Panasonic ToughBook S9 Review

The ToughBook S9 has an unremarkable black lid, with ridges on either side of the center, and a simple silver body. Weighing in at 3 pounds even, it is lighter than many other competing business models, and even some netbooks. Part of the reason for this uncommonly light weight is that the body is made with the thinnest magnesium alloy available. While the case can easily be mistaken for plastic, it is more durable than acrylic alternatives and can withstand around 220 pounds of compression before beginning to buckle. Naturally, we tested this by standing on it, and the system held up perfectly

The lid itself flexes noticeably when twisted. Panasonic assures us this is an intentional accommodation for times when some flex is preferable to damage to the laptop, such as when it's stowed in an overhead bin on a plane. Indeed, when we twisted the screen past what would typically be a breaking point for comparable machines, the S9 sprung back without any damage.