toughbook w8 for 379

You keep talking like that and the football in your avatar is gonna be the ONLY action you get for a LONG time... :wink:

mnem
*Wife to both my small children* There's daddy! GIT 'IM!!!

 

You must have missed my first avatar.

 

I didn't, and trust me we don't miss it

 

You would have had to have been there to miss it.

 

*Snerk*

*Whistles innocently*

mnem
"Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?"
"I think so Brain... but this time you put the rubber pants on the monkeys; last time they bit me so..."

 

No one got theirs yet? Or Fedex shipping notification at least....?

 

Nothing since the first email - but they haven't charged the credit card yet either. By their "7-14" day promise, on mine they have until the first of the month. Patience I guess

 

Reading on another forum, Bizco is expecting to ship many of the W8's on 2/28. They are waiting for more to arrive from Panasonic.

 

ok *fingers, toes & other appendages firmly crossed!*

 

See posts 40 and 44 for details
CAP

 

Can't help it. You're beginning to sound like a broken record too.

 

I did get the FedEx confirmation for my order on 2/18. The estimated delivery date on the FedEx site was 2/23. To this day I have not received the package and the status of the package on the site is "shipper sent notice to FedEx for pick up". I called FedEx and they said it means the shipper only printed the label from the website and requested a pick up. If that is still the status then my package has not left their location yet.

Furthermore, they charged my card twice! I paid double my order and nothing in the mail. When I would email Paul, Jason, and/or James in the past they were quick to respond but now when I email asking why my card was charged twice, they have gone mute and do not respond.

Bizco has a very poor business model, obviously they are a small tech group that came upon a deal to offload a lot of equipment and they did not have the business/supply chain know-how to handle the overwhelming internet demand.

 

I worked as a shipper for a Harley dealer for a couple years. The Fed-Up guy is correct about the label printing, but sometimes the driver does not scan the package and it won't show up in tracking although it's actually on it's way. This happens often during busy times such as before Christmas.

 

Next time you want to shiver, ask a UPS insider about virtual scans.

 

Handy informative link
Laptop Clearance

 

New (future) ToughBook user here (I hope). I've bought one of these from an eBay seller (possibly a member here). I sure hope this deal is legit, as I have wanted a ToughBook for a while now. I don't fault enterprising people for buying these and making a little profit, as I feel that even at $575.00 I've gotten a great deal. I just hope this is a legit sale. Looking forward to bugging this forum with questions. (I will use the "search" feature first.)

 

Fascinating info I gleaned from the internet. Sounds like UPS uses the SWAG method for tracking.

When tracking packages via the UPS web site, one must keep in mind that some of the entries are 'actual' scans of the package and some are 'virtual' scans.
A 'virtual' scan entry is automatically entered into the system when there is no actual scan, but the system predicts that there should have been one.
If a package is lost, and is not being scanned anywhere in the system, it will continue to show new virtual scans indicating normal progress.
The internal system used by UPS customer service allows them to tell a virtual scan from a real scan, however end-users like us can not tell from the web site.
I found this out the hard way. I was tracking an important package on it's way to me. The UPS web site indicated that the package was progressing normally through the system, yet it didn't arrive when scheduled. I contacted UPS customer service, and they told me they hadn't had a scan on the package in days. I pointed out that they web site indicated differently, and that the package obviously was in my local office or on the truck. They explained that the scans I had been seeing were 'virtual' scans. Virtual scans are provided to enhance the customer experience in the event a package misses a scan.
UPS is betting that the package is progressing through the system, it just didn't get scanned.



