Another Newbie, more questons.

Hi forum,
This is my first post, but I've been lurking here for about a week since I got my 28. I've got a CF28PBJGZQM, I don't exactly know what it came with as I haven't figured out exactly what some of the configurator page options are stating, but I have a PIII 800/256 on board ram, 30 Gb 5400rpm hd. modem, lan, and no hidden pcmcia card, and no daughter board, 12.1" w/ touchscreen, and a backlit rubber keyboard, floppy, cd/rw-dvdrom (on the way) no pop out antenna (however the mount is there, but capped off with a plug). Missing the ac port cover, and rear cover.

And now for a few questions regarding some of the posts and projects I have read about here.

1. Can a 13" touchscreen be simply swapped out with the 12"? provided the whole bezel and whatnot came with it, or from a parts machine?

2. Will the PB (800 mhz) 28 use more than 256megs. of memory? I saw on the Pana... site about a bios flash, but it stated that it was for the mach iii (1000 Mhz.) model. Is there s separate flash for the mach ii, or will the one mentioned work?

3. I'm very interested in the internal GPS project that is evolving here, and there is a link to tig...dir... .com for a replacement daughter board. Does anyone have one of these? Is it actually what I need to proceed with the project? Does anyone know for sure?

4. Is it considered rude to ask if anyone has extra parts they are willing to sell? 'Cuz I'm looking for a daughter board (for the GPS and a rear cover.


Well, that's about all I can think of right now, but I'm sure I'll have more as time goes by. Now that I've got the first post out of the way I'll be polite and make up separate threads for different questions, but the initial Q's needed to come out all at once, you know the story, new toy, excited, can't stop typing.......

 

I'm sure P3 boards can support more than 256mb of RAM.

 

I can answer 1 and 2 easily.

1; Yes, you can swap over the 12" to a 13" screen, as long as you have the whole assembly. However, make sure if you use an 800MHz parts machine, because the cables from a 600 are inverted lengths so they won't fit without some cutting.

2; I have 768MB in my 800. Just get the latest BIOS flash, and use the right RAM.

3 and 4 I can give you a vague answer.

3; I don't know if that board is right or not, somebody did buy one and is gonna let us know. We are working on other options that don't involve that daughterboard though.

4; Ask away, but no guarantees you'll get an answer or the parts.

 

tb4me... Welcome to the forum! Remember... The only stupid question is the one you DON'T ask. Flaming is very rare in this particular forum so don't worry about that. Ask away.

My advice? It sounds like you are off to a great start! Read, read, read... Try the search button first but if you don't see what you are looking for... Post a new thread. Feel free to start a "I need these parts" thread but you might start off by telling us what you need here. The easiest place to go for parts is obviously ebay... Though they can charge an arm and a leg for parts. You can also try www.heartlandsi.com or call them at 888-laptop5. (It may be 877 or 800 though) I just bought a load of parts from them. Stuff you can't find on ebay... The rubber feet, the LCD bumpers, stuff like that. The parts were surprisingly cheap! But then they killed me on shipping and handling! So I guess it's a trade-off.

Welcome to the Toughbook club and happy modding!

 

Thanks guys,
I appreciate the replies. I found that I already have the correct bios version, according to one of the more respected members posts (?? Modly ??) I think he supplied the link in the post which coincided with the version installed. (for the 512 megs ram issue.) Must be wrong type of chip. This is a great group and I look forward to many fine projects, and much reading through the winter.

 

You MUST respect a guy who drives a hearse!

 

Um......Yeah

 

I hope he's not a back-seat driver

 

Heh, I tell y'all, nobody screws with me if I'm in that thing. If I want to change lanes... The entire lane is clear.


I suppose they just don't want a corpse in their windshield or something.

 

hey do you know the guy around here that has the cavalier hearse? i saw it going up I75 several years back, it was the funniest thing i ever saw. he did a really good job with it but you could still tell it was a cavalier!

 

I've heard of it, but never saw it. I have seen some weird cars though at our shows.

 

nah... but a guy who drives a hearse with a Kodiak mounted toughbook? Now that's a different story!