The hard drive casing looks like some kind of shock-absorbing device. If the connector were rigid, it could break if the device sustained a hard enough blow.
You can buy connectors that include the mounting screw. As it's a toughbook they have given you a means of turning an otherwise unsuitable friction fit usb connection into a securely fixed connection with a thumbscrew. The connector's I've used also included a rubber seal that once connected and bolted in retained the dust and waterproofing too. This is a very common use case for these devices and that HDD is shock, dust and water protected the flex cable connector is to prevent constant vibrations from breaking the connector's solder joints. This way the flex cable takes the strain not the hdd connector.
Here in Spain that model is used by the medical crews of the Public Health system in our Southern “states”. They’re quite sturdy...and completely unusable without the stylus!. At least, I’ve seen them handling really rough use for 6 years in a day to day basis, though We all thought back at work that “an Android tablet could outperform it”... and they were not cheap!
Laptop Retrospective You’re welcome. Your videos rocks!!! And yes. It is a rugger machine that cab withstand serious punishment, but the crew at work couldn’t help to think they were bought pretty overpriced. And the fell quite outdated even when they were new. Have you even consider doing some videos about the Sony Vaio line of laptops? They were seen as a “premiun” once, though now they fell to relative obscurity.
@@lagunagfx Thanks Laguna, I'd review and teardown any laptop I can get my hands on, it has more to do with access than anything else. So one day you might see one if one comes my way.
Since this is the first review I have seen of yours, I would have to ask, do you ever read any documentation, Before you do a review? I have used this model Panasonic for many years and did not find the review very fair. If you take into account that this unit was designed for a specific type of use, I think you might find that the problems you had could be easily remedied by a brief read of documentation. This unit was designed for rough and tumble use on building sites and hospitals and similar. All it's features and drawbacks are due to this work environment. I have knocked my unit a couple of times off a 10 foot ladder onto a concrete floor and no problems, try that with most any other even reinforced laptop and it would, I bet not survive. For what these were built for they are excellent. You are right about the pen it is better but when properly calibrated the touch screen works well. Another test you might try with a comparable unit, drop it in a bucket of sheet rock mud and then use it the rest of the day waiting to clean it adequately till end of day. It might change the review.
Hi David, thanks for the feedback. I do generally read anything and everything available that I can find online and at the time of filming it wasn't a great deal. I'll also admit to not having a great deal of experience with this style of machine which will impact my view of the device, so I appreciate you giving me an opportunity to point that out. I hope if by chance you watch any other videos I've made that you will enjoy them more.
Iirc, that kind of connector is a zif drive, or something like that, was the drive PATA or SATA? And most zif drives used a variation on PATA including but not limited to CF, its always neat getting one, but finding one with the batteries and the stylus like you did is amazing, a laptop like this is weird but worth it for mild stuff, not too intensive gaming, but a great find honestly, and Its on my bucket list to own one of these and I'd ensure those batteries are good and maybe replace them if need be with better lipo cells if possible, great video dude :) and all that surrounding the HDD looks like a NFC connector of some sort ;)
Maybe it will be a stupid question here, but can you make a video about laptop batteries (maintenance, using laptop while charging, charging overnight etc.) I think it will be interesting to watch it. Once again very nice channel, great things and content. Have a great day :)
Thanks Monkey. I really appreciate you taking the time to educate me on these things. I'll have to keep in mind mind in future Panasonic videos. May I ask how you become such a bearer of wisdom relating to these devices?
I'm having an issue with this unit shutting off unexpectedly. It seems okay plugged into the charger, the problem seems to only happen on battery. Any thoughts?
@@LaptopRetrospective It does give me an indication of battery life if I click on the battery icon in the task bar. I'm wondering if it could be a connection issue inside.
The hard drive casing looks like some kind of shock-absorbing device. If the connector were rigid, it could break if the device sustained a hard enough blow.
Hmmm. Sounds like a reasonable explanation. Thanks for your insights!
You can buy connectors that include the mounting screw. As it's a toughbook they have given you a means of turning an otherwise unsuitable friction fit usb connection into a securely fixed connection with a thumbscrew.
The connector's I've used also included a rubber seal that once connected and bolted in retained the dust and waterproofing too.
This is a very common use case for these devices and that HDD is shock, dust and water protected the flex cable connector is to prevent constant vibrations from breaking the connector's solder joints. This way the flex cable takes the strain not the hdd connector.
Thanks for the information! Really appreciate you taking the time to educate me on some of the advantages.
Here in Spain that model is used by the medical crews of the Public Health system in our Southern “states”. They’re quite sturdy...and completely unusable without the stylus!. At least, I’ve seen them handling really rough use for 6 years in a day to day basis, though We all thought back at work that “an Android tablet could outperform it”... and they were not cheap!
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing this information. They seem well built, but as you say, without that stylus...
Laptop Retrospective You’re welcome. Your videos rocks!!!
And yes. It is a rugger machine that cab withstand serious punishment, but the crew at work couldn’t help to think they were bought pretty overpriced. And the fell quite outdated even when they were new.
