Advise Me B4 I Buy....

I was looking into getting a toughbook eventually for my personal use (yes ya'll have converted me) and being the toughbook newbie that I am and looking at all the different models there are, I would like to get some feedback from some of the pros on here to what I should look into getting. I figure a toughbook would last longer in the halls of a busy college than a Pavillion DV8000.
I will mostly be using it for programming and maybe some web editing.

Dan

P.S. - what are the pros and cons of the the touchscreen vs. a digitizer?

 

These forums are really starting to test my freakin' patience!!! GAH!! nonetheless I posted Dans topic here: http://toughbooktalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=123

Here is my response:

Now I will respond lol

Touchscreen you can use anything you want on it (finger, pen or any other body part (your palm for example can interfere with signing something on a normal touchscreen). Touchscreen models (on the CF-30) offer 1000 nit screens (nit = measure of brightness - the higher the brighter)

Digitizer is basically a tablet PC and has the tablet PC input pen in order to use it (can't use your finger for example)... Good for signing digital papers for example. These models usually only go up to 500 nits (half that of the touchscreen model).

Personally if you don't need a fully rugged model - For example if you don't foresee dropping it from 3+ feet, or don't plan on going swimming with it lol I would consider a CF-52 as those are the most powerfully toughbooks you can get that still have a handle on them (my buddy just picked up one for $1370 for a 2.26GHz model here: http://toughbooktalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=100). Obviously no-one would forsee dropping a computer from 3+ feet but consider what you are using it for. I for example have a fully rugged model because I'm in the the IT industry and frequently use this computer while on a ladder taking notes. I also like doing a lot of outdoorsy stuff like camping and can't risk it getting destroyed while getting wet from being in a tent or from being rained on lol. (Yes I take my toughbook with EVERYWHERE mostly for music and finding out things on the internet with the Sprint card while on the go)

If you want a fully rugged model I would recommend the CF-30. They are expensive as hell but work so damn good.

The CF-19's are CONSIDERBLY smaller than the 30's and the 52's and have great battery life as well - they have an 80% sized keyboard - so keep that in mind if you plan on typing lots of papers that that might suck (at least for me it would).


At this point I would try to stay away from a CF-29 or CF-18 only because they are much much older (the 30's and 19's have been out for more than 3 years now) and are much slower because they aren't dual core CPU's. I had a CF-29 for MANY years before upgrading to a CF-30 and don't regret it AT ALL because the CF-30 is sooooo much faster!!

As for the keyboard - I personally have an emissive backlit keyboard so it can be used at night (it doesn't take any more battery life at all) and because it's easy to type on. S.C.R.E.W the rubber backlit ones - nice because they are sealed from sand and debrees etc... but once again - ask yourself - will you take your computer into the sand pit?? lol

Well that is one page. Any more specific questions just ask!

 

Great input!!

I was gonna post this on your forum too but I had to get my babies ready for bed and lost track of what I was doin... woopsie!!

I thought about not getting a fully rugged one because I don't plan on going to war with one or anything. I will definetely be looking up the 52 tomorrow after i get some coffee in me. Until then everyone feel free to chime in, the more opinions I have, the better educated I will be with my purchase. Thanks much.

Dan

 

What are you expecting to spend? about $1400 or more like $2500?

 

Lots of good models Dan
For a real portable unit look at the cf18 and cf-19
The less portable ,but lighter than the cf-29's that you are used to are the cf-74 series
Thats the model that I have

 

Ah, but what about the dangers of the usual hazardous office environment? Yesterday I spilled an apparently well-shaken bottle of Coke over my CF-19. I had to take it all the way to the restroom to rinse it under the water tap. With a rubber keyboard there would have been no danger of the key mechanics becoming sticky. At least I didn't have to turn the machine off.

 

Well the budget I have in my head is $1500 and $2000

 

I'd say get a CF-52 then

 

What kind of add-ons are good to get with the 52?

 

hrrrm... I donno.. My buddy owns ones (I do not)... any others for add ons?

 

Bluetooth, SmartCard reader and fingerprint reader are about the only options on the 52. No GPS available OEM. However, you have both PCMCIA slots, the SD card slot and the four USB 2.0. You also have the option of three different screens, two 15.4 with different resolutions and a 13.3 Touchscreen. With the Touchscreen model, you also get two neat red LED's that light the keyboard like mini spotlights (since there is no lighted keyboard and the one from the 28/29 will not fit).

 

They can still handle GPS though, right? even though it isn't offered OEM

 

You'd most likely have to either mod it in yourself or use a BT or USB GPS on that one I think.

I've played with the 50 series... But you can't beat fully rugged. (And I bet you could get a deal on one!) The CF-29, 1.6GHz model would be great for you. You could get an media bay battery to push your battery times to over 5-6 hours. Plus you also know if the SHTF that you would always be able to have your laptop.

 

Would it be worth it to get a cf30? or would the cf29 run most programming applications fine?

