where to buy a toughbook 74

Can anyone recommend a store that i can buy a toughbook 74. I tried the ones on the panny site but i dont seem to be able to configure them, i really want to add as many options as possible; bluetooth, evdo, fingerprint extra ram etc etc.

 

Yes:

Cal CDCE at 1800 373 5353. Ask for Kim.

The company was refered to me by Panasonic. They are the largest distributor of Toughbooks on the Wset Coast and have a stellar reputation.

I just custom ordered mine there.

Can you tell be how you came to decide on the CF 74 and if you have past experience with this lappy?

Ken

 

Ohh, a Toughbook. I heard those are waterproof for the most part. Of course your display will be ruined but not the HD.

 

It seems to have every toy i could want.

Little bit big at 13.3 inches, but its powerful packed with toys built like a tank and had good battery life.

Can i just check that people think it will be able to run CIV4 ? haha

 

Doubtful that it will be able to play it well, or you would at least have to play it with the settings turned down. Recommended minimum requirements are at least a GeForce2/Radeon 7500 with 64MB memory. Bare in mind that even though those two are older graphics cards, they do have one thing over Intel's integrated graphics - dedicated memory. The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA 950) in the CF-74 has none of it's own memory and has to share system memory with the notebook, which will hamper it's performance considerably. It was never really intended for gaming, mostly for multimedia and office applications.

 

Dear Mach Zero:

Does increasing the amount of RAM, say to 1.5 gigs, help with the graphics limitations?

You say the CF 74's graphic card is good for business and multimedia - could you elaborate?

By the way, have you actually used/seen a CF 73? If so, what were your impressions?

Thanks

Ken

 

yeah you would have thought that the ram would help.

I have no problem loading it up with sticks.

 

@Timeclockmind: Increasing the amount of system RAM available will only help increase your overall system performance rather than graphics performance as the the GMA is sharing the system memory. However, it will only use up to a maximum of 128MB, and no more. It can actually use less depending on what you are doing at the moment, it will dynamically increase or decrease the amount of memory it uses based on how graphically intensive the task is. So one of it's good points is it helps save battery power. As far as the "good for business and multimedia" comment, I mean that it is meant for everyday stuff - running MS Office, watching videos and DVDs, etc., but nothing particularly graphics intensive. As I stated before it is not really suited nor intended for gaming or applications such as those that do 3D rendering. Hope this clears things up a bit.

 

Excellent explaination!

Since those general tasks are the only ones I'll be engaged in, it's perfect for me. I'm sure this is part of the design that allow this uint to achieve a 7 to 8 hour battery life... I can't wait to see how bright (460 nits) the sceen appears in person.

For comparison, does anyone know at how many nits the new MacBookPro is rated?

Thanks - Timelockmind

 

Oh, Mach Zero:

Forgot to ask - for what it is, is the video/chip set in the CF 74 considered to be state-of-the art, high end... or just average?

Thanks again!

 

Pretty much just average, although Intel has made minor improvements over the previous GMA 900, chief among these is developing drivers for it which support the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) for the upcoming Windows Vista, meaning you should theoretically be able to run it with most of the Aero glass interface turned on, and a slightly increased core clock (400MHz vs 333MHz) and about 2 GHz increase in memory bandwidth. Better than the previous generation but still no screamer.

 

FYI. Macbook Pro = 300 nits

 

Mach Zero:

Wow - you are an amazing resource!!!

 

Heh, not really, but thanks anyway. I just did mountains of research before purchasing my current notebook and happened to learn a few things along the way....

 

Just went to the Apple Store to check out the 300 nit screen on the MacBookPro. Not bad. I actually prefer the non-glare screen to the high resolution displays out there.

I assume the Toughbook 74's screen (460 nits) will be far superior to this screen's quailty (I hope!).
Any thoughts?

 

Just gonna have to wait and see, I suppose. I'm not too up on screen statistics and not sure what effect "nits" have on screen quality. All I know is the screen on my Fujitsu is 300 nits and when I first saw it in person, I just had to have it. If 460 makes it better, then you're prbably in for a treat.

Hm, here is a definition of nits that I googled up - Nits: Candela per meter square - used as a measurement of screen brightness for display cubes.

Appears to have something to do with brightness, most likely making it more readable when outdoors (it is a ToughBook, after all). If that's true then it would be great.

 

eeeeeeeek

8 weeks!!!

christ the portableone 12inch core duo will be out by then.

I think i will probably wait.

 

I know 8 weeks is a long time... but apparetnly they have to customize the toughbooks in Japan.

Oh well, let us know how your Potable One works out. I hear they're very good laptops.

 

Indeed they are. And their service and support are absolutely top-notch, Grade A, above and beyond. That's their biggest selling point in my opinion. That's who I purchased my Fujitsu from, and it would take some doing to get me to consider purchasing from anyone else from here on in.

 

Just thought i would give you an update.

I was about to pull the trigger when i decided to phone portable one, well they have started stocking pannasonic.

I got all the options,

bluetooth, fingerprint, card reader, 1.5 Gb RAM, DVD writer and extra battery for the multimedia bay.

I got a cheaper price and they will deliver in 2 - 4 weeks.

SWEET.

 

Congrats!!!

We're now a club of two!

I ordered my CF 74 (with bluetooh and an extra gig of ram) on April 6th. CDCE ran the Panasonic's national inventory database and informed me that there are only basic units within the US. All custom orders must go through Japan - which requires 6 to 8 weeks. If Portable One gets you lappy to you within 2 to 4 weeks, I'd really like to know about it.

I paid $3,100 for the bluetooh version plus $400 for the extra gig of ram. I know the memory is offered at a lower price by other on-line companies but they use third party parts and install it themselves. The folks at Panasonic stongly urged me to upgared with factory installed Panasonic approved sitcks only. Also, would you mind sharing the price of you machine?

I have found no reviews of the CF 74 (too new, I suppose). So if you get any information on our rare birds, please share!


Ken

 

I've played with a 74 and loved it! Did your $3100 include a fingerprint scanner and dvd burner? Anything north of $2500 is a lot of money for a laptop these days but Panasonic makes, bar none, some of the best machines out there. The 3 year warranty alone is worth $250 easy.

It's either one of these, or a subnotebook by Asus/MSI. Arrrrg!

 

Best luck I have had is from USAT Corp.
I have gotten every Toughbook I have purchased from them – they are US based and they always have the inside track on Panasonic Toughbooks and mobile gear (for example—when the Sprint/Verizon EVDO rev. A integrated wireless is coming out!) and they have supported me after my buys.
Phone is 888-550-8728 -- the sales rep who helped me last was Lisa and knew much more than the website. I also got a car mount which makes this setup with the Toughbook 74 about perfect.
Located here www.usatcorp.com