Panasonic Toughbooks

[MatthewL]

Does anyone use Panasonic Toughbooks?

[synaesthesia]

Not really used any of the newer ones, but used to refurbish the P3 1ghz models. Fantastic bits of kit, easy to clean (spray liberally with cleaner of choice, scrub), touchscreens and would withstand use as a weapon/cricket bat and of course the pinnacle of toughness testing - student (mis)use. Seen some of the newer kit in use, and is damned slight better than RM's "tank tested" effort.


Plus of course the Toughbooks gave rise to the Toughbook Challenge. Pick up a toughbook in each hand, hold out to your sides with your arms straight out. How long can you hold them up for?

[MatthewL]

I was just curious to see if anyone used them in education, we are currently rolling them out with SIM cards for various staff members, GP's, Nurses etc to enable them to do their job better and promote the agile workin, with them been fairly tough just interested to see if they are used in schools.

[synaesthesia]

I've seen them marketed to the education sector in recent months, so I'm fairly sure there's some out there

[john]

As a testament to them I believe the MOD use them and I know that BT use them as I've had engineers out in the past to configure Leased Lines, ISDN30s etc and they always have Toughbooks with them, badged BT where the Panasonic logos should be but they are unmistakable toughbooks. So if BT use them that should show that they are tough as they will have a hard life.

[MatthewL]

There are many many organistations out there that use them, Fire Service, Gas board, BT, you name it most seem to have them. We trailed a Health version that met all the infection control guidelines and they had changed the BIOS screen to load up with our NHS logo. They are good bits of kit, just want one myself

[FN-GM]

A friend of mine who works for BT has one. It has been repeatedly dropped and is still going strong. Im sure it will take more.

[CPLTD]

great laptops but what school can afford them ?

[maniac]

I'm seriously considering them for PE teachers, 3 broken laptops in 6 months from that department!

[FN-GM]

Im pretty sure that Dell do an equivalent, but i can't find them on the website.

Edit - found it - http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/pr...dt1&l=en&s=bsd

You have 3 years cover for breakages and 3 years warranty. They are also cheaper than the Panasonic ones

[MatthewL]

I know the Panasonic ones are expensive, we went with them for a number of reasons, one was battery life, the portability of them and also they have a better 3G signal due to there been more aerials in them (I wasnt involved in choosing them so only going on what I have been told), we looked at the Dell ones but BT could do us a better deal. This has been the first mass roll out of these in the way we are using them so we are doing a bit of trailing as well.