 

Depending on your exact curriculum, I suspect that any of the P4M and newer toughbooks (18/19/29/30) would do fine for most college level programming tasks. However, I'd suggest an 18/19 just for the portability factor. The 29/30 get HEAVY after lugging dragging around all day, and the smaller size is really convenient if you're working in a location that's less than optimal (Coffee Shops, etc.) Heck, when I was in school, we had lecture halls that only had little flip-up desks on the sides of the chairs. I'm not sure I'd want to try to balance a full-size laptop on one of those. (of course, that was long enough ago that only very few had laptops).

nine

 

I was looking at the 18s and 19s but the keyboard is just too small for my big hands. I felt retarded trying to type out some code on those things

 

@ Psycho:
unless you study extreme conditions survival in your college, fully rugged model of toughbook might be... a little too tough?

Take a look at so called business-rugged models. They are protected enough IMHO, and at the same time pretty light and have very nice battery life.

 

Well I put the college point in there because I will be using it for college work but I will also take with with me when I start to travel alot. The only reason Rick brought up the fully rugged models is because I sell alot of them


EDIT: I would just settle with one of my 29s but frankly I'm tired of looking at them

 

If you are ok with the weight,
then the cf-30
Less weight cf-52 or cf-74
Really portable cf-f8


Alex

 

This is not correct - Although it appears that it has two PCMCIA slots, it actually has ONE and the other is 54 express slot (they are one on top of the other). This is how it is in my buddy's 2.26 CF-52 that he just got.

The CF-30 is the same way (1x PCMCIA & 1x Express 54) (only side by side instead of double stacked, which I personally like better especially for cards that stick up such as broadband cards)

 

Don't the CF-30s have the built-in broadband capabilities? I think it was called GOBI or something like that

 

Yessum... but that can cost lots extra... lots of people don't wanna pay $500 for a GOBI card... I don't' have the GOBI - just the normal WWAN card for the WWAN ready model (I have a CQQAXBM model) (with dual pass through as well) and I spent about $420 for the card ... that was almost 3 years ago though...

The new models don't use this - they use GOBI instead - just a different type that's all. The GOBI's are coming in the new mark 3's - I have a Mark 1

 

I'm usually just on WLAN anyway, well until I start traveling. I'm heading out to Germany at the end of the year or next year, that should be interesting

 

If you're going to Europe for sure get ATT because Sprint and Verizon will NOT work in Europe.

 

Thanks for the Heads up. I have 3 different phone services right now and i'm about to bundle this crap because i keep forgetting to pay one of them. lol

 

This is what automatic payments are for ... then you have to set up automatic payments to pay the credit card you put it on

 

You are very correct, but then that is 3 service charges. but then again that's better than the reconnect fee that i pay about every month. haha

It's sad to think that at the age of 24 I feel like i need a personal assistant

Dan

 

I needed a personal assistant at age 17! LOL... I've PMed you through my forums since this forum is slow as crap + I keep getting damn 404 errrors.

*all hail the fast/reliable server*

 

Somebody told me that "404...." is their new site. LOL... Its getting crappy everyday for the last two month and to what they published has virus problem and then memory prob. What the hell are they doing just seeing it happened? No action plan



ohlip

 

I emailed them telling that that I'm a IT guy that manages THOUSANDS of HUGE sites and server and told them that if they need help I can provide help...

ehhh!! They won't listen I'm sure!

 

It's ok Rob. They have plenty of crap to deal with right now. Drink a case of beer and enjoy your upcoming vacation.

Dan

 

So I'm torn between the CF-30 and the CF-52.

What's the weight difference in the 2, and the difference in screen brightness in the sun. (I like to do alot of my schoolwork outside, it's very relaxing)

I know the cf-30 is a bulky SOB but the 52 looks like it would be the same size with the 13.3" touchscreen model

Anyone got any more suggestions?

 

I have not been able to afford a CF-30 (yet), but I do have the CF-52 (as I stated previously). I like my CF-29 (will do until the CF-30), but I use the 52 as a desktop substitute with an external monitor (emachines 18.5 I got for $79 from TigerDirect). Bottom line, I think both are great for different reasons. How do YOU want to use your Toughbook? If you are not in a situation where you need the extra "toughness", the 52 should serve you well. If you are constantly exposing the laptop to the elements, then go with the 30. One last thing to consider, the performance is fairly equal between the two, but the 52 should be considerably less expensive (all that extra toughness costs money you know!). Good luck and enjoy!

 

I was actually considering everything you said before you said it Glad you spoke up to reinforce what I was already thinking and the way I see it is that I don't really have much to justify going with the CF-30, other than it's pure awesomeness (yes i have an awesomeness scale), and the price between the 2 is substantial enough to where awesomeness just can't be the deciding factor. So I believe I will be going with the 52. Until the day, many moons from now I'll get a CF-30 also.....just because Everyone thanks for your input on the matter.

Dan

 

I too have an awesomeness scale; several actually. They run down my back, right between my wings...

mnem
Somebody STOP me... *SNARRRF!*

 

Dan
You are correct on the bulk of the cf-30,it is even thicker that the cf-29's that you are used to
Look at the cf-74 as well as the cf-52, its a good model aswell


Alex

 

I don't think I ever asked but do the 74s and 52s have the SATA drives. being as new of a model as they are I would imagine that they would but I figured it be best to ask the experts. And what's the largest hard drive they can support

Dan

 

The newer models all use sata hard drives and no limitation on size and ddr2 ram max 4gb

Alex