Panasonic's popular Toughbook line of laptops will get a new addition to the family in August with the company?s introduction of the Toughbook CF-U1 ? a rugged Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC). Though the tablet-style UMPC might be small Panasonic packs decent features into the rugged system that has a starting price of $2500.
For starters the CF-U1 completely fan-less, uses a solid state hard drive, and features the power-efficient Intel Atom CPU (can be configure with either the 1.33GHz or 533MHz). The Atom processor aids in the UMPC's ability to give the CF-U1 an impressive 9 hours of battery life. The solid state16GB drive also helps make the UMPC less susceptible to hardware malfunctions due to drops and vibrations.
The CF-U1 weighs in at 2.3lbs. and measures 7.2 x 5.9 x 2.2 inches. The Toughbook that Panasonic says is "engineered for the walking workerz" also packs a 5.6" LED touch screen optimized for viewing in direct sunlight. Other options include a 2-megapixel built-in camera, support for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 3G-mobile-broadband services. For the security minded there are options to add a fingerprint scanner and a barcode and RFID readers.
I worked for CompUSA old and new for a total of 6 years. I finally had to leave this place this month. With the rush to reopen stores, and lack of advertising, I do not see how they will stay in business much longer. The CEO Gilbert thought that he was getting a brand name in CompUSA, boy was he wrong!The former CEO, Roman Ross, sure sold that statement to Gilbert. WOW. Sorry Gilbert, you got owned on that one. In all markets where the 16 CompUSA stores reopened, Gilbert should have renamed the stores Tiger Direct Retail and I can guarantee ALL of the stores would have shown triple digit opening numbers. Now, with the CompUSA name, and alot of the same CompUSA old Staff on board, the same practices that doomed the old Compusa are still in the pipeline. All NEW managemnt staff needs to be hired, and a private consulting firm needs to assess and give feedback to how to actually run a retail computer store.Becasue of Manufacturer Greed, They have about 1 to 2 % margins on the units and at that margin, you need to run efficiently as possible. Beware of the new CompUSA return Policy also, it is terrible. They will not take back ANY computer, even if it is defective, you have to deal with the manufacturer directly. If you buy one of their expensive extended warranties, same deal, you will deal with the manufacturer for the first year, so whats the point of spending 249.99 on a 499.99 laptop so I can get an extra 1 additional year of warranty on a product that will be outdated in a year anyhow? HHMM What a sham. The pay plans for retail are 2 percent of the PROFITT on the items sold and 15% for the warranties. For the business sales team, it is 18% of the profitt and 25% of warranties. Retail is getting screwed! Now, The CEO mandated that all breakrooms in the company be closed to employees and you must now go out and leave the property to eat lunch. The company regularly works employees off the clock and does not give breaks of any kind. The CEO comes from Online and really needs to learn how to run a retail store, pay people what they are worth, and make company policies that benefit the employees, not punish them. I finally have moved on from the CompUSA corporate machine, and am sure glad I finally did. Stay away from the Machine!