PANASONIC TOUGHBOOK

Panasonic Digital Camera Suggestions

2008-07-24T09:39:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for Panasonic digital camera suggestions, you might be surprised to know that Panasonic has a wide range of digital cameras that will fit any need. Panasonic has compact cameras and SLR digital cameras. There are cameras that fit in your pocket. There are cameras that need to be in a camera case. There are cameras for beginners and cameras for professional photographers. The compact cameras from Panasonic include the 10.1 megapixel DMC-FX500K and the DMC-FX35K.

The DMC-FX500 comes with a three-inch viewing screen that is also a touch screen. The five times digital zoom makes taking the perfect picture easy. This camera has intelligent auto mode, which gives you a great shot every time. This mode adjusts the lighting so that every picture looks just the way you see it. The image stabilizer is nice because if you shake a little when pointing and shooting, the picture will still come out clear.

Panasonic digital camera suggestions also include the DMC-FX35K. This camera has four times optical zoom with a two and a half inch viewing screen. The camera also has the intelligent auto mode and image stabilizer. The amazing thing about this digital camera is that you can add background music to your pictures. The choices are urban, swing, slow or natural. Technology is certainly amazing.

Panasonic digital camera suggestions for a 12.2 megapixel camera would be the DMC-FX100K. This little camera has a two and a half inch viewing screen with 3.6 optical zoom. The image stabilization allows anyone to take a steady picture. It prevents blurring of the image when you just cannot keep the camera steady. This camera can take eight frames per second, which makes it very reliable for action shots. You will find that comparing different types of cameras allows you to find the right camera for your needs.

While Panasonic is one of the best when it comes to the best digital cameras , they're certainly not the only game in town. There are equal and better cameras around, you just need to know where to look

No Strings Attached – Panasonic Phones

2008-07-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

Technological advancement has made our life so easy both outside as well as inside our homes. When at home, we want to be completely at ease and move about freely whether during work or during leisure. Even when we are talking on the phone, it is a pain to stick at one place or get entangled in the multiple wires attached to the phone. But the invention of cordless phone and their easy availability has provided common people like you and me, the freedom to move around while we talk.

There is a plethora of cordless phones in UK. But it is advised that you go for a well known brand like Uniden or Panasonic Phones. Going for brands give you an assurance of good quality and they also come with cool features that make a pleasurable activity like talking more enjoyable. For instance, the Panasonic KX – TG8122E Twin DECT Cordless Phone comes with answering machine and has colour handset with silver body. The silver body makes a style statement for you while the colour handset fills the vibrancy of colours in your speech. The answering machine helps you stay connected with important messages even when you are not around.

The Panasonic KX-TG5771S works on 5.8 GHz digital system which does not interfere with your Wi-Fi network. You can put up to eight handsets in any part of your house. You don't have to worry about wiring or phone jacks as only the base unit would need a phone jack – all other units plug into a standard outlet. This phone offers talking Caller ID and all digital answering system. You can remote control the answering system from the handset line. Adding more fun to the phone, you can change your ring tone to your favourite song or you can also switch off the sound and turn on the visual ringer lights to keep pin drop silence even when you have a call.

This is just an overview of the amazing features modern day cordless phones offer. You can search Internet for further details on each and every model of Panasonic Phones or some other phones of your choice.

Dennis Jaylon is a renowned business writer who has years of experience in writing technical reviews, product descriptions and product feature analysis of technical gadgets and gizmos. He has won appreciation especially for enlightening people about the latest communication gizmos...the Panasonic Phones .

A Sweet Convertible - Rugged Laptop?

2008-07-23T06:34:00.000-07:00

Rugged convertible tablets are a laptop computer just like any other, although the screen flips around and changes to show the screen as the top so that you can write on it like a tablet of paper. And the fact that it's rugged means it's in cased in a hardened and sometimes rubber-like material so that it will withstand many of the elements such as dirt, wind, water and snow. Plus, it's made to withstand a fall from several feet without breaking or cracking or damaging your information that is stored on the HDD. The LCD screen is shatterproof.

A rugged convertible tablet is easy to carry when used out in the field or warehouse or anywhere you need a convertible tablet. They are great when you are taking inventory or to show other people what you are doing because the display screen swivels around to make a screen everyone can see or just one that sits on top of the laptop.

If you need to make a presentation, the rugged convertible tablet is a great item to make your presentations on. You can design your presentation, using charts and graphics, even use a Power Point presentation and then allow everyone sitting at a table view it. The screens are usually about 10.4" -12.1" which is pretty good size depending on what you are presenting.

Taking a rugged convertible tablet with you if you are a salesperson in the field it's a great idea because you can present to your client or talk about products and services on the go without having a bunch of paper to get confused or blown away when you are presenting outside in the elements. The rugged convertible tablet is great for when you need to show someone what you are thinking but can't get them to visualize it with your words, using the touch screen you can write or draw directly on the LCD.

Because the convertible tablets are rugged they can go anywhere you do, to a construction site where there is dirt and water and it could be dropped and not be broken because of it's magnesium housing. You can add a number of items to the rugged convertible tablets such as a removable shock mounted hard drive, touchscreen so you just touch what you need without having to use a keyboard which is ultimately hidden under the screen when the screen is turned around or an outdoor readable LCD screen so that you can make presentations or show people what is on your screen when you are out in the sunlight without having to find a shady spot or go inside because the outdoor readable LCD is made especially for the outdoor laptops and tablets.

Most rugged convertibles tablets feature Intel Core 2 Duo processors and maxing RAM at 4GB. Internal radios like GPS, WWAN and 802.11 a/b/g are also options for these machines. Fully rugged meaning the machine is MIL-STD 810F tested allowing the rugged tablet to take a beating and to put up with the every day rigors of use. Panasonic and Getac are two of the top players for ruggedized tablets. OCRuggedLaptops.com is a provided of rugged convertibles tablets, visit them to see exactly how a these machines work.

OCRuggedLaptops.com has in house experts that can help you with your rugged laptop and tablet needs.

The HP 530 Laptop

2008-07-23T06:30:00.000-07:00

HP has launched a new budget personal computer for anyone looking for an affordable yet reliable solution for everyday use. It is clear that the HP 530 Laptop computer is best suited for the office as a work machine or even for surfing the internet at home. But no matter what you use it for, this impressive notebook is the perfect solution. Although this laptop falls under the budget PC category, you still get unbeatable performance, unquestionable quality and not to forget, state-of-the-art features.

