Panasonic Toughbook CF-Y5

There are some omissions elsewhere too: there's no HSDPA card, and getting one means an entirely different SKU of the CF-Y5, with an increased price of £1,912 (£2,247 inc VAT). External ports are also limited - having just two USB ports is inconvenient, and the only video-out option is D-SUB. Then there's the price. Dell's superb Latitude D620 may not be as sturdy and weighs 2.4kg, but it also costs half as much, as well as packing in HSDPA, twice the hard disk capacity and a much faster CPU.

Nevertheless, the CF-Y5's plus points - excellent battery life, rugged design and light weight - can't be ignored. If you've broken laptops before because of clumsy travel habits or an unusually violent commute, the CF-Y5 is certainly worth considering.

Author: Dave Stevenson