Have you even consider doing some videos about the Sony Vaio line of laptops? They were seen as a “premiun” once, though now they fell to relative obscurity.
@@lagunagfx Thanks Laguna, I'd review and teardown any laptop I can get my hands on, it has more to do with access than anything else. So one day you might see one if one comes my way.
Same in Australia, nurses use them with the help of iCare wich is a medication scheduling software.
Since this is the first review I have seen of yours, I would have to ask, do you ever read any documentation, Before you do a review? I have used this model Panasonic for many years and did not find the review very fair. If you take into account that this unit was designed for a specific type of use, I think you might find that the problems you had could be easily remedied by a brief read of documentation. This unit was designed for rough and tumble use on building sites and hospitals and similar. All it's features and drawbacks are due to this work environment. I have knocked my unit a couple of times off a 10 foot ladder onto a concrete floor and no problems, try that with most any other even reinforced laptop and it would, I bet not survive. For what these were built for they are excellent. You are right about the pen it is better but when properly calibrated the touch screen works well. Another test you might try with a comparable unit, drop it in a bucket of sheet rock mud and then use it the rest of the day waiting to clean it adequately till end of day. It might change the review.
Hi David, thanks for the feedback. I do generally read anything and everything available that I can find online and at the time of filming it wasn't a great deal. I'll also admit to not having a great deal of experience with this style of machine which will impact my view of the device, so I appreciate you giving me an opportunity to point that out. I hope if by chance you watch any other videos I've made that you will enjoy them more.
Iirc, that kind of connector is a zif drive, or something like that, was the drive PATA or SATA? And most zif drives used a variation on PATA including but not limited to CF, its always neat getting one, but finding one with the batteries and the stylus like you did is amazing, a laptop like this is weird but worth it for mild stuff, not too intensive gaming, but a great find honestly, and Its on my bucket list to own one of these and I'd ensure those batteries are good and maybe replace them if need be with better lipo cells if possible, great video dude :) and all that surrounding the HDD looks like a NFC connector of some sort ;)
Yeah I know a lot of these see a second life in auto shops for older diagnostic software.
These toughbooks seem so disassemble/reassemble-friendly. Usually I have nightmares about opening notebooks.
Lots of business class devices are designed to be serviced. Consumer grade however tends to be more disposable.
Maybe it will be a stupid question here, but can you make a video about laptop batteries (maintenance, using laptop while charging, charging overnight etc.) I think it will be interesting to watch it. Once again very nice channel, great things and content. Have a great day :)
Hmmm. Might not be a bad idea. I'll look into it.
That transparent thing is barcode scanner.
Ah cool!
Tough books have major issues with M$ installing generic drivers instead of the Panasonic custom drivers every tine there is an update.
That would make sense, but I couldn't even find a program on Panasonic's own website to start up the barcode reader.
Laptop Retrospective Panasonic has never provided software like that. Part of it is the intended audience for the toughbook line.
I see, so if I understand you correctly, they relied on third party devs to mostly write the software that would utilize the hardware they provided?
Laptop Retrospective yes. All Panasonic provides is drivers and the hardware for the options.
Thanks Monkey. I really appreciate you taking the time to educate me on these things. I'll have to keep in mind mind in future Panasonic videos. May I ask how you become such a bearer of wisdom relating to these devices?
Hello mate do u have drivers and these drawing... Application? How can i get them? Cheers
It's been years since I've had this on the table so I honestly don't remember but a few Google searches should get you what you need.
I'm having an issue with this unit shutting off unexpectedly. It seems okay plugged into the charger, the problem seems to only happen on battery. Any thoughts?
If it is only happening on battery then I suspect that is the culprit. Perhaps it isn't properly reporting remaining battery life?
@@LaptopRetrospective It does give me an indication of battery life if I click on the battery icon in the task bar. I'm wondering if it could be a connection issue inside.
@@northpostman Did you try to calibrate the battery?
@@nickserge9771 How would I do that?
Hi, you need touch and hold cross in bios screen calibration.
Cheers, thanks.
@@LaptopRetrospective no problem, also when you in Windows 10 Settings you can type in search box screen calibration works better than bios one
Woo been waiting
Thanks David. Hope you enjoy it.
Any idea where I could get a schematic for this?
Hi can u help me how do I enter the bios can u help me please
Should be F2 on those.
@@LaptopRetrospective f2? But this doesnt have keyboard, how can i access BIOS?
A keyboard can be plugged in and should be detected.
🤔 what kind of thinkpad is this?
Got bad news... 😆
that's one strange looking tablet 😂
Is a bit yeah.
Huh... interesting but not something i would want
My feelings exactly.
Panasonic WeirdBook
Not sure where the book part comes from. With the handle it's more like a bag. I imagine ToughBag didn't pass the marketing department.
@@LaptopRetrospective I wonder if the designers referred to these internally as the OddBook, haha. Great video as always!
Who knows. Glad you liked it Wes.