Now, we all know that HP produces only finest quality products and that the HP 530 Laptop is no exception. This outstanding notebook computer offers a great performance and unbeatable features at a very reasonable price. The HP 530 Laptop notebook comes with an Intel Celeron M 520 1.60GHz processor and 1GB of DDR2 533 memory (1GB x 1) which is perfectly suited for getting the job done even when you are performing numerous tasks simultaneously. As for storage, you get pretty much - the standard 120GB 5400rpm Hard Drive and for burning DVDs or watching movies there is a DVD±RW Dual Layer Drive. The exceptional 15.4-inch diagonal WXGA (1280x800) Wide screen TFT Active Matrix LCD display offers a good reasonably sized desktop for best productivity, without compromising mobility. Other important features worth mentioning about this incredible laptop include the 2 USB 2.0 Ports, a VGA Port, a RJ11 Modem Port, RJ45 LAN Port, Microphone-in, Headphone-out and a Type I/II CardBus Slot.

When you look at the HP 530 Laptop, it is clear that this modern personal computer was intended to be used as a mobile device. To keep you connected this notebook comes with integrated Wi-Fi so that the internet can be accessed from any one of the many hot spots available. Other connectivity options include 56K Fax/Modem and 10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet. The modern design will not let you down because this incredible laptop is only 1.2-inches thick and because it weighs the incredible 6 lbs, making it extremely easy to carry around when traveling.

Panasonic Digital Cameras Problems You Should Know About Before You Buy

2008-07-22T05:12:00.000-07:00

Panasonic digital cameras problems are few, but there are some problems that might be worth considering when you are looking for a digital camera. The DMC-LZ7 has a small viewfinder, which many users have said is very hard to use. If you are buying a camera for taking clear and precise pictures, this might be a downfall for this particular digital camera. It is also hard to see the viewfinder in bright lights, which can make taking outdoor pictures a bit frustrating. This camera also seems to drain the batteries rather quickly, but you can end that problem by using rechargeable batteries.

The standard Panasonic digital camera problems are more of a convenience problem rather than a flaw in the cameras abilities. The DMC-TZ1 has no viewfinder and it seems to have a sluggish autofocus. Many users report that it is hard to learn about all the features that the camera has available. Although these problems are minor, you will want to consider any of these problems before buying a specific camera.

More Panasonic digital camera problems concern the time it takes to send the camera back to the manufacturer for repair. It takes about a month before you receive a repaired camera in the mail. This is not very bad for a response time, but if you use the camera every day, it can be an important factor. If you consider all the problems that this make of camera and others have, you will find that every camera has some problems but not all cameras have the same problems.

The problems that Panasonic digital cameras have are far and in between as with anything you buy. The new technology that is used today can malfunction in one camera but not in another. You just have to compare all cameras before buying the right one.

While Panasonic is one of the best when it comes to digital camera recommendations , they're certainly not the only game in town. There are equal and better cameras around, you just need to know where to look .

The Quality of Panasonic Home Theater Entertainment Systems

2008-07-22T05:07:00.000-07:00

Panasonic’s “Ideas for Life” slogan truly fits the bill, when talking about Panasonic’s line of Home Entertainment systems. Smartly packaged, Panasonic Home Theater systems bear with them the very same Panasonic standard of quality sound with a relative dynamic easy to use interface. Panasonic Home Theater systems also boast versatility in dealing with the various media types that are predominant these days.

Panasonic Home Theater SC-PTX7

The Panasonic SC-PTX7 is what the industry calls a HDD Jukebox Home Theater system, which comes with a Hard Disk Drive for storing media from digital, as well as analog sources. The easy to connect 3.1 surround sound channel system comes with EZ Sync HDAVI Control, as well as a universal dock for portable media players, like the iPod, with recharging capabilities, other than just playing digitally compressed audio files.

The Panasonic Home Theater SC-PTX7 is basically a combination of entertainment features, easy user interactivity, as well as design excellence. It’s perfect to pair with today’s now standard flat-panel TV/display screen, enhancing a movie experience through the management and handling of quality sound, without the cluttered look, as most home theater systems have.

With its high capacity built-in hard drive, the Panasonic Home Theater SC-PTX7 can store hours of music in CD, MP3 and WMA file formats, eliminating the need for users to change discs. The Panasonic Home Theater SC-PTX& brings compressed audio into a new level of richness and depth.

Its speaker setup leaves no such thing as a “bad seat”, as its center speaker is integrated into the left and right speakers. A movie dialogue would sound more natural, as the sound seems to just pour out from the screen, as sound effects are greatly enhanced through the utilization of Dolby virtual speaker technologies.

Expanding the Panasonic Home Theater SC-PTX7 isn’t a problem. Adding Panasonic’s SH-FX85 Wireless Multi-Room Speaker Kit could enhance sound quality, without wires to worry about. Picture having the main Panasonic Home Theater SC-PTX7 installed in one room, and an SH-FX85 in another, or in two other rooms. What one would have would be a “centralized” sound system in one’s home. The included SH-PD10 Universal Dock for iPod, which does more than just play media files, would bring the preferred music you’ve got stored in your iPod to your home, sharing the music around your household.

Indeed, the Panasonic Home Theater SC-PTX7 answers to ideals in what a home theater system should be. Easy to install, easy to use, compact, with a sound quality that legendary home theater systems are made of.

Milos Pesic owns a popular and comprehensive Home Theater web site. For more articles and resources on home theater systems, projectors, seatings, home theater reviews and much more visit his site at:

TH-42PX70 Review – Panasonic Viera 42" 1080p Plasma TV

2008-07-22T05:05:00.000-07:00

Having dominated the plasma technology market over the past few years, it's no wonder that every new generation of Panasonic plasma TVs are greeted with much anticipation. The latest one is no different: having been unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2007 in Las Vegas at the beginning of the year, roll-out of the 10th generation plasma began in Europe (soon to be followed suit in the US) in March 2007. I encounter the Panasonic TH-42PX70 quite often in my profession, and so will give a brief rundown of its capabilities.

Panasonic plasmas have an excellent reputation for unrivaled black level and shadow detail, and I'm happy to report that the TH-42PX70 is up there with the best in this department. Batman Begins and Unforgiven – both suitably dark films – would have absolutely murdered any lesser competitors, but on the Panasonic TH-42PX70 I could still see fine shadow detail that could have so easily been engulfed by nothingness.

Furthermore, there's not very much you need to do to get the picture looking right: if all TVs were produced in this manner, ISF calibrators will soon be out of job. To attain the 6500 Kelvin (daytime) color temperature in which films are shot and broadcast, simply go into your user menu, select the "Cinema" mode (assuming you haven't done so when you first set up your TH-42PX70) and then the "Warm" color temperature. By doing this you make sure that you're watching the film as per the director's vision.

Traditionally image retention are a big problem with plasmas; not so with TH-42PX70. I had detected a slight hint of retention after putting on static images (from my computer) for 10 minutes, but within 1 minutes of resuming moving images the retention washed away. I really think that as long as you take the proper precautions, image retention on plasmas is a thing of the past.

Nevertheless, the TH-42PX70 has its own set of weaknesses. For starters, it still suffers from problems of false contouring where there should be fine gradation. Part of this is source-based as the problem largely went away when watching high-definition, but if you're sensitive to this kind of thing it may annoy you.

The previous generation of Panasonic plasmas was haunted with what is known as "purple snake" or "purple ants", where purple bands or pixels with appear around green areas with small change of gradient. In the TH-42PX70 I couldn't really see it when sitting from 8 feet away, but if I move closer to the screen at say 3 feet I would notice it... IF I'm looking for it. Just something worth bearing in mind.

When reviewing plasmas, I cannot refrain from mentioning buzzing noise, which is typical trait of plasma TVs especially with high-contrast scenes. In fact, I could vividly remember a massive plasma TV shootout I attended where a pure white background was used to test how loud the plasmas buzzed. In TH-42PX70's case, the buzz is more like a high-pitched whine, which didn't particularly trouble me when the sound was on, but if you have ultra-sensitive ears, this is something to take into consideration.

To sum up my view as someone who sees and installs more than your fair share of flat panel television, the TH-42PX70 does most of the important things better than most TVs. Sure it's has its flaws, but this is such a wonderful set-and-forget plasma TV that if I were shopping for a new plasma TV, I'd take this in a heartbeat.

Robert Keene installs home theater by day and indulges himself in high-definition films by night. For more info on Panasonic TH-42PX70 plasma TV, check out his website at http://www.th42px70.co.uk

Panasonic EP1272 (Swede-Atsu Wave) Massage Lounger Product Review

2008-07-22T05:02:00.000-07:00

The American Chiropractic Association (A.C.A) has endorsed the Panasonic Massage Loungers. As a matter of fact, these massage chairs were the first massage loungers to be endorsed by the largest association of chiropractors in the world. Panasonic designed massage recliners that became the pioneers in the massage chair industry. They earned the ACA recognition because their chairs provide deep tissue relief, muscle spasm relief, and are a complementing benefit to chiropractic and orthopedic care.

The Panasonic EP1272 is an attractive chair with contemporary design, and boasts high quality leather upholstery for an affordable price. It also has one of the most unique massaging features that differentiates it from any other massage chair: the Hawaiian Wave massage, which is a moderate rubbing motion across the back as if stimulating strong hands of a therapist (it’s an ‘Island Thing’ which goes well with the company of a pina colada!). Other techniques featured in the Panasonic 1272 include Swedish, Shiatsu, Percussion, Compression, Kneading, and Tapping.

Another unique feature about this massage chair is its float massage mechanism for smooth fluid movement simulating motions of the wrists from a personal therapist. You can power recline in this chair, making it effortless to make yourself comfortable and relax. The ottoman is also power reclined, a separate feature to allow you to set your own personal angle of comfort. You can select to either pamper your feet by placing them in the air massaging wells, or choose to indulge your calves by angling it downward and placing your legs in the air wells instead.

This reliable chair has proven to be an effective choice for many patients with Fibromyalgia or FMS for pain relief and overall improvement of functions. The multiple sessions and massage heads, along with a less powerful stroke and a wide coverage area can, over a short period of time, diminish the painful symptoms of Fibromyalgia, as well as many other chronic pain disorders.

Four pre-programmed massage sessions will make your life easier. You can decide which one fits your current need and just press a button. Or you can customize the 8 different techniques to suit your preferences. In combination with the air massage for the calves or feet, the benefits seem limitless.

And with 135 square inches of massage coverage, and also the largest massage area of any massage chair in its price class, this is a one of a kind. It’s sure to fit many different users under one household as well, with its ability to conform to 5 different speeds, 3 massage track widths, 5 shoulder height selections, and an impressive 27 inch massage stroke length of the back, there is little left to be wanted from your massage chair.

Don’t forget the stretch session, which is made effective by the air massage in the ottoman, squeezing the legs while lowering and raising in 20 Degree increments, thus assisting to relieve pain and tension in the low back, hips and thighs. Very similar to the HT-125 by Human Touch.

The sessions have an automatic shutoff after 15 minutes. The scheduled time is preset, so it can’t be increased or decreased. If 15 minutes is too long, just stop the session all together and restore to its upright position. The price is right, as well, making this model more affordable than the higher-priced Panasonic 3222.

Buy TH-42PZ700U - A 42" Panasonic Plasma

2008-07-21T06:01:00.000-07:00

If you buy TH-42PZ700U, Panasonic's 42" Plasma then you need to know exactly what you're getting. In this article, I want to clear some things up about Plasmas TVs and explain what the differences are between this and other products.

With the speed that technology is moving now, it is very hard to keep up with the latest products and knowing what item to purchase for longevity. You may be one of many people who bought a SD (standard definition) TV a while ago thinking that you would never need to make another purchase for a long time. Then, of course, HD (high definition) arrived.

You could argue that it don't need a TV of higher definition but the problem is, if you want to get the best from the new mediums available such as Blu-ray DVD, HD DVD, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 then you will need a high definition output, especially for the larger screens.

The TH-42PZ700U has been designed to suit most uses. It has good color balance and has a great depth of black levels, which is very important for movies that contain lots of dark scenes such as Sci-fi movies, thrillers and the like.

The Panasonic also boasts the highest screen resolution for a plasma screen of this size (1080p - pixels). In short, you will get a better picture and enjoyment from your unit. If you love watching your films with the lights down then check out its amazing cinema preset option.

For any technophobes, you will be glad to know that the remote control comes with nice chunky buttons and an easy to follow on screen menu. It's easy to change the color settings and there are also two different black level settings to suit your preference.

Not everybody can afford to put their TV in a position in a room which is perfect for lighting, so this Plasma comes with an anti-glare screen which will deflect most of the unwanted light sources, mostly from windows.

It also looks great with the screen being housed in a stylish black frame which would suit any type of living room area.

If you buy TH-42PZ700U then you will find all of the above features present. Again, it all comes down to personal preference so your own opinion is paramount.

How To Choose The Best Gaming Laptop

2008-07-21T05:58:00.000-07:00

The gaming laptop is coming of age! It is steadily
increasing in popularity as performance quality goes
up. Gamers now regularly consider laptops or notebooks
when searching for that perfect gaming machine.

With each new generation of notebooks we are seeing some
novel breakthroughs: dual core notebooks, PCI Express,
Sonoma chipset, increased storage, increased RAM, faster
CPUs, better battery life and better wireless connections
including a Cellular Modem. All welcome news for gamers
and notebook lovers alike.

Generally, gamers are a very demanding group, they know
their computers and they know what they want in their
computers. Most gamers like to order their gaming laptop
with their own specs and configurations. In that light,
if you closely examine the main points gamers consider
when configuring or building their Dream Machine -- you will
have a good blueprint for the best gaming machine.

