By Darius Chang, CNET Asia
11/04/2007
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/notebooks/0,39050488,40405241p,00.htm

One of the main gripes we have about the Panasonic ToughBook is how it seems to be technologically one step behind. While most portables, even entry-level systems, were heading for dual-core processors and DVD writer drives, the older ToughBook W4 still bore a Pentium M chip with DVD/CDRW combo storage. Now, with Core 2 Duo sharing shelf space with Core Duo platforms, our review unit has only a Core Solo within its chassis. Not such a big deal, until you consider the ToughBook goes for S$3,698, and that for a grand less, most other corporate ultraportables like the ThinkPad X60 and Toshiba Portege M500 have options to include the latest Core 2 Duo technology with fingerprint sensor thrown in.

Design
Weighing at a mere 1.4kg with battery installed, the Panasonic ToughBook CF-W5 feels like one of those kiddie laptops you find in Toys "R" Us. Even throwing in the power adapter, the total package comes in at only 1.6kg, which is even lighter than the ThinkPad X60 unit. With a footprint of 269.2 x 210.8mm, the Cf-W5 puts the lap in laptop and should also fit nicely on most airplane trays. We like the fact that the unit tapers from 25.4mm on the front to 45.7mm at the rear, giving it a nice tilt which makes typing less stressful on the wrists.

Depending on the region, consumers can stray away from the available silver theme and opt for black or red colors. Unfortunately, we felt that the ebony unit's choice to go with a glossy black finish with mirror speckles gives it a rather cheap look. However, the true genius in design lies on the inside.

The top-loading optical drive is a rare sight for notebooks. (Click for larger image)

At first glance, the farrowed magnesium-alloy top cover gives the impression of a sleek sportcar hood, like that of the Asus Lamborghini VX1. However, the real reason for this shape is really to create a protective space above the LCD panel, allowing the ToughBook to withstand crush pressure of up to 100kg and 30cm drops (with the display closed and unit turned off). Like every self-respecting corporate portable, the harddisk is shock-mounted to prevent data corruption from falls and vibrations during one's commute.

Unique to Panasonic notebooks are the top-loading DVD tray and round touchpad. According to the Japanese company, common slot-loading and tray optical drives create weak spots in the lower chassis which the ToughBook circumvents. Connectivity ports, including the power jack, line the sides of the unit, with the front reserved for the backlit power, wireless and optical drive switches. We question the wisdom of placing the On button outside the clamshell as this may lead to unintentional booting up of the unit.

Features
For a S$3,698 notebook, the Panasonic CF-W5 offers an almost lackluster feature set. There is Wi-Fi, but Bluetooth is conspicuously missing. It is based on the Centrino Core platform, but the Core Solo chip lacks dual-processing capabilities. It's 512MB memory is expandable to 1.5GB using the single upgrade slot, but the micro so-dimm RAM cannot be easily obtained from third parties. In a nutshell, the ToughBook caters to a very narrow niche market which demands an exceptionally hardy ultraportable with an amazing battery life at the expense of performance and features.

As a corporate machine, the lack of multimedia playback buttons is forgivable. The ToughBook offers only switches to activate power, Wi-Fi and DVD optical drive. A single speaker sits on top of the keyboard providing rather lackluster mono audio quality. When it comes to connectivity, a modem and 802.11a/b/g radio are available, though those whose offices use the faster Gigabit Ethernet network will be disappointed with the Panasonic CF-W5's 10/100 port. Two USB 2.0 and a Type II PC Card slot hook up to external devices, while larger displays can be connected using the VGA-out port. A proprietary expansion slot and SD card-only memory slot complete the picture.

	The ToughBook CF-W5 offers entry-level features for a premium price. (Click for larger image)

For a serious business portable, the lack of a fingerprint sensor and harddisk password lock could be a deal-breaker for companies that insist on strong data security. Fortunately, it does offer a token Trust Platform Module hardware chip to store passwords, making it tougher to crack. The keyboard is slightly smaller than standard laptop keys, making extended typing a little uncomfortable but not impossible. The round touchpad, however, takes a little getting used to as it is significantly smaller.

Though most portables, even the business-focused machines, are heading toward the widescreen format, the ToughBook CF-W5 sticks with a transmissive standard-aspect LCD capable of 1,024 x 768-pixel resolution. Granted, it may not have the brightness of the newer transflective technology, but the Panasonic CF-W5 also does away with distracting reflections outdoors that mar the reputation of the former. The integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics processor may be able to handle multimedia playback, but gaming is definitely beyond the call of duty for this ultraportable.

Performance And Battery Life
Panasonic offers only a fixed configuration for each region, making it hard for IT departments to choose different specifications depending on their business needs. Our S$3,698 review unit came with an Intel Core Solo U1400 1.2GHz chip with 512MB of RAM and a 60GB hard drive. As expected, the ultra-low voltage processor did not offer stellar performance and was mostly suitable for basic productivity tools.

BAPCo MobileMark2005 performance rating (longer bars indicate faster performance)

Panasonic ToughBook CF-W5 (Core Solo ULV processor 1.2GHz; 512MB RAM) 177 Toshiba Portege M500 (Core Solo processor 1.66GHz; 512MB RAM) 195 ThinkPad X60 (Core Duo processor 1.66GHz; 512MB RAM) 230

The saving grace of the ToughBook CF-W5, which for some users makes all the compromises worthwhile, is its battery life. The Eco mode shuts down certain components when not in use, like the optical drive and wireless radio, allowing the Panasonic CF-W5 to jump ahead of the crowd with 8 hours of uptime using the standard cell. Unfortunately, no extended battery option is available, though with such an amazing battery life the latter would seem a little gratuitous.

BAPCo MobileMark2002 battery life in minutes (longer bars indicate longer battery life)

Panasonic ToughBook CF-W5 (Core Solo ULV processor 1.2GHz; 12.1-inch screen) 480 Toshiba Portege M500 (Core Solo processor 1.66GHz; 12.1-inch screen) 278 ThinkPad X60 (Core Duo processor 1.66GHz; 12.1-inch screen) 496

Service And Support
Panasonic ToughBooks come with a three-year local warranty with hotline telephone support for basic troubleshooting. In the event that extensive diagnostics or repairs are required, the unit has to be brought to the local service center. The Japanese company's Website archives drivers and user manuals for download, while an FAQ section answers most common queries. Overall, this level of support is average for consumer portables, but for business notebooks some other brands offer more comprehensive coverage like international warranty and online diagnostic tools.