MusicRadar Verdict
Sturdy but not completely safeguarded in all conditions, this is nevertheless a well-built laptop
Pros
- +
Robust design. Decent performance. Good battery life
Cons
- -
Basic feature set
MusicRadar's got your back
The Panasonic Toughbook range is best known for its fully-ruggedised industrial laptops. However, the CF-52 (£1551 inc. VAT) takes a slightly different approach.
Its semi-rugged casing can be used on building sites and site maintenance, but won't offer the same degree of protection as some more specialised laptops.
The main difference is a lack of bulk and, while the ports have rubber stoppers to protect from dust and water, this isn't a sealed unit. You'll find exposed elements, such as the optical drive and SD card reader lacking protection.
The design is simple and looks like a standard issue briefcase. The body is made from magnesium-alloy and is incredibly sturdy.

"It’s a piece of music software history": ReCycle gets recycled as Reason Studios makes the classic sample editor available as a free download

“The verse tricks you into thinking that it’s in a certain key and has this ‘simplistic’ musical language, but then it flips”: Charli XCX’s Brat collaborator Jon Shave on how they created Sympathy Is A Knife

“I’ve seen a million faces and I’ve rocked them all!”: Was Bon Jovi’s 1989 acoustic performance really the inspiration for MTV Unplugged?