Panasonic Toughbook computers in a bicycle panier

[John Gorentz]

This is more a commuting question than a touring question, but I'll ask
anyway. Has anyone carried one of the Panasonic "Business-Tough"
computers in a pannier on a regular basis? Did it hold up well?

This is not one of the "Fully-Rugged" or "Semi-Rugged" Toughbook
computers. It doesn't have covers over the external ports.

A sales rep brought a bunch of the Panasonic Toughbooks for me to look at.
I was surprised at the light weight and long battery life of some of
them in this class. Just right for bicycle touring, I thought.

But this question is not for me, but for someone else on whose behalf I
was looking into toughbooks. This person wants to start commuting to work
by bicycle and would need to take a computer back and forth. His boss is
probably willing to buy him one of these if it would do the trick.

I realize most of the discussion on this list has been about netbooks, but
based on light weight and long battery life, some of these Toughbooks
would seem far better -- if it weren't for the cost. Comments from
satisfied/dissatisfied users?

John Gorentz
www.spokesrider.com

[Mark Boyd]

Post by John Gorentz
This is more a commuting question than a touring question, but I'll ask
anyway. Has anyone carried one of the Panasonic "Business-Tough"
computers in a pannier on a regular basis? Did it hold up well?
This is not one of the "Fully-Rugged" or "Semi-Rugged" Toughbook
computers. It doesn't have covers over the external ports.
A sales rep brought a bunch of the Panasonic Toughbooks for me to look at.
I was surprised at the light weight and long battery life of some of
them in this class. Just right for bicycle touring, I thought.
But this question is not for me, but for someone else on whose behalf I
was looking into toughbooks. This person wants to start commuting to work
by bicycle and would need to take a computer back and forth. His boss is
probably willing to buy him one of these if it would do the trick.
I realize most of the discussion on this list has been about netbooks, but
based on light weight and long battery life, some of these Toughbooks
would seem far better -- if it weren't for the cost. Comments from
satisfied/dissatisfied users?

I carried Toughbooks - both the ruggedized and non-ruggedized variety on tour
for years. No problems other that the time I decided to use one in the
rain and, after several days of rain, the mouse pad stopped working. I
bought a mouse and continued using that computer for the res of that
tour.t They are great computers for touring and commuting. The only
problem is what they cost and what the ruggeidzed ones weigh.

Mark

[Bob Carlson]

I carried an ordinary Dell laptop back and forth to work in a pannier for
quite a while with no problems. I wrapped in my towel for padding (multi-use
you know). That was roughly 3 days a week for a couple of years. I also took
it on a credit card tour of about 300 miles over 6 days. Again no problem.
Even knocked out a software release one morning before hitting the road.
Also I was using a rack that attached to my seatpost, so it was a long way
from being real solid. That might have actually helped because it was less
rigid.

Cheers, Bob
Eugene, OR - Tucson, AZ



-----Original Message-----
From: touring-bounces-***@public.gmane.org [mailto:touring-bounces-***@public.gmane.org] On Behalf
Of John Gorentz
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 3:37 PM
To: touring-***@public.gmane.org
Subject: Panasonic Toughbook computers in a bicycle panier

This is more a commuting question than a touring question, but I'll ask
anyway. Has anyone carried one of the Panasonic "Business-Tough"
computers in a pannier on a regular basis? Did it hold up well?

This is not one of the "Fully-Rugged" or "Semi-Rugged" Toughbook
computers. It doesn't have covers over the external ports.

A sales rep brought a bunch of the Panasonic Toughbooks for me to look at.
I was surprised at the light weight and long battery life of some of
them in this class. Just right for bicycle touring, I thought.

But this question is not for me, but for someone else on whose behalf I
was looking into toughbooks. This person wants to start commuting to work
by bicycle and would need to take a computer back and forth. His boss is
probably willing to buy him one of these if it would do the trick.

I realize most of the discussion on this list has been about netbooks, but
based on light weight and long battery life, some of these Toughbooks
would seem far better -- if it weren't for the cost. Comments from
satisfied/dissatisfied users?

John Gorentz
www.spokesrider.com

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[Chip Mefford]

Post by Bob Carlson
I carried an ordinary Dell laptop back and forth to work in a pannier for
quite a while with no problems. I wrapped in my towel for padding (multi-use
you know).

A number of years ago, as some of you may recall, the city of largo fl
got kinda fed of with sales pitches, and decided to just let the IT
folks do their thing. It was a very interesting project.
One of the key points I recall from the write up after the first
year was the subject of ruggedized or toughened laptops.

I can't recall the quote, but thet guy who was in charge
of putting laptops in police cars basically stated that
if folks have a mind set to treat their equipment well
and take care it. it will last. Folks who do not have a mind
set to treat their equipment well, can break anything. A
ruggedized/toughened machine might buy you a few months in
the hands of someone -one might call hamfisted- but the machines are
really expensive and so is the service/parts. Regular
ole laptop + usb keyboard (apparently, in squad cars
the keyboards suffered, and were easy to replace) out
did the fancy expensive rugged machines.

This mirrors my personal experience with my users.
Some (a few) take care of their equipment,and it
lasts them a long times, others could break visegrips.
--
---
Chip Mefford
--------------------
Before Enlightenment;
chop wood
carry water
After Enlightenment;
chop wood
carry water
---------------------
Public Key
http://www.well.com/user/cpm