Panasonic's Toughbook R6: a 10.4-inch, 2-pound laptop for riot grrrlz

The words "ultra-portable" and "rugged" are seldom used to describe the same laptop. However, Panasonic just loosed an oxymoronic edition of the Toughbook on to an unsuspecting public. The R6 weighs just 930-grams (2.05-pounds) yet packs a drip-proof keyboard and gutsy shell capable of withstanding a fall from up to 76-cm (2.5-feet) without giving up the ghost. Panny's new fanless laptop features a 10.4-inch, 1024x768 (XGA) display, a 1.06GHz U2400 Core Duo processor, up to 1.5GB of memory and 120GB of disk, and Intel 945GSM Express graphics. It also packs an SD slot, 802.11a/b/g, 8-hour battery, and room for expansion via a PCMCIA slot and 2x USB 2.0. It's a bit chubbier than that picture suggests at a meaty 29.4~42.4-mm (1.16~1.67-inches) thick wedge. Fully equipped, this tough little waif will set you back about ¥240,000 (nearly $2,000) in your choice of platinum, very red, blue apple, pink petal, white air, or black stone -- the perfect accessory to your Sleater-Kinney.

[kev @ Jan 17th 2007 10:03AM]

Panasonic, listen to me. When are you going to convince Intel to lower processor prices and then start selling these more often in the US? We need better laptops!

[nate @ Jan 17th 2007 10:17AM]

It is a shame that the US doesn't get these as fast as Asia. I ordered my W5 from overseas because it had better specs/features than the US version. I love my Toughbook and it was worth every penny. I've had 3 "Toughbook Moments" when I think any other laptop would have bit the dust.

[Yubal @ Jan 17th 2007 10:41AM]

my lappie is that resolution, yet it is wxga, widescreen... why is this xga? rect pixels?

[Yubal @ Jan 17th 2007 10:42AM]

oh no, mine is 1280... my bad

[icepop4who @ Jan 17th 2007 10:44AM]

a perfect toughbook. 2 lbs and tough. about time when rugged laptop don't have to weigh 10 or 20 lbs.

[sam @ Jan 17th 2007 11:32AM]

if only it came with OSX! the laptop is sweet

[kev @ Jan 17th 2007 11:45AM]

Keep dreaming. Apple needs to keep OS X on their machines only or they're going to lose a ton of money. That's just how business works.

[Jamar @ Jan 18th 2007 8:27AM]

They have to license out OSX sometime- their computers aren't doing that great, and some manufacturers have computers suited to OSX (Panasonic/Sony). That, and their computers are far too fragile- I got a Panasonic Let's Note (Toughbook) T5 for this reason (I had a Powerbook, but it got dinged and dented while it was still in my bag, and part of the LCD bezel eventually bent and broke- a $700 repair). Of course, it has its faults too (knocked it off a desk- LCD broke, so I'm looking at an expensive repair).

[aaa10247 @ Jan 17th 2007 2:58PM]

yep. i use the R4. i love it. everyone comments on its size.

[kev @ Jan 18th 2007 10:06AM]

Take a look at their revenue for this quarter--particularly how many computers they've sold. You'll be pleasantly surprised that you're actually wrong.

They can keep this trend going because they're following the same model as every other company in business. Release smaller upgrades to an already favorable and desirable product. This is how you make money and this is why stuff never gets to be the best when it can be much better.

[COP @ Jan 18th 2007 1:23PM]

Looks like the Panasonic R6 has already been added to the importers sites:

http://www.kemplar.com/panasonic_r6.php

I want Macintel for 3rd party PCs!

[tutu pl�ne @ Jan 18th 2007 2:48PM]

you know what, i think a riot-girl would simply piss on this piece of technological sexism

[reckless @ Jan 24th 2007 10:21PM]

I have 5 panasonic toughbooks and a few sonys. Sony is garbage compared to Panasonic. Panasonic makes the best laptops in the industry.

[jennifer cruz @ Apr 3rd 2007 5:56PM]

someone please let me know how I can purchase this it's exactly what I've been looking for.
Jennifer