CF-28 Keyboard options

Hi, I have an old CF-28 that I have used for a long time until I upgraded to the 30's I'm going to give it to my nephew, but the biggest complaint with it is I have the backlit rubber keyboard, and it's a real to type on. You have to really mash them suckers down. Can they get dirty underneath or something? I can't imagine they were that awful new.

So can the internals be cleaned? is it worth it? Is there another keyboard that is compatible (cf-30 backlit) that can be swapped out?

Thanks all-knowing Toughbook peeps.

 

No, they were just that bad when new. Great for around water, suck for typing. You can get a standard white keyboard, black CF-29 keyboard or emissive keyboard. The emissive keyboard for that model won't light up with out a special daughter card, but works fine for typing.

 

Standard gray keyboards from CF-72 will fit CF-28 and can often be found on the auction site for cheap under $10. You have to carefully pry off the old keyboard which has double sided tape, and remove the small panel underneath. Just be *very* careful with the ribbon cable connectors on the motherboard - they are fragile and if they break you're toast.

 

THanks!

Hey, in my search for those, I found these! Pretty cool!

CF VKBL01 VKBL01M Keyboard PDRC Toughbook Chicago CF 28 Emissive Backlit | eBay

 

Jolly... You need a special keyboard inverter for those... I don't think those will work in yours unless you already have the plastic emissive in your CF-28...

 

The keyboard from that link should work. I had no trouble before swapping one from one of those units to my first CF-28 that had a standard keyboard. I just didn't add the special board needed for it to light up, but everything else will work.

 

I also need to remove a CF-28 keyboard, but couldnt because it was sticky fast to the plastic. But now i read this : "double sided tape" , i might give it another try.

 

Sorry about that... Yes, it will work for you to type one... It just will not light up without the inverter...