5 ms·

Unconventional choice: Panasonic Let's Note. Sadly JDM exclusive and has soldered RAM, but the latest models come with a 3:2 display, decent I/O (e.g. RJ45, fu

by scrlk 3y ago

Unconventional choice: Panasonic Let's Note. Sadly JDM exclusive and has soldered RAM, but the latest models come with a 3:2 display, decent I/O (e.g. RJ45, full sized SD card reader, even VGA (!)), magnesium alloy chassis and a removable battery in a sub 1.1 kg package. Can't speak for the quality of the trackpad or keyboard though. https://panasonic.jp/cns/pc/ https://panasonic.jp/cns/pc/

jbverschoor 3y ago
Back in the 90s and 00s, Panasonic had some really great hardware designs
- aidenn0 3y ago
  Right around the turn of the century, the Japanese brands were all great designs. I haven't seen one for sale in the US in a long time though.
SamReidHughes 3y ago
The trackpads are great (assuming new models are similar to past models), and the keyboards are IMO very good, but watch out for the squashed key dimensions on the SR and QR, and the Japanese layout.
- scrlk 3y ago
  The 12.x" models occasionally make it in to other APAC markets with US ANSI keyboards: https://ap.connect.panasonic.com/sg/en/products/toughbook/toughbook-sv1 https://ap.connect.panasonic.com/sg/en/products/toughbook/to... Shame that they are not more widely available.
  - SamReidHughes 3y ago
    I didn't know they were still doing it! But it's disappointing that it doesn't have the optical drive. But I see you can buy the English keyboard on eBay.
soared 3y ago
Circular trackpad my goodness! I’ll also never go back to metal/plastic handrests on a trackpad after using whatever material is on a pixelbook and the crazy fabric-esque option on a ms surface - huge game changer.
jimmyspice 3y ago
those look excellent, some even have a bluray drive still. would love this in europe
vxNsr 3y ago
This is amazing, it looks like the laptop an engineer would make if he was told don’t worry about aesthetics, just make the thing exactly as you’d like. The circular trackpad is an acknowledgement that most engineers hate using trackpads, generally only will use a laptop docked, and would rather have a better typing experience than a giant trackpad that will only get in the way the few times they do use the laptop on the go. “If you can’t do it in the keyboard it’s not worth doing”
user_7832 3y ago
Thanks for the link, this is impressive. They even have thunderbolt 4?!

by scrlk 3y ago

jbverschoor 3y ago

Back in the 90s and 00s, Panasonic had some really great hardware designs

aidenn0 3y ago
Right around the turn of the century, the Japanese brands were all great designs. I haven't seen one for sale in the US in a long time though.

SamReidHughes 3y ago

The trackpads are great (assuming new models are similar to past models), and the keyboards are IMO very good, but watch out for the squashed key dimensions on the SR and QR, and the Japanese layout.

scrlk 3y ago
The 12.x" models occasionally make it in to other APAC markets with US ANSI keyboards: https://ap.connect.panasonic.com/sg/en/products/toughbook/toughbook-sv1 https://ap.connect.panasonic.com/sg/en/products/toughbook/to... Shame that they are not more widely available.
- SamReidHughes 3y ago
  I didn't know they were still doing it! But it's disappointing that it doesn't have the optical drive. But I see you can buy the English keyboard on eBay.

soared 3y ago

Circular trackpad my goodness! I’ll also never go back to metal/plastic handrests on a trackpad after using whatever material is on a pixelbook and the crazy fabric-esque option on a ms surface - huge game changer.

jimmyspice 3y ago

those look excellent, some even have a bluray drive still. would love this in europe

vxNsr 3y ago

This is amazing, it looks like the laptop an engineer would make if he was told don’t worry about aesthetics, just make the thing exactly as you’d like. The circular trackpad is an acknowledgement that most engineers hate using trackpads, generally only will use a laptop docked, and would rather have a better typing experience than a giant trackpad that will only get in the way the few times they do use the laptop on the go. “If you can’t do it in the keyboard it’s not worth doing”

user_7832 3y ago

Thanks for the link, this is impressive. They even have thunderbolt 4?!