Most so-called "tracking scans" are what UPS calls "virtual scans." When they say that your package was scanned at such and such a location at such and such a time, they do NOT mean that an optical scanner passed over the bar code of your package. Nor does it even mean that an optical scanner passed over the bar-code on the container which is supposed to be containing your package. What it means is that according to their shipping plan, you package *should be* at such-and-such location. Amazingly enough, this is usually right, or close enough to it.
It's like if an airline scans your boarding pass as you get on an airplane. You have three connections before your destination. If UPS ran the airline they would say they "scanned you" into each layover, and back out, even if they don't even know for sure if the plane left that airport on time, let alone if you were actually on it. Most of the time they'd be right anyway, but it turns out that package-tracking is basically a huge fraud.


SWAG.. sophisticated wild arse guess

 

Sorta like the OHIO method of inventory.

 

I had to look that up. Only handle it once. That's how they operated the multi million dollar internet sales at that Harley dealer I was at.
That really irritated a lot of customers who thought we actually had all that stuff in stock. Then we added about 20% "handling" fee to every UPS shipping fee. Customers complained all the time, and of course blamed the shipper.
They had no idea that we never ordered the 90% of the inventory until they placed an order.

 

I was thinking more like "oh hell, I'm out."

Edit:

Got a fedex notice today. ETA 3/3.

 

Their website now says they've stopped taking orders (but may reopen if they end up with a few left over).

I noticed my credit card was charged last week - but still haven't received an email with mailing info, so I sent them the following today....

"I purchased a new CF-W8 from you and received a confirmation email, to which I responded/agreed to terms a couple of weeks ago. Last week my credit card was billed. I have not yet received a second email from you confirming shipping. Status please?
Thanks"

A few minutes later they responded....
"Should go out very shortly!"

For what it's worth.

 

In transit, ETA 3/4

 

Well, I was charged for it on 2/22, so, I'm hopeful!

 

well i was glad to help some of you get one. i hope you all enjoy when you get them and post pics

 

you da man boo, you da man.

 

Mine is in hand! Will be doing a Win 7 64bit install with 6gb memory.

 

FedEx tried to deliver mine today, but I was not home. I'll be sure to be around tomorrow.

 

Great news! FedEx, Keep 'em comin'!!

 

I have seen a lot now on Ebay with this model and price range from lower to 549buck. Sooner or later it will drop to less than 400buck as ebay start to flood with this model.


ohlip

 

Does the warranty convey on resales?

 

were them pics?

 

"Mine is in hand! Will be doing a Win 7 64bit install with 6gb memory."

I thought that the max memory was 4GB?

 

I'd like to see mine in my hands. I paid for it last week but I haven't heard anything since. I'm sure the issue is the seller isn't used to a flood of knuckle dragger consumers such as myself but it would still be nice if the charge and the shipping had anything to do with each other...

 

I was billed last Thursday and got notification today it was shipped today with expected delivery Saturday.

 

Same here.

 

Got it! Have not opened it yet, but she's on the bench...

 

Wow, I've only owned the fully ruggedized TBs, this feels like a toy...

BTW: the sticker over the Panasonic logo peels right off.

 

For those of us still waiting, any pics? Any observations of interest to future owners? Such as how many RAM slots?

 

Picts for HDD and RAM. AC adapter is 16V, 3.75A. Win XP Pro is loaded out of the box. One RAM slot is open, mine has 2GBs RAM in it out of the box. Looks like the WWAN is installed too. Initial impression: if I had played with one before I bought it, I *would not* have bought it. Anyone that paid MSRP for this thing is either high or spending government money. Maybe I'll feel differently after using it a bit.

VS a CF-30:


HDD and RAM Slot:

 

SiliconTi,

What don't you like about it? I got this as a netbook replacement. Since I ordered this I skipped getting what might have been a great deal (assuming it didn't get canceled) on a Thinkpad x120e. Both have their relative strengths but I might have got the TP for $350.

Oh well, I should see mine Monday... finally.

 

you shouldnt be expecting a rugged toughbook.

this is a buisness class which is way different

 

I like it. It kicks netbook butt.