Since notebook technology changes every two years or so,
it's probably wise to purchase a laptop that can be easily
upgraded as new products come on line. So consider the
upgradable factor in any notebook that you plan to buy.

Now, lets look at some of these key gaming factors:

GRAPHICS

You must have the best/latest/fastest Graphics on the market. DUH!

Serious gamers are concerned with graphics, obsessed would probably
be a better word. And rightly so! Graphics or the quality of the
graphic chipset in your notebook computer will be your first area
of consideration and it will greatly determine the gaming performance
of your PC.

Go with the latest Graphic Chipset and also check to see if you
can upgrade your Graphics Card on the particular machine
you're thinking about buying. Many machines allow this.

Here are some Graphic Chipsets that are highly rated: ATi Mobility
Radeon 9700, ATI's Mobility FireGL V3200 or Intel's Graphics Media
Accelerator 900.

ATi Mobility Radeon 9700 is a high quality Graphics Card or visual
processing unit (VPU) present in many next generation notebooks. It
will give you higher performance at a lower power level, saving
battery power.

It makes your notebook computer capable of many functions: 3D games,
wide-screen HDTV, dynamic presentations, mobile video editing studio
and graphic processor.

Many notebooks now come with integrated graphics, where components
interact and are sometimes shared, especially memory. If you want
a notebook computer for 3D games -- check the amount of video RAM --
this is memory that's dedicated to graphic or video applications.

Other common graphic chipsets are: STMicro, NVIDIA, 3D Labs, Matrox,
Trident S3 and SIS.

RAM

Get the largest amount of RAM possible. DUDE!

RAM or random-access memory will determine how much graphics
your notebook computer will be able to handle. It's best to
get the largest amount possible on your machine or what you
can afford.

It's generally agreed that you need at least 256MB for
Windows XP and Mac OS X. You will only need 128MB for other
operating systems in Windows or Mac.

RAM or the amount of RAM on your notebook computer is extremely
important if you want to handle heavy graphic files or want to play
games on your notebook. The more RAM you have, the more applications
you will be able to handle. Some notebook now come with up to 2GB
of DDR2 533MHz RAM!

DDR2 SDRAM - is a new standard that can boost conventional SDRAM
memory up to speeds well over 200MHz and beyond. For example, the
IBM ThinkPad T43, thanks to the Sonoma Chipset or platform has
533MHz DDR 2 SDRAM.

This is much better than standard SDRAM which tops out around 150-
166MHz and DDR SDRAM which starts at 200MHz and goes up to around
400MHz.

Video RAM or VRAM is special memory that's used by video adapters on
your notebook. This is RAM that is dedicated to handling the visuals and
graphics on your notebook computer. This is helpful if you want to play
a lot of the latest 3D video games on your notebook.

It is somewhat different from ordinary RAM because it can be
accessed by two different devices at once -- enabling screen updates
while the video processor processes new data. VRAM provides better
graphics but is more expensive than ordinary RAM.

SPEED

You need the fastest computer money can buy. Period!

In order to get the maximum performance from your ultimate
gaming computer you must have the fastest speed you can get
or afford. Your ultimate PC must be able to process and handle
the latest 3D video games with ease. There is nothing as annoying
as your PC freezing up in the middle of some major gaming action!

Therefore, your Processor's speed is very important.

CPU or Central Processing Unit, you probably know it as
the processor! It's the heart or rather the brain of your
notebook or computer. It does all your computer's data processing and applications. Since it does most of the work, it's usually the most expensive part of your notebook computer.

Go with SATA!

SATA is a type of hard drive and stands for Serial Advanced Technology
Architecture. It was developed by a whole group of companies including
Seagate, Intel, Maxtor, Dell and others. SATA transmit data in a serially
(in a single stream) as opposed to PATA or Parallel ATA which is commonly
referred to as an IDE hard drive.

Serial ATA hard drives uses less power and are ideal for notebook
computers, they are also more advanced than PATA hard drives which
uses multipe streams of data -- go figure! But Serial Technology carries
data in a single stream and unlike PATA is not limited to a particular
clock speed, Serial transfers data packets almost 30 times faster than
parallel.

If top performance in your notebook is one of your goals, go with a SATA
hard drive.

Intel Pentium M processors are commonly found in a lot of
notebooks and laptops. When in doubt also go with a Pentium!

The speed of microprocessors is measured in MHz.

MHz is short for megahertz. One MHz equals one million cycles
per second. The speed of processors, usually known as clock speed,
is measured in megahertz (MHz) or these days in gigahertz (GHz).

The higher the clock speed, the faster the computer will process
applications and data. It determines how powerful your notebook
computer will be. Processor speeds for notebooks or laptops are
steadily increasing, not quite the same as a desktop but the gap
is narrowing quickly. Speeds of 3.4GHz or more.

Don't forget to ask or check the hard drive speed! A 7,200rpm hard
drive is faster than a 4,200rpm or 5,400rpm and usually gives better
performance.

DISPLAY

You need the sharpest, brightest display screen or all the above
points are moot!

Display quality is also extremely important to your gaming
experience. Make sure the resolution and display quality of
your notebook computer can handle the graphics for 3D Gaming.

What to keep in mind...

SVGA Resolution. Put simply, computer images are made up of
dots, the more dots you have -- the better the image.
SVGA Resolution is made up of 800 x 600 dots.

Many notebook computer have XGA (1024 by 768 dots) or
SXGA (1280 x 1024 dots), these resolutions will give
a higher quality image. WXGA stands for widescreen XGA.

TFT Active Matrix Display. TFT stands for thin-film
transistors and many high-end notebook computers use
(TFT) active matrix liquid crystal displays.

If display quality is your main reason for buying
a notebook, it's best to give it the 'old eye test'
and check out the image quality first-hand and decide
for yourself. Panasonic, Toshiba, Sony, and others
are known for their high quality monitors -- this
quality is also present in their notebook display
screens.

So when buying your perfect Gaming Notebook Remember This:

Graphics + Ram + Speed + Display = Perfect Gaming Notebook

Consider all of the above factors before you buy or config
your perfect gaming machine. Chances are high that you
will get a top-notch quality Gaming Notebook that will
give you hours and hours of pure gaming bliss!

For a list of the top rated Gaming Notebooks and Laptops Click Here:
Best Gaming Laptops & Notebooks.

Buy Panasonic 42 Inch Plasma

2008-07-21T05:56:00.000-07:00

Why buy Panasonic 42 inch plasma when you can buy a larger TV or a LCD? Well, I hope to answer this question in this article.

A plasma screen operates in a similar way to how a conventional TV works by using a combination of colored pixels or cells which light and fade at different strengths to give the overall color. Until recent years, the Plasma was the only real large TV format available apart from the back projector type TVs.

Then, suddenly LCD screens appeared everywhere and started competing within the market. Because it was the newer of the technologies, people naturally assumed that this was the better product. Around that time, 32 inches was still the standard for screen size as was the size for many LCD screens.

What you have to remember is a TV of a smaller size is always going to have a better, or sharper picture than a larger one. When the size of the screen starts to go over 32 inches, this is when you are really going to notice the difference between the two.

The debate for which is better, Plasma and LCD will rage on for some time to come but at present, I would have to say that if you are going above 32 inches, the plasma will give you a better picture overall.

The one the main factors talked about which makes the Plasmas better is the contrast between the darkness and lightness. It's a very important factor when watching films that contain many dark scenes

Of course, the quality can vary greatly depending on the make and model, but you can't go too far wrong with a Panasonic, a Sony or a Pioneer. As to which brand is the best will largely come down to personal preference of course.

So, if you are looking to buy Panasonic 42 inch plasma, note that this is also the only 42 inch plasma that delivers the maximum resolution of 1080 pixels.

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Never Buy A Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3K Digital Camera

2008-07-21T05:53:00.000-07:00

Why would you buy a digital camera that doesn't work? Actually allow me to rephrase that slightly. Why would you buy a digital camera that doesn't work FOR YOU? The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3K does of course work, and works quite well for some people. But, how do you know your one of those people? You find out, not just by asking what the DMC-TZ3K does, but by asking what it doesn't do. While I'm sure you've had no problem finding reviews telling you why you should buy a Panasonic Lumix, let's take a look at why you shouldn't buy a Panasonic Lumix.

The noise reduction feature in the Lumnix is there to remove image distortion (noise) from your photographs. Noise is often introduced into images, because the manufacturer designed the camera with too many megapixels for the image sensor. Since perspective buyers know megapixels, it's an easy marketing ploy to add more to a camera, and sell more units. Unfortunately, manufacturers (not just Panasonic), don't plaster image size all over their packaging like they do megapixels. In this case the noise reduction feature softens or slightly blurs the images to remove the noise. As a result, image definition and clarity are lost. If you try to blow your pictures up or do extensive cropping, you'll be disappointed with the results from the DMC-TZ3K digital.

The Lumix seems to have a real problem with taking accurate skin and hair tones. So, if you don't mind seeing your kids turn purple, or your blond friends with a touch of red hair, then this is probably not an issue. Playing with the color settings and the white balance may help, but I've heard from several customers that it won't make any difference. The fact that this is a point and shoot implies that customers shouldn't have to fiddle with settings to get good basic skin tones. The Lumix DMC-TZ3K default settings should take care of it.

While this Panasonic Lumix does come with IS (image stabilization), it just seems to make matters worse. Colors often blur together, lighter colored subjects seem to pick up a blue tinge, and ghosting becomes apparent on images where no flash is used. Image stabilization is still not an exact science on many digital cameras, but on this Lumix combined with an over bearing noise reduction softening effect, it seems to make things worse.

Hang on now, were not done yet. There are number of other issues with the Lumix DMC-TZ3K you should be aware of, including:

- the shutter makes no allowance for manual control

- camera is over sized for most pockets

- zoom is uneven and hard to control

- battery cover is prone to damage

- fragile lens cover

- any work done under warranty takes too long

Well, all is not lost. The bright side to all this, is that there are plenty of digital camera in the ultra compact category . Of course if none of the above issues are a concern for you, then maybe the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3K is the perfect camera for you . You wouldn't be the first.

Never Buy A Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K Digital Camera

2008-07-20T05:03:00.000-07:00

Why would someone deliberately buy a digital camera, when they knew it had a number of serious flaws? The answer is of course, when they don't care about the flaws, and are making an informed decision. So . . . time for a pop quiz. Name me three serious flaws with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K Digital Camera. If you can't do it, then don't even think of buying one. If you can that's great. Maybe you'd like to hear a few more reasons why the DMC-FZ18K may not be such a great buy.

Image noise can be a problem with the Lumix DMC-FZ18K, depending on the conditions your are shooting in and how you plan to use your photos. Specifically, if you plan on taking a lot of photos in conditions where the lighting is lower than average, and you plan on blowing your photos up to anything bigger than say 12x24 you won't get the greatest results. If this is a concern for you, then perhaps moving up into the SLR camera category with larger image sensors would be a better choice.

This Panasonic Lumix comes with something the manufacturer calls Intelligent Auto Mode (IAM). It's supposed to help you take better pictures without having to mess around with multiple manual settings. Customers generally find though, that as soon as you get into anything less than perfect lighting conditions, or start using the 18X zoom IAM doesn't always make the best setting decisions. If you want really good pictures in all situations, and all zoom levels, your going to have to learn to adjust the DMC-FZ18K manual settings. Learning can be a good thing, it just depends on how you plan to use your camera.

In the spirit of "buyer beware", I would be remiss if I didn't mention the following, even if it is not an issue with the camera. If the price you find for the Lumix DMC-FZ18K seems too good to be true, then it probably is. There are a few retailers selling a imported "gray market" version of this Panasonic Lumix . Be sure you buy yours through a local retailer you trust, or one of the big online stores with a generous return policy like Amazon.

Well, that's three DMC-FZ18K issues you may or may not have been aware of. But wait, there's more . . .

- high ISO settings produce too much noise

- small size make the dial and joystick cumbersome for larger hands

- in camera processing, eliminates camera noise by blurring image detail

- no zoom function when shooting in movie mode

- slow flash recharge time

Well now at least you know what the problems are. As mentioned earlier, they may or not be problems for you. If they are, not to worry, there is a cornucopia of digital cameras on the market today. Of course they all have some flaws, just be sure to make your purchase with your eyes wide open, and you won't be disappointed .

Panasonic KXT-G7120E – One of the Best Phones in Home Phones

2008-07-20T04:59:00.000-07:00

Looking for a cheap yet action packed alternative in home phones? Try the stylish and feature rich Panasonic KXT-G7120E that promises more punch than any other in its ilk.

Panasonic KXT-G7120E is enjoying mixed reviews from all quarters. But mostly people in UK are liking it and also suggest it to their friends. This is probably due to the dual benefit that Panasonic KXT-G7120E has to offer. The dual benefits are
- less in cost, which is half of what other models with similar features cost;
- packed with features that are quite popular in the category of home phones

Features that Panasonic KXT-G7120E offers:
The GAP compatible Panasonic KXT-G7120E gives you speaker phone function along with caller identity revealer, telephone directory with space for 50 names along with answering machine functions that allows a recording time of 15 minutes. Plus there is time and date display, alarm and auto talk features. It is a great phone for conference calling as well.

The phone is ergonomically appealing. It has three line backlit LCD, plus multiple handset capacity. You can talk for 12 hours at a stretch without any battery charging. The lighted keypad enables you to type the numbers even in pitch dark. However, there is no speed dialling facility, but the typing of numbers and contact info retrieval is fast and efficient. You can re- dial up to 10 numbers.

The design of Panasonic KXT-G7120E is very classy with smooth finish. It stands apart in cordless phones category. The shape is designed in such a way that it is easy to hold. You can enjoy good reception even from a distance from the base unit.

Home phones ought to be stylish and at the same time rich in features. While the attractive looks can add a touch of elegance to your rooms, the phone features can increase the usability of the phone and yet at the same time keeping it user friendly.

Dennis Jaylon is a renowned business writer who has years of experience in writing technical reviews, product descriptions and product feature analysis of technical gadgets and gizmos. He has won appreciation especially for enlightening people about the latest communication gizmos...the Phones

The Panasonic Air Purifier - Your Perfect Purification System

2008-07-20T04:56:00.000-07:00

Air purification is a huge market in today’s economy. Why? Because of the indisputable importance of clean air to maintaining good health. Millions of dollars are spent on research and development in the United States each year as various companies try to create air purification methods that are more effective, more efficient and more beneficial to personal health. So how can you possibly choose which purifier is right for you with such a highly-saturated market?

In the initial stages of air purification technology, purifiers consisted of simple filtering systems with little additional functions. Over time, scientific development has allowed the creation of highly sophisticated purification systems that make use of natural chemistry, electromagnetic static techniques and UV filtration.

Which air purifier can possibly be the best choice? The Panasonic air purifier is the latest addition to the purification system methods, making use of the best parts of past technology in one user-friendly and extremely efficient unit. The Panasonic air purifier guarantees 24 hours of pure air per activation and makes use of a series of high-tech processes, ensuring that the air you receive is clean and safe to breathe. Basically, the Panasonic air purifier performs its own quality check!

When you use the Panasonic air purifier, the air is passed through an air quality monitor with an LED indicator panel. When your LEDs flash, your Panasonic air purifier is effectively communicating the amount of pollutants in your home’s air and what it is actually cleansing.

The Panasonic air purifier is also environmentally friendly. Its automatic shut-off function will turn the unit off every 20 minutes, conserving energy and giving you clean air. Even better, the entire Panasonic air purifier unit works in nearly total silence, allowing you to carry on with your daily activities without the distraction of additional noise.

Unlike other purifiers that need frequent filter checks, the filter that the Panasonic air purifier uses has an LED panel that will let you know when the filter needs to be changed. Standard HEPA filters used with the Panasonic air filter also last an incredibly long time: up to three years! Even the deodorizer, which may only last several weeks in regular purification units, only needs to be replaced once per year.

The Panasonic air purifier is, quite literally, the most scientifically advanced model on the market. Not only does the Panasonic air purifier provide you with clean, fresh air, but you can also rest worry-free, knowing that the purifier will tell you when it needs its filter changed.

Panasonic Cordless Phones - Never Fails To Keep Up The Goodwill

2008-07-19T07:52:00.000-07:00

Panasonic, the largest electronic giant around the globe has never failed in capturing the hearts of the users. It was always the performance and quality that made it really rule the electronic world. The Panasonic KXTG 8123 is a stylish and modern model cordless phone packed with stunning and attractive features. The KXTG 8123 cordless phone with a 1.4 inch colour backlit LCD screen, illuminated keypad plus 40 minute digital answering machine is no doubt a real challenge to its contemporaries. It is not hard to see why the Panasonic 8122 is tipped to become the best phone in its category. Just a single look into the list of the features is enough. This model cordless phone has all the requirements that a user might expect of a phone of this calibre, along with many new, additional features that take it beyond the ordinary.

The new model cordless phone from Panasonic has a crystal clear digital speaker phone combined with a voice enhancing facility that ensures that everything is well heard. This model phone is capable of storing up to 200 names and numbers within the directory. Further, call control is provided with the inclusion of call recording and call screening facilities. The illuminated keys of this model are bright enough to allow use in total darkness but will turn off when not in use.

The superb, high quality colour screen will also switch off when not located in the base station, to conserve energy. The Panasonic KX-TG 8123 cordless phone can of course handle SMS text messaging, has 16 polyphonic ringer melodies and is GAP compatible. It has a headphone socket for total hands free communication. This model is no doubt the combination of endless practical features, ease of use and sleek, sophisticated design that is already making this fantastic cordless phone a modern classic and soon to be a bestseller.

Raina Kelsey is an expert author, and writes about latest gadgets.

Panasonic Cordless Phones
Panasonic KX-TG9150
Panasonic KXTCD240

Panasonic Digital Camera - The History Behind Their Cameras

2008-07-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

Panasonic is a world-renowned consumer electronics company today. Its digital cameras have recently entered the market. In this article, we will view the story of Panasonic and some of the latest cameras which have been launched by the company in the market.

The inception of Panasonic took place in the year 1918 on a small work table in the house of Konosuke Matsushita. At that time, Matsushita invented the two-socket light fixture. This product became a success and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. was established.

Panasonic is the largest manufacturer of consumer electronics in the world today. The firm produces a wide array of products which cater to several needs of consumers. Its policy of achieving hundred percent customer satisfaction and providing optimal quality goods, has led Panasonic from strength to strength. In fact, the name Panasonic is synonymous with innovation, quality, performance and ease of use.

As far as digital cameras are concerned, Panasonic has got several types of digital cameras which can cater to various audiences depending on their budget and needs. In fact, Panasonic has also entered into an alliance with German camera maker, Leica to develop still digital cameras. The reason for this alliance is the fact that Panasonic is a small player in the digital market today. This alliance will help both Leica and Panasonic to take over an estimated ten percent of the digital camera market share.

Panasonic's latest line of digital cameras consists of mainly three series. One of these is the Lumix digital camera series. The Lumix camera makes use of lenses provided by Leica. This helps in getting images which are extremely clear and bright. The Lumix is a highly advanced camera and also comes with manual control options. Its shutter interval is also less than 0.04 seconds, hence allowing the photographer to take shots quickly.

Another series of digital cameras are cheaper and smaller, known as the D-Snap digital camera series. These cameras are trendy and small. They are super-slim and come in different colors. These cameras can also record videos and play music. The D-Snap digital camera is aimed at teenagers and youngsters who are looking for something smart and trendy and which also fit into their budget.

Slowly and steadily, Panasonic is establishing a name for itself in the digital camera world. This company, which has always believed in putting the customer's needs first, is sure to make a mark in this arena as well.

Kevin Rockwell worked as a network TV cameraman for 20 years shooting news and sports. Now a devoted fan of digital photography and video he works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Oh and he loves to shoot pictures of his kids playing sports.

Samsung J700 Pink Mobile Vs Panasonic X700 - Soft Touch And Easy To Handle

2008-07-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

Samsung has started a new mobile series that is J series and named its mobile J700 Pink. Its gorgeous slide to open design and advanced features are really appealing to the masses. The buttons of this mobile are soft and easy to handle. It supports GSM 900/1800/1900 networks. Lets find out more about this mobile with its comparison to one of its competitor's mobile i.e. Panasonic X700.

The dimensions of Panasonic X700 mobile phone are 97 x 49 x 24 mm and weight is 107 grams. But on the other side, Samsung J700 Pink is more lightweight and comfortable while carrying in pockets. Its dimensions are measured in 19.5 x 48 x 14.8 mm and weight is just 92 grams.

The screen of this smart J700 Pink mobile is 2 inches large that gives TFT 65k colors. Also, its ring tones and mp3 tones can be easily customized. But, Panasonic X700 mobile is equipped with only polyphonic ring tones.

1.3-mega-pixel camera of Samsung J700 Pink mobile gives the crystal clear pictures with 1280 x 960 resolution. Whenever and wherever the user, he can click over the camera option and take as much pictures, as he wants. On more entertainment front, this mobile gives multimedia player, FM radio, games and photo caller ID and voice memo. As against, Panasonic X700 mobile is equipped with VGA camera with video flash and also gives 640 x 480 picture resolution.

Browse the Internet feature fast with the services like GPRS and EDGE and download the material like songs, wallpapers, videos or any informative data. Moreover, the user can exchange the data from other mobiles and computers by blue tooth and USB cable. And these all-interesting features are available in this stylish Samsung J700 Pink mobile.

The stand by time of J700 Pink mobile is J700 Pink mobile is 250 hours and talk time is 2 hours and 50 minutes. As against, the stand by time of Panasonic X700 mobile is 80 hours and talk time is 2 hours. The other great features of this mobile are 100 phone entries, SMS, EMS, MMS, 10MB internal memory with expandable memory slot up to2GB.

Samsung J700 Pink, J700 Black and G600 Pink are the popular Mobile Phones and these Mobile phone deals are available on Mobile Phone Contracts UK.

The Auther Matt Damon is Sem Consultant for Buy Mobile Deals UK.

Panasonic LS80-K Portable DVD Player

2008-07-19T07:42:00.000-07:00

The Panasonic LS80-K is quit a stylish little portable DVD player with its black interior and silver housing this looks the business. And not only does it look the business but it is and I can gladly say that the Panasonic LS80-K portable DVD player also delivers. Perfect for those who live on the move a lot such as contract workers or truck drivers. But you don't have to live on the move to appreciate owning one of these I for instance have used it on many occasions when on long fishing or camping trips. I must admit that not all my fishing trips are packed with activity so this is good to keep you entertained.

Some of the main features include an 8.5 inch LCD screen, with DVD player which can play DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-RAM. The Panasonic LS80-K will also play all of your DivX films as well as JPEG, VCD and most other media. The Panasonic LS80-K DVD player also has a SD card slot supporting SDHC.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

Screen size 8.5 inch

DVI Interface: No

Electronic Program Guide (EPG): No

Firmware IEEE-1394 Interface: No

HD-DVD Playback: No

HDMI Interface: No

IPTV (Internet Protocol Television): No

LCD Screen Size in Inches: 8.5 in

MP3 Recording: No

MPEG4 Recording: No

Progressive Scan: No

Real Dolby: Real Dolby AC3

Super Audio CD Playback: without Super Audio CD Playback

USB Interface: No

W-LAN Connection: No

MP3 Playback: With MP3 Playback

Smart Media Card: No

Secure Digital Card: No

Multimedia Card: No

Memory Stick: No

Weight 1200 grams

The Panasonic LS80-K has impressive visuals coping with some fast and contrasting colors superbly. It manages to blend dark background colors with minimal blur and keeps a solid crisp and colorful picture. The sound quality good enough but as usual with portable devices you get the best results with earphones or a speaker station plugged in.

The build quality is superb as you would expect from Panasonic the buttons feel good and the material has a smooth shiny finish to it. Battery life isn't the longest in the world only about 3 hours with full volume but you could stretch this out to more if you used earphones.

This is a good all round performing portable DVD player. Nothing too fancy but has all the important features you would want from it. So the Panasonic LS80-K comes recommended to anyone looking to buy a portable DVD player. If you find that ipods are too eye straining then these are a good alternative.

Go on a Laptop Bargain Hunt

2008-07-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

Are you out on a bargain hunt for a laptop? Well, its not an easy task. Laptops these days change very quickly, with faster processors, improved graphics, as well
as huge chunks of RAM.

The good thing about this is that with newer models, the older models become cheaper! The older models will ultimately become more affordable to the mass consumer like us.

Overview

So let's take a good look at some of the best laptop bargain hunts in the market. You'd be surprised, most of these bargains come from brand name manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell and Fujitsu. This proves that you don't have to compromise quality when getting a laptop at rock-bottom prices.

Let's now take a look at the top 5 bargain laptops out in the market.

1. Lenovo ThinkPad T61 Widescreen

The Lenovo ThinkPad T61 is undeniably one of the most popular business laptops out in the market.

With a 14.1-inch widescreen and great specifications, this unit sells for less than a $1000 today if you buy direct from Lenovo.

2. Panasonic Toughbook CF-52

This notebook is a cousin of the latest Panasonic CF-Y7. The CF-52 has solid graphics, widescreen display and astounding battery life.

Add to the that the rugged exterior, and you have a wonderful winner of a laptop here. Last I checked this unit was going for about $1500.

3. Fujitsu Lifebook S6510

If you look at small laptops, you will find most of them lacking an optical drive. The Fujitsu Lifebook S6510 is, however, an exception.

It comes with an on-board optical drive and a 14-inch screen, yet maintains a super compact form. The price has gone done significantly and it now sells for about $1400.

4. Dell Inspiron 1720

The Dell Inspiron 1720 is a great desktop replacement laptop. What you'll like about the Inspiron 1720 is its massive 17-inch screen, along with integrated mobile broadband from Cingular, Sprint or Verizon (for US customers).

Its price has dropped a lot and is now about $1000.

5. Toshiba Satellite U405-S2830

The Toshiba Satellite U405-S2830 is a pretty new machine with some great features. It has a nice, attractive fusion design, 3GB RAM, internal optical drive, and Intel's latest processor technology.

All this for a street price of around $1100 - I'd say that's a bargain on any count.

Conclusion

I hope this article has given you a good overview of the top 5 bargain laptops out in the market. Of course, your opinions may differ - these are but my recommendations. Still, you should check these models out the next time you're out bargain hunting - they are certainly some of the best laptop deals of the moment.

Gary Hendricks runs a website about laptops. Visit his website at Best-Laptop-Guide.com to learn more about selecting the best laptops and accessories to suit your needs.

Panasonic ToughBook!

