Panasonic ToughBook CF-F8 notebook

[Jeffrey]

The ToughBook CF-F8 sits nicely between Panasonic’s fully rugged notebooks, and the thin and light W Series machines. Despite the chunky design and carrying handle, it still weighs in at only 1.66kg, making it lighter than many 12.1in models. It’s a shame that Europe doesn’t get the higher resolution screen that the Japanese units have, and the pricing seems high, even by ToughBook standards. However, if you want a notebook that’s light, rugged, easy to carry and has great battery life, you’d be hard pushed to find something better.

The difference compared with Semi-Rugged Notebooks and Rugged Full, like the Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 reviewed above, consists of a lower severity of the parameters of resistance and protection defined by precise specifications of U.S. Armed Forces (specifically these are standard MIL -STD-810).

To belong to the class our Business Ruggedized Toughbook CF-F8 must withstand drops from a height of up to 76cm, accidental payments exceed free liquids up to 200ml, and withstand a pressure of 100 kgf. To make a comparison, the model Toughbook CF-19 Full is capable of absorbing drops from 90cm, is immune to the infiltration of dust as well as that of water, and can operate at extreme temperatures (from -20 to +60 ° C).

[Jeffrey]

The CF-F8 also has a spill resistant keyboard, and if you do happen to spill your coffee all over it, you can simply rinse it under the tap, let it dry and it will be good as new. Like the CF-Y7, the motherboard in the CF-F8 is completely sealed and liquid will just run through the keyboard and out through gullies in the base of the machine.

The CF-F8 also represents Panasonic’s first use of Intel’s new Centrino 2 platform, which is quite an event in itself. Obviously mainstream notebook manufacturers have been using Centrino 2 for the past couple of months, but for Panasonic this is a very quick adoption of the new technology. Traditionally, ToughBooks have been a generation behind the curve when it comes to Intel technology, because the key factor to the ToughBook range has always been reliability, and that meant very extensive testing, which took a great deal of time. It’s good to see that Panasonic has managed to speed up this process and bring products to market using the current platform, without having to compromise their durability.

The design of the Toughbook CF-F8 tip certainly more on convenience rather than visual impact, however, the notebook appears equally well-proportioned and rather pleasant. Imagine what efforts have had to make the Panasonic engineers to make and present a design originally intended for military use.

[Jeffrey]

Unlike other ToughBooks, the CF-F8 steps away from the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio screen, and instead comes with a 14.1-inch 1,280 x 800-pixel widescreen. The advantage of a widescreen is that it makes side-by-side document comparisons easier, though 4:3 displays are preferred by some for reading long articles and Web pages. So while it is debatable if this change is an improvement, what most can agree on is that the anti-glare treatment is a good thing and allows for easy reading outdoors. The graphics engine is powered by the integrated Intel GMA 4500HD processor which is more than competent for productivity tasks and even movies, though the audio quality through the onboard stereo speakers is nothing to shout about.

The display TFT active matrix has a diagonal of 14.1 inches and, as expected from a Toughbook, it has a high gloss and excellent readability even outdoors. This screen, in fact, has a maximum native resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels (WXGA), 16 million colors and a glare to reduce noise during outdoor use. Also this component is obviously sensitive protected effectively from the chassis to prevent breakage due to a possible collision or a fall.

The LCD panel is identified by the initials MS_9003 and, unfortunately, has not been possible to find more information on the model and manufacturer. However, Panasonic ensures that, through the production process, the pixels are effective at least equal to 99.998%.

The video card is the integrated subsystem (AMU) Intel GMA 4500MHD Centrino platform offered by the 2nd because the GPU is exactly the same that can be found Intel Mobile GM45 Express.

The video memory is fully shared with system memory and the card can allocate up to 1309 MB on Windows Vista and up to 1024 MB on Windows XP with a configuration of 3 GB of RAM. The performance in 3D so I am quite modest and appropriate just to run Windows Aero and properly to perform read applications that make use of a three-dimensional graphics.

[Jeffrey]

Specifications

• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo SP9300 2:26 GHz ( "Penryn", L2 Cache 6MB, 45nm technology, 1066 MHz bus, TDP 25W)
• Chipset: Intel Cantiga GS45 (ICH9M)
• Socket: Type P / 478-pin
• Mainboard: Panasonic CFF8W-1 (CF-F8EWDZFNT)
• Operating system: Microsoft Windows Vista Business 32-bit (available kit downgrade to Windows XP Professional 32-bit)
• Memory: 3GB DDR2 (1GB + 2GB)
• Video card: Intel GMA 4500MHD (Intel UMA 45GS, shared memory up to 1309 MB on Windows Vista, shared memory up to 1024 MB on Windows XP)
• Hard Disk: Fujitsu MHZ2160BH G2 (160 GB, 5400 RPM, SATA-II)
• Display: MS_9003 (1280 x 800 14.1 "WXGA TFT Widescreen)
• Audio: AD1883 SoundMAX Integrated Digital HD Audio, 2 stereo speakers
• Optical drive: Integrated Panasonic DVD Multi Drive (read / write CD / DVD)
• Network adapters: Intel (R) WiFi Link 5100AGN, Intel Gigabit Network 82567LM, Qualcomm Gobi 7.2M 250D HSPA (3G Broadband), Bluetooth module, D330 Conexant HDAUDIO Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP
• I / O Ports: 3 USB 2.0 ports, 1 VGA port, 1 headphone output, microphone 1 entry, 1 RJ-11 port for internal modem, 1 Ethernet port (RJ-45), 1 port for docking station, PC card slot 1 type I and type II, 1 slot for memory cards SD / SDHC, 1 block for port security.
• TouchPad: Synaptics PS / 2 Port TouchPad
• Battery: Panasonic CF-VZSU56 by Lithium-ion 5800 mAh
• Dimensions: 326 x 25.5 / 48.5 x 251 mm
• Weight: 1.66 kg with battery

[Jeffrey]

Networking

Network connectivity can be considered one of the real strengths of this business Ruggedized, why does not lack any of the modern technologies of communication: there are the network cards 82567LM and Intel WiFi Link 5100AGN (key elements of the platform, Centrino 2 vPro) for Ethernet wired networks and IEEE 802.3/3u/3ab for wireless networks IEEE 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N, the modem HDAUDIO Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP by product to connect to the internet dial-up 56K (V.92), internal Bluetooth module compatible with the specification 2.0 with EDR and then the 3G broadband card optional 250D for networks GPRS / UMTS / HSPA with speeds up to 7.2 Mbps.

Conclusions

Panasonic Toughbook Executive CF-F8 is the ideal choice for users who are often working on the move and need a product resistant to contingencies that may occur, such as falls, any liquids and impacts of various kinds . Due to the weight very short, the practice to handle the transport and disposal of the reader that facilitates the insertion of the discs there is at ease in almost any situation.

PRO:

• Centrino 2 platform with a "Power optimized performance SP9300
• Assembly and material quality
• Properties reinforced magnesium alloy and the hard disk protection
• Keyboard and touchpad with anti-infiltration
• Available optical drive
• Full network connectivity
• Battery autonomy
• RAM expandability limited to 3 GB
• Temperature processor
• Fingerprint reader available in the future only by sacrificing the internal Bluetooth module
• Lack webcam
• Memory card reader compatible with SD and SDHC formats
• Size and design touchpad