The rough with the smooth
The PCMark 7 and 3DMark06 scores of 2173 and 4120 respectively were wholly unremarkable and in the case of the latter, wholly irrelevant because this clearly is not a machine you buy to play Crysis 2 on. The flip side of those lightweight numbers is that the CF-53 Toughbook is both very quiet and very cool even when running under load.
Benchmark Tests
PCMark 7 Results
Longer bars are better
Panasonic reckons the battery is good for 10 hours and it is not far wrong. With the screen brightness set at 60 per cent and the Wi-Fi radio on, I easily managed to get to the 7hrs 30m mark, even when three of those hours were spent watching HD video. Run Futuremark's new Powermark battery benchmark and you get a result of 3hrs 42m but that’s the power-use equivalent of taking hold of someone’s goolies and squeezing very, very hard.
Made for the long haul
Verdict
Built like Hadrian’s Wall and likely to last just as long, the Panasonic CF-53 Toughbook is perfect for anyone who wants a laptop for use beyond the office and domestic bliss. The bright non-reflective screen is ideal for outdoor use and the chunky battery means you won’t be forever searching for a power socket. For the price though, I’d really like to have seen a standard-fit webcam, a backlit keyboard and maybe even a 3G modem. ®
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Panasonic CF-53 Toughbook 14in rugged laptop
COMMENTS
Hard drive
For that money I'd also want an SSD, which considering how suitable they are to rugged applications is a surprising omission.
For the price though, I’d really like to have seen a standard-fit webcam
I wouldn't. The reason why a webcam is not standard is probably that a major part of Toughbook customers are in the defense/security sector where webcams are a simple no-go.
I do agree with the backlit keyboard, though, this should be standard on such a device. And there really should have been enough room budget-wise for a SSD instead of a hard drive.
Personally I also miss the availability of a keyboard with trackpoint. Unfortunately Panasonic doesn't offer this (GE has some rugged laptops with it, though).
Why don't normal laptops have handles?
Why? It seems to make sense and even Apple did it once.
Re: For the price...
have you seen the build quailty of a toughbook, My old CF-29 is literally indestructable! Yacht racing its just stamped on, thrown in a locker with anchors, rope, winch handles, etc, its launched off tables with its diplay open and used in torrential rain... as a party peice, i tend to clean its screen under the tap... and have been known to start it sat in the sink with the taps on full, water covering the keyboard... its used as a step, or screen opened, laptop on end and sat on when its standing room only in the train...
The Dell XFR that replaced it is crazy fast compared to it, but i had to treat it with so much care that its cosseted as much as a standard lattitude!
This is only the business rugged version, but a similar amount of care goes into the creation of one of these... its expensive, but without doubt, this is money is money well spent...
Re: Why don't normal laptops have handles?
Because then idiots go outside when its raining and wonder why their notebook computer no longer works.
Anyways a few quid for a notebook computer bag sorted.
