Buying a used CF-29, what to get now, what to upgrade later?

Well when my current laptop finally returns from the shop and I get it sold, I'm wondering what the get-it-now options are for a used CF-29. My current laptop has a 2.16Ghz Centrino, 2meg of ram and a DVD-RW.

I gather that the CF-29's processor is soldered in place rather than being in a zif socket. So the processor I get is the processor I have. I also understand that only the MK4's and MK5's with 256meg onboard ram can be upgraded with a 2gig stick. Other than the potential for upgrading the ram, will a person really notice the difference between the 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6?

Is finding a DVD-RW that fits a pita or expensive? If so I should probably look for one that already has it.

Are either the touchscreen or the backlit keyboard so cool that I should scrimp somewhere else so that I can afford one or both of these?

I'm just generally curious about what people here would consider the must-have's if they were getting a CF-29 for the first time and what they would just wait to upgrade later?

Thanks,
Keith

 

Psycholist, I have sent you a PM (you cannot yet, not enough posts). I may have something that would interest you.

 

On second thought, I cannot so please post your email in the personal info and I will get in touch.

 

And you also must check the box that allows members to send you email.

 

I think it all depends on how much modding you're comfortable doing - I think some guys here are comfortable doing a fair amount of soldering (more than me!)...

You can find stuff for the media bay for sale here and there, and sliding that in is no big deal. As for processors, if you think about it, 1.6 is 30% faster than 1.2... Yes, finding one with 256MB ram is good, so you can upgrade, but from what I've read that option is only on non-touchscreen models, so you have to make a tradeoff there (if touchscreen even matters to you). Also, the MK5 (and MK4 too, I think) have an SD card slot, which is nice. And personally, I'm a big fan of the backlit chiclet keyboard, and those generally aren't cheap to buy and add later.

Best Regards,
Aerik

 

If you can, get one with the OEM CD drive and caddy. It is not too hard to put an upgraded drive in it.
The keyboards are pretty easy to swap out as well, if you search you can find the emissive ones for a good price.

As far as processors, I have heard there is little observable performance difference between the different speeds. Though I have only used an MK3 and MK4. The MK4&5 have faster DDR2 memory, and if you get one with the onboard 256MB, the 2GB+ memory will make a much bigger difference in the snappiness and usability of the machine.

There have been 256MB touchscreen MK4&5s spotted on the bay. If you want touchscreen AND big memory (but do not fancy modding a machine) you can have that as well.



I decided I really liked the touchscreen, but wanted the high memory so I swapped the screen form my MK3 touch with my MK4 non-touch.
I also installed the emissive keyboard, really nice.
My optical drive is now a dual layer DVD burner w/ Lightscribe.
I would recommend installing the EnGenius EPM 8602 +s Wi-Fi card as well, great upgrade.

 

Since the 256Gb Base RAM Mk4 and Mk5 machines are NON-Touchscreen from the factory a unit so equipped is likely a "FrankenBook".

I have two Touchscreen-equipped Toughbooks: a Mk2 (CF-29EWPNZBM) and a Mk3 (CF-29HTM50BM), but my Mk5 (CF-29NDLGFBM) is NON-Touchscreen.

While Touchsceeen is nice, unless you have a software package that is "Touchscreen-friendly" (or -required) I really don't see the "need" (Yea; I know: It's not about the "need", but the "want!" ).

YMMV.

 

Exactly, I like the touchscreen and want it. I now look for touch friendly applications to add to it.
Yes the ones on eBay are modded, (many are in one way or another) like I did with mine here. I was letting him know that the option is out there if one is not comfortable doing the work themselves.

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I've gotten hold of Silver Trooper and I'm definitely interested in a couple of the systems he has. I'd like to keep hearing opinions though, at least until I've actually purchased something.

Keith

Oh, TopCop1988, you say that one needs touchscreen aware applications to take advantage of it. I was under the impression it would work to control the mouse, sort of a large scale version of a touchpad with a screen underneath. Is this not the case?

 

Correct it is just an alternate mouse input.
Though it is nice to have apps "optimized" or designed for touchscreens e.g. large icons and buttons. It can be a little difficult "pushing" small "buttons" that are designed with standard mouse/trackpad input in mind.

 

The CF-29HTM50BM I just bought came with a lowly CD-ROM. I found a Toshiba TS-L632 8x DVD-RW on Fleabay for $15.50 shipped.

So, no.

 

Check the housing on the optical drive. My CF-29HTM50BM came with some kind of after-market housing, which so far has only worked with factory master drives.
Instead of having the Panasonic labeled metal housing covering the top, there is only a plastic base with the bare drive mounted.
I ended up getting a factory drive to mount a DVD burner in.

 

The optical drive caddy I received with my unit does not have a cover but works fine. The CD-ROM that was sent with the unit actually has a tiny master/slave/cable select switch on the back. It was set to CS. I figured I would have to perform the DVD solder mod on this site for the DVD-RW. I guess it's set to master. I plugged it in and it works perfect (does not effect boot).

 

You misunderstood my meaning of the word "need".

I did not intend to establish the perception of "if you don't have touchscreen-dependent applications you don't "need" the touchscreen."

Far from it !!!

It's just that while I don't have a necessary "need" I have an untameable "want!"

That's why I am looking for a CF-29 "Partsbook" with a touchscreen I can "Frankenbook" onto my NON-Touchscreen CF-29NDLGFBM.

(Hang around here long enough and you will learn a new language: "Toughbookian". ).

Feel free to contribute to the terminology of "Toughbookian." :yes:

And finally, welcome to "Toughbookia."

 

Having the incorrect drive type will not affect boot. Nor will it affect usage in Windows.
However you will not be able to boot to optical media if the BOIS does not recognize it as a master e.g. no booting to install or live CD's. The caddy you have sounds like the one I have, so as far as I can tell it is not modable to use with non factory master drives.

 

I guess this Toshiba DVD-RW must be a master. I just booted to a DSL 4.4.10 Linux CD without any problem. Dodged that bullet.

 

During bootup press the Fn2 key to access the BIOS: if it is a master it will show as "Secondary Master: CD/DVD Drive".

 

I'm presently typing this on my "Amalgabook". Less offensive to monsters and the like.

 

Almagabook, love it!

 

As a dues-paying Monster Guild member, just thought I'd point out that I'm NOT THE LEAST BIT OFFENDED by the term "FrankenBook"... remember, the real monster there was Dr. Frankenstein himself, not his creation.

Amusing to note... now that NTTD has made this quote part of his Sig, the quote now precedes the original post in THIS, THE ORIGINATING THREAD.

Kinda like Déjà vu...... Kinda like Déjà vu...... Kinda like Déjà vu...

mnem
Whoa. Déjà vu...
A black cat went past us, and then another that looked just like it.
How much like it? Was it the same cat?

 

I'll just call it "Frank" so as not to offend monsters that are not offended.

I love words. Amalgamate has a synonym "Alloy" which is a term used in the scientific definition of magnesium and therefore the case of the Toughbook is an AMALGAMATION despite what we do to it.

Sorry, just trying to be frank.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

I'll just call it "Frank" so as not to offend monsters that are not offended.

I love words. Amalgamate has a synonym "Alloy" which is a term used in the scientific definition of magnesium and therefore the case of the Toughbook is an AMALGAMATION despite what we do to it.

Sorry, just trying to be frank.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: