Portable 1 MX - convince me please

I am a long time IBM T series and Panasonic Toughbook customer... Ive owned T20s,30s, etc..

I had a T42 and hated it - it is much thinner and less rugged than the older "brick tough" units before...but thats the way they are going - lighter, more mobile = thinner gauge

I have a Toughbook51 and really like it, but my LCD is cracked and rather than repair it, its time to just get a new unit...

The toughbook51s are pretty costly, and I would have just bought another, but I saw many people here like the Portable 1 line of notebooks...after reading up on them I see they are make of metal chasis and carbon fiber/alloy case... sounds NICE!

I was wondering how rugged they are, and what a few negative aspects of Portable 1 units are?

I am looking at:
Portable One MX
(750 1.86GHz /14.1"UVA WXGA/ 1GB / 60GB / DL MULTI /56K 10/1000 WiFi BT / XPP)
Code: MXW3V
Price: $1,899.00

 

I am awaiting receipt of the UX, but have been dealing with Ivan for several months with another unit. I chose the UX over the MX because I just needed the lighter unit, but the MX is reputed to be a great unit. What I can attest to, without reservation, is their customer service is the best! And- if you don't find the MX lives up to your expectations (which I doubt- from everything I've read, I think it is the best in its weight class) Ivan will accomodate you. I agree that the newer units are more and more plastic to reduce weight, sacrificing durability and reliability. The Toughbooks are nice in some respects, but they are very expensive and have been panned wrt performance and/or screen, and Ivan from Portableone told me that the MX screen is fabulous, and others have concurred. Basically, the MX weighs the same as the IBM's and I was not terribly impressed with the T43's screen. I would have bought the MX in a heartbeat if weight wasn't the priority for me, so I decided to go for the lighter 12" screen UX; I really think that the MX is a solid performer and for both performance and unparalleled customer service I would go for it.

 

you seem to value ruggedness. The P1MX is simply a variant of the Asus w3v. While Asus uses quality materials in some of their notebooks (i.e aluminum and carbon fiber).. i wouldn't go as far as saying they're rugged or semi rugged. infact none can approach the ruggedness of a Toughbook. Howver when it comes to semi-rugged, your next best bet is Twinhead Durabook.

 

i dont especially need rugged traits... what I do need is a solid case - no flex in chasis, or LCD twist... and I need strong hinges that do not get weak quickly and end up with a LCD that wobbles back and forth. Those are my big issues.

The Thinkpad T30 fit this perfect - IBM got cheap then on the lower chasis... so i got a toughbook... but now its time to replace that and I want to look at other options since the toughbook, while rugged, has given me technical issues - poor screen, hardware conflicts, etc... nothing major... but enough to not be loyal to them

 

in that case, I think Thinkpads have the BEST hinges and no flex. if you want to play it safe, go IBM

 

I had many Thinkpads in the past... T20..T30... and I stopped buying them once I got a T42... they cheapened the T series so badly... there was flex in the case to the point where you could easily crack the plastic bezel around the cd drive bay just by lifting it wrong...I saw three T42s...all cracked there. IBM tried going more light and mobile with the T series instead of its prior "built like a fortress" approach. I have a X31 and its not too bad... still not the old days of IBM... thier current models have too much flex for me... the hinges are nice... and I wish others would copy that approach.

I ordered a Portable 1 MX... I guess Ill see if that meets my expectations. Ivan was very responsive and very helpful. The company is top notch... so if the product is as good as the company, I will be very happy.

 

good luck- just setting up my new UX, and I must say I am very impressed. I got the screen upgrade, which is supposed to be the same type screen as on the MX. I am quite impressed It is not the glossy type screen, but isn't dull like the matte screens either. Seems like the best of both worlds-not reflective, but has the richness of the crystal view screen.