CF-28 UK newbie and what newbies can expect

I was thinking of buying a CF-72 but, after reading these forums, decided a CF-28 was more expensive but much more of a toy.
So here's a post sort of condensing everythng I needed to know to get things set up the way I wanted and learn about my new toy

Being in the UK the choice of CF-28 is fairly limited secondhand - you get the odd few going for 250-300GBP (375-450USD) with bad batteries, missing port covers, missing caddies etc, and mainly MkI non touchscreen. The odd bargain around 300GBP that is decent.
Even CF-27 sell for 70-120GBP (100-180USD)


So I bit the bullet and bought a MkII touchscreen CF-28 from capt.dogfish as the MkII takes more ram and appears more expandable friendly.
Specs were basic with 30gb hd, no extra ram, but to include wifi and cd.

These just fit snugly inside the standard USPS parcel
If you're ordering abroad from the UK, then expect to pay Customs duty and vat, plus the courier company handling charge of 8GBP.
Couriers like UPS handle everything and claim cash/cheque on your doorstep when they deliver.
USPS link with Parcelforce who can take a while to write a letter saying you have a package with charges payable, but, if you know the tracking number, you can claim the parcel at the regional depot without that letter and get the item quicker.


So it arrives in good condition and fairly quickly given that Customs can take a day or two to process things.
Bonus of a good battery and a good quality Kensington power supply.
My kid is really impressed with the touchscreen, so it's now the coolest laptop on the block.
It's got WinXP Pro, but I'm going to be loading my legitimate XP home.
Boots up out of the box - excellent - locks into my home wifi quickly and up and running in a few minutes as I wanted to be.


First things first:
Let's see what you need to know from the faq..because you will have read all 90 odd pages of forum too?

Flipping it over and taking off the battery,hdd cover with the two catches by the handle

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3549/3458685441_8f4cf86ff8_o.jpg

On the left (under what is the rhs palmrest) is the hard drive in the caddy.
On the right is the battery.


The battery will pull out to reveal the external ram slot, and the old rim board if you have one (this doesn't). It does show the wifi flag antenna that is attached to the corner where there is a gap in the metal.
This is also a good place for an external antenna using a RP-SMA adapter through the plastic.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3459499446_e777aab0e4_o.jpg


So let's put in some ram.
Kingston KTM-TP133/512 (30GBP, 45USD) as recommended..a quick reboot and now 256MB board ram with 512MB expansion for 768MB

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3526/3459499762_b104c07932_o.jpg


Under the hard drive we have a 3COM lan/modem combi card on the outside and a wifi card on the inside. This is what it should look like once you junk the separate lan and modem cards.
You can see where the u.fl connector from the flag antenna connects onto the wi-fi card.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3575/3459499344_5a03a25440_o.jpg


Now for the rumoured 'secret' pcmcia slot under these cards.
Undo the screw of the plastic lan/modem side cover which is inside the pcmcia cover, and the screw that is deeply recessed to the side of the 3COM card.
If you don't have a magnetic screwdriver, then a small glob of glue on the screwdriver bit will hold the screw so you don't lose it into the internals.
Prise the plastic cover off from the pcmcia side - be careful as the wires to the lan/modem are short and thin - these can be unclipped.
This reveals the hidden pcmcia if you can find a use for it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3588/3458685567_a2d6e5b948_o.jpg


In my case the normal pcmcia slots also held a bonus of a USB2.0 card


Before I reload WinXP, let's put in a bigger hard drive.
The glorious Samsung HM160HC
Follow "CF-28 101 - How to change your hard drive"
(Capt could have put the drive informe, but this is the best way to learn for yourself).

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=188522

Bios recognises 131GB of the 160GB.


So let's install WinXP fresh with a valid license.
Download all the drivers from www.toughbookdrivers.com
(When you extract these they give a readme of the order of how to install them all, and how to overcome error message with video card drivers).
Find your wifi drivers at www.driverguide.com
WinXP sees 131MB too, so i let it partition that.
SP2 loaded up.
Then drivers.
intel inf, then video (along with error message),then modem, then hotkey, then touchscreen, then sound, then DMI, then another hotkey.
Then wifi drivers
Next up is AVG and Zonealarm


Then a wireless Logitech Nano mouse.
The nano receiver is too big to go onto the USB2.0 pcmcia with the door closed, but does fit onto the rear 1.1 port with the flap closed.
WinXP autoloads drivers and works out of the box.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3661/3459499858_6eae721ff9_o.jpg


That's it.


Comments:
We have an Intel duo laptop that runs hot around the hdd (maybe 50degC?) and is fairly noisy with the cooling fan cutting in and out.
The CF-28 is virtually silent and super cool - maybe 30degC
Ok, the PIII isn't super fast, but they are perfect day to day internet machines.


What next?
I would like an external antenna where the flag currently is, or maybe drill out the modem port and put it there?
Maybe a 3G pcmcia datacard with external aerial for internet out in the wilds.
Will d/l Stellarium (night sky program) so can have laptop outside with telescope (one reason for a rugged laptop)
Will swap out cd drive for a cd-r/w I got cheap - maybe do the R202 hack and put in a generic slimline DVD-r/w


Thanks again to capt.dogfish for a quick and smooth international trade, and a good quality machine with all port covers and a good battery.

 

Why the heck do we have a 26th, "I just bought a CF-28 and this is everything you need to know thread?" We've had a lot of talented people put together stickies. The whole thing is... If you want to know "Everything there is to know" about the CF-28... Or anything for that matter... You must READ! Yes... The stickies have links to several other threads... That is the way it is done... Short of writing a novel.

 

A couple of coments

When the bios will not see the full size of the hard drive you must always partition

Windows xp sp2 and sp3 should see that drive at 149gb if the bios supports
large hard drives

Just make sure that you partition to smaller size before installing the o/s

Alex