2008-07-02T18:19:00.000-07:00

Here’s a cool mini-laptop for tough guys. (J/k, this is laptop for geeks who work in a tough environment) :-p

Genuine Windows Vista Business with Service Pack 1 (with XP downgrade option)
Intel Atom processor Z520 1.33GHz with 533MHz FSB, 512KB L2 cache
16GB solid-state removable drive (32GB optional)
1GB memory
5.6-inch WSVGA sunlight viewable touch screen (1024×600 resolution)
Antireflective screen treatment
LED backlighting
Intel Wireless Wi-Fi Link 5100 series (802.11a/g/draft-n)
Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR
Interfaces: USB 2.0, SD Card, Microphone, Headphone, Expansion Bus
Integrated options include 3G mobile broadband, integrated camera, fingerprint scanner, GPS, barcode or RFID readers
Optional expansion modules for magnetic stripe reader and serial/Ethernet/smart card are expected in late 2008
Approximately 9 hours of battery life
2.3 pounds (with strap and both batteries)
2.2 inches tall by 7.2 inches wide by 5.9 inches deep

Talking Rugged Notebook

2008-07-02T16:05:00.000-07:00

A rugged notebook offers mobile professionals the ability to work in any environment and in any location. Versatile and powerful, rugged notebook computers are designed specifically for both in-plant and outdoor industrial (and military) applications. Built to handle the toughest environments, fully ruggedized notebooks should have IP54 environmental protection, meet MIL-STD 810F and have heavy duty - generally magnesium alloy - cases. Rugged notebook computers enable professionals to work smoothly in adverse environments and are adequately equipped to face almost any tough situation with ease. Naturally, these rugged notebook computers are heavier than non-rugged models but offer substantially more protection than standard laptops. RuggedNotebooks.com offer a variety of semi-rugged and rugged notebooks, wireless tablets and even rugged PDAs in their Recon series. They also offer custom solutions.

Arguably the most rugged and heavy-duty notebook available is the Rough Rider III from www.RuggedNotebooks.com. Meeting IEC and MIL-STD 810F, temperature, humidity, altitude, shock, vibration and drop standards, the case also conforms to IEC 529 and Ingress IP 54 requirements. It has extensive configuration options and a second bay available with internal PCI connector that supports a wide variety of options including two additional COM ports (RS232, RS422, or RS 485), two additional PCMCIA slots, a SCSI-2 port, DGPS or wireless modules, an auxiliary battery, or fixed floppy drive. It can be configured with 1.4 or 1.6 GHz Intel Pentium M processor, up to 2GB of DDR RAM, a 60GB HDD, and up to a 14.1 inch screen. It also provides extended wireless communications with 802.11b Wi-Fi, GSM/GPRS and DataTAC connectivity. As you might expect, all this ruggedness comes with a penalty and with the primary battery installed, the Rough Rider III rugged notebook weighs 12.7 pounds, definitely not a light-weight.

RuggedNotebooks.com offers a variety of semi-rugged and rugged notebooks, wireless tablets and even rugged PDAs in their Recon series. They also offer custom solutions. As one of the premier providers of notebook computers that meet and exceed military (810F and 461E) and industry standards (IP54), anyone interested in a high quality semi- or rugged notebook should make it a point to check them out.

Sterling Computer Sales in Landenberg, PA, offers a series of rugged notebooks meeting MIL STD 810E (which primarily involves small drops and rough transport). Their RB1500 has a rubber mounted HDD, spill-proof keyboard and magnesium alloy case. It comes with a 15.1 inch TFT boasting sXGA+ resolution (1400X1050) and a Pentium 4 Mobile 1.6Ghz processor. You can stuff it with up to 2GB of DDR ram and a 100GB HD. For communications this rugged notebook includes modem, Ethernet and 802.11b/g Wireless. This might be better considered a semi-rugged, but the price with default options starts at only $1,595.

The Durabook N15RI is a rugged notebook that has a magnesium alloy top and bottom case - which is 20 times stronger than plastic. This rugged notebook has anti-shock mounting and spill-resistant keyboard, scroll buttons and touch-pad. While it meets some (modified) 810F military specifications for ruggedness it doesn't appear to be IP54 compliant and is probably best viewed as a more rugged than usual semi-rugged notebook. It still provides the mobile professional with a tough, durable notebook at a more reasonable price than a fully rugged notebook.

HP also has a rugged notebook series - the HP nr3610 Rugged Notebook. This model meets MIL STD for ruggedness in the areas of ESD (Electrostatic Discharge), low pressure, humidity, sealing, temperature and vibration - and the Ingress IP-54 Protection rating for dust and water. However, it is very pricey for a notebook with a 12.1 LCD (over $4000) and nearly impossible to find currently.

Another rugged notebook, offering the choice of 14.1" and 15" Tflex displays - which work very well both outdoors and indoors, is the Argonaut Ranger. The hard drive and LCD are both shock mounted and the case is constructed of magnesium alloy. Both models of this rugged notebook - Argonaut Ranger - meet military specifications for ruggedness. The keyboard is spill-proof and the circuitry of this rugged notebook makes use of anti-corrosive technology for extra protection. Designed particularly for marine use the TFlex display works extremely well under any lighting conditions - from full darkness to direct sunlight.

Panasonic has its ToughBook line of semi-rugged and rugged notebook computers which are also worth looking into. The semi-rugged notebooks have a variety of features from the T2 with touchscreen weighing in at only 2.7 pounds to the Toughbook 51, available with a 2GHz Intel Pentium M 760, a shock-mounted 80 GB HDD and up to 2 GB of DDR2 SDRAM, with a 15 inch TFT Active Matrix Color LCD and a standard Combo Drive of a DVD multi-drive, weighing in at about 6.7 pounds. Base pricing for the T51 seems to start around $1600.

The Panasonic Toughbook-29 is a fully rugged notebook tested to MIL STD 810F. The vibration and drop-shock resistant design has Intel Centrino Mobile Tech and integrated 802.11 a/b/g wireless LAN. It has a 13.3 inch outdoor-readable TFT Active Matrix Color LCD (optional touchscreen), a shock-mounted removable HDD in a stainless steel case, sealed port and connector covers and a full magnesium alloy case with handle. With battery and floppy drive it weighs 7.9 pounds. Base version pricing seems to be around $3500 currently.

One thing you need to be aware of about rugged notebooks - particularly full MIL-STD ruggedized models - they can be a little hard to find at your local computer store - or even on some of the big internet sites. The substantial added costs of manufacture and testing - and sometimes, the performance compromises that are made, make them a questionable option for the usual notebook user. If you will be working under harsh conditions, then they may be your only rational choice. However, for a user who will simply be doing a lot of traveling, day in and day out, and wants a notebook computer that can better tolerate the inevitable shocks and bumps, a semi-rugged notebook could be a much more affordable option, providing reasonable protection and better performance at a lower price.

Talking Rugged Notebook

2008-07-02T07:03:00.000-07:00