 

at 1.2 Ghz, it will have to run pretty fast to catch up to a butt to kick it. That said, with its dual core, I am looking forward to putting 2 more GB of RAM (yes, I know 32bit Windows can only see 3.5 GB) and an SSD in it. Still won't want to edit video or run autocad on it, but should be fast enough for word processing, spreadsheets, powerpoints, photo editing, burning CDs, watching a movie, email, a few games, and web surfing.

 

probably the fact that he is comparing it to a cf 30. its almost the same as comparing a car to a jeep.

its a toughbook so you can expect the same quality. can you put it next to a stick of dynamite probably not but its meant for business users and not marines. its really light weight, and has a unique design. the cf 30 is about 3x the weight, but its military grade.

 

This whole thing was poorly managed and borderline scam. I ordered one Feb 12, got the "terms and conditions" email same day, responded affirmative within 30 minutes of receiving the order. My card had a temporary hold placed on it from them, but cleared out eventually, but figured it'd be charged soon. I emailed them asking status a few days ago and they said:

" If your card has NOT already been charged, your order will NOT be processed. We have committed all of our w8 inventory and we are not able to take additional orders. If you have an outstanding order that has NOT been charged to your card already, that order will be automatically cancelled.

As we clearly outlined in the terms of this program, we reserve the right to cancel any order for any reason. We would like to fulfill each and every order, however, due to the limited availability of this product, we will be unable to fulfill all of the demand.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. If you have additional interest in Panasonic Toughbook products, please visit our website at Tough Online | Welcome

Thanks again!

The Direct Sales Team"

They said that they never received the confirmation email from me, which is completely crap, because I have the sent email that I threw back to them in an attachment. I also noted that they can cancel for any reason but they need to provide said reason, and not "just because".

Judging from other sites sounds like they botched a bunch of orders. If they can't handle first in-first out then they shouldn't manage a project of this size. Not only that, but a "terms and conditions" email? Why not put a check box on the site saying you agree with these terms and conditions. Irresponsible of them completely.

 

Exactly what I had planned in mind too...IF I get it. Still no updates from my forward shipper (as I'm not in the US) about whether any Fedex shipping notification has been received despite several inquiries. Was billed by my shipper on 15 Feb so hopefully mine won't be another case of "Sorry no Toughbook for you!".

 

I would suspect that at that price, someone bought a large quantity of them for eBay sales, etc... and they ran out faster than expected.

I was comparing it to the fully-rugged series, as that is all I have owned. After using it for a few hours, I do like it, but I do not think it deserves the "Toughbook" moniker - they say not to drop it, spill liquids on it, move it while it is on, move it while it is asleep, etc... I understand CYA, but...

Much better than any netbook, but it is also 3x the thickness and w/a DVD drive, so maybe not really in the same category.

 

SiliconTi,

You mentioned that you weren't overly impressed (not your exact words). Several people have suggested this is because you were comparing it to the likes of the CF-30. Is this the case?

I'm familiar with the CF-29 and I do understand the difference between fully rugged and what this is. For me this is plenty as it can take being thrown around in a bag. The CF-29 I got for a friend is a bit over kill. He wanted a computer he can take to job sites. Well so long as he kept it in a bag the W8 would work. It's not dust rated but I think he could handle that. Again, keep it in a bag. The W8 has a chassis that should be more than up to the task of having some stuff piled on it when in a bag. Compared to the SBC CF_29 I got for him it's got more of just about everything computing (DVD burner vd CD rom, more CPU, memory, HD, battery life (new vs used battery)). But he loves the rugged CF-29 because it's a fully rugged computer. Got's to keep the man happy.

BTW, in comparison to my Toshiba netbook the size isn't too far off. The weight is only slightly heavier. It's about 1/2" wider and 1/2" taller. The depth is about the same since my NB205 has the battery that sticks out the back.

 

getting mine on tues. hopefully!

 

SilicanTi,

What makes you say it looks like WWAN is installed? Do you see a simcard slot, a probable looking card, a piece of software, or a driver in device manager?