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Panasonic unveils latest Toughbooks:
Battery life and screen size distinguish the W5 and Y5
Lisa Wichmann
The Panasonic Theatre on Toronto's bustling Yonge Street was the setting for a media event last month, to debut Panasonic's two new Toughbook laptops, which will be available in Canada by the end of the year.
The CF-W5 and the CF-Y5 were put on display next to older generations of the Toughbooks—which have been around for 10 years now—so attendees might see how the machines have gradually become slimmer, more lightweight and ergonomic.
After a brief presentation, Panasonic engineers—who flew in from Japan for the event—added a touch of drama when they poured a full glass of water onto the keyboard of the CF-Y5. Sure enough, the water trickled out of a tiny spill hole on the bottom, leaving the machine undamaged.
In fact, rugged performance seems to be the calling card of the CF-Y5—which will sell for $2,895. The notebook's casing is made of steel alloy, which according to Panasonic, has 20 times the strength of ABS plastic casing. The casing protects the computer from shock, vibration and drops—as put to the test in high-impact areas, such as a Tokyo subway station at peak rush hour.
The Toughbook can fall off a desk, survive a flight in checked baggage, and withstand the long-term weight of folders, books and personal items jammed into the case by traveling employees, according to Panasonic.
The "spill-through" keyboard—which comes on the Y5, but not the W5—reduces the risk of liquid damage. The Y5 has a bigger LCD screen than its counterpart (14.1 inches). The larger screen adds a bit of weight and cuts into battery life, but with an aging population, Panasonic has noticed significant demand for larger screens.
Even with the extra couple of inches on the display, the Y5 is still a featherweight at 1.5 kg (3.4 lbs.) It offers 8.5 hours of battery life, and has duo core processing for faster computing than traditional notebooks. The hard drive is 60 GB with shock-protection mounting.
Like the Y5, the W5 has alloy casing for durability, shock protection, 60 GB, and an integrated DVD drive.
Panasonic departed from the usual side placement of the drive, opting to put it on top, near the keyboard, for easier access and reduced opportunity for the drive door to snap off.
But the W5 has a smaller screen (12.1 inches) and is billed by Panasonic as the lightest shock-protected notebook available, weighing in at 1.3 kg (2.8 lbs.) Battery life is also longer, at 12 hours, due in part to the smaller display. It’s also slightly cheaper than the Y5, with a suggested retail price of $2,695.
Between these two Toughbooks, buyers will have to prioritize their criteria, taking into consideration battery life versus screen size. But both offer the impressive ability to withstand the knocks, drops, and pressure imposed on them by mobile users, Panasonic reports. The Y5 and W5 will hit the market in November or December.
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