticker/tape/covering over the logo -- the price ends up the same $402 total shipped -- not sure if there is a logo issue or not --

George, do you know anything about this particular model Toughbook?

[ajkula66]

emtee3511 wrote:

George, do you know anything about this particular model Toughbook?

I've never owned it but have used it - my employer ordered a dozen or so to test, but gave up on them since they were not "tough enough" for field use - which I could've told them before they had spent the money, but hey, who cares...

I took one with me when I was teaching a class in Boston last year, and loved it for all the same reasons that I've always loved the "light" ToughBooks for - stunning battery life, excellent WLAN/WWAN, and dimensions/weight.

Was I crazy about the screen? Heck, no. But that's what one gets nowadays unless they buy a tablet or mod a X2xx ThinkPad...or spend $5K on a HP with DreamColor IPS LCD...

The keyboard would take getting used to for anyone coming from a ThinkPad. No trackpoint, but the best touchpad - my opinion - in business.

If I needed a laptop of this nature for personal use I would've bought it in a heartbeat, but I don't...

Hope this helps.

[Harryc]

If I needed a laptop of this nature for personal use I would've bought it in a heartbeat, but I don't...

Exactly the way I viewed this deal George. If I needed a small business laptop I would have jumped on it, but I just bought an X200 tablet with a better LCD and better features all around, so I'll pass.
@emtee3511, your X200 AFFS machine is twice the laptop this Panasonic is ..

[pianowizard]

I saw this deal/steal yesterday and the only thing keeping me from getting it is the 12.1" 1024x768. I really wish we were still in 2005 or earlier, when I knew nothing about screen resolution.

No trackpoint, but the best touchpad - my opinion - in business.

My Y4's touchpad works very well indeed, but I don't like its small surface area.

I just bought an X200 tablet with a better LCD and better features all around, so I'll pass.

For those who don't need an internal optical drive, there are many other better ultraportables than this W8. Again, 1024x768 sucks, and 3.1 lbs isn't THAT light for a 12-incher.

[kge420]

@pianowizard

For those who don't need an internal optical drive, there are many other better ultraportables than this W8. Again, 1024x768 sucks, and 3.1 lbs isn't THAT light for a 12-incher.


Could you explain? (non combative request) My take on a 12" screen is readability. I'm not looking to watch a movie at this resolution. I'm using an X41t at the moment and the screen is very easy on my 55 year old eyes. My opinion (limited) only, this looks to be a very good computer at a more than very good price.
Thanks, Keith

[ZaZ]

I saw this the other day. It seems like a good deal if you need a light and durable machine with an optical drive. I'd agree unless you need the low pixel density of a XGA, I'd much rather have WXGA on a 12". XGA is the reason I never had a 12" Thinkpad before.

[ajkula66]

FredGarvin wrote:

It seems like a good deal if you need a light and durable machine with an optical drive.

Very true. One aspect where ToughBooks in general beat all the other laptops that I've used is battery life, don't know why. This W8 would be a great buy for someone who travels a lot.

[pianowizard]

Could you explain? (non combative request) My take on a 12" screen is readability. I'm not looking to watch a movie at this resolution. I'm using an X41t at the moment and the screen is very easy on my 55 year old eyes. My opinion (limited) only, this looks to be a very good computer at a more than very good price.

If it works for you, then it's a good computer. But it just won't work for me, because the amount of info that can be displayed on a 1024x768 screen is way too limited. I hate having to scroll a lot, and I also prefer to view multiple windows simultaneously rather than relying on Alt+Tab. I used to not mind 1024x768 but after experiencing higher resolutions, I can't go back to 1024x768 or less. My main desktop (a Dell OptiPlex GX280) is hooked up to four huge monitors with a total of 11 megapixels.

[emtee3511]

Thanks George, Harry, Fred and PW for all the details on this particular machine. I reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally hated to pass up such a smoking-hot deal!! But my ThinkPads are perfect for what I want to do, as well as meet my husband's work/travel needs, so I could not come up with an excuse to make this purchase

[positive]

Wow, these are being resold all over ebay now. Prices from $499 to $699,

[ParatoOptimal]

ajkula66,
What class were/are you teaching?

[Toine]

Yeah, and I bought one, but I'm not from the US so i'm out. What an waste of time.
Nowhere on the site does it state you have to be in the US to buy one.

[ajkula66]

ParatoOptimal wrote:

ajkula66,
What class were/are you teaching?

I only teach courses and classes within the company that is my employer.

This particular class was dealing with so-called "radio lines", a dinosaur of the communications world that's still around in the digital age.

Not really of interest to anyone outside of our small industry...

[ParatoOptimal]

Sing me up!

ajkula66,

I only teach courses and classes within the company that is my employer.

This particular class was dealing with so-called "radio lines", a dinosaur of the communications world that's still around in the digital age.

Not really of interest to anyone outside of our small industry...

[RealBlackStuff]

Sing me up!

You really like to be serenaded?

[ParatoOptimal]

Ha, ha,ha, that was supposed to be "sign". Fingers must be fast or out of step.