CF-29 Question MK3 vs MK5

Hey guys hope your all getting off to a good start in 2010

couple of ?s I'm thinking of upgrading to a 29 my 28 runs perfect a tad slow but otherwise fine, the screen indoors is fine but i need a TB to ride with me at all times & that screen wont cut it . The screen on my T400 at 680 nits is awesome but it can't handle the rigors of travel.

I'm thinking all 29s are 500 nit ? I,ve seen ads boasting 1000 nits for some 29s I know I can find the truth here, however high nit alone doesn't make for great outdoor viewing & I don't know anyone who has one I can personally view so please CHIME IN .

As for the 3 vs 5 how much difference is there between 1.4 & 1.6 Ghz in these two models ? I don't have to have one right now, so if the MK4&5 s are that much faster i'll wait till summer & see if the price comes down . I may or may not use it on the net, I do want it to run my software pretty quick.

I might add none of the other forums are as knowledgeable nor as helpful as this one

 

I have seen a noticable inprovement upgrading from the cf-28 to the cf-29

All of the cf-29's are 500 nit, over approx 400 nit for the 28 series

If you want quick then the mk4 or 5 series is the model to buy

The cf-30 is the model with the 1000nit screen, but only in the touchscreen version

 

Tom's pretty much right on... Though I think the touchscreen models of the CF-28 were lower NIT... Or at least they seemed to be.

I really don;t think you'll see much difference in performance in the MK3 VS MK4 or 5... Max out the RAM, get a good, new hard drive and get at it. However... The MK4/5 has advantages over the lower models with an extra USB slot in the back and an SD card slot.... The MK5, 1.6GHz has the TPM in the BIOS too.

But if all you care about is a daily driver with a good screen... Just make sure you buy from a reputable source with a KNOWN working touchscreen (If that is your bag) and the rest s up to you... You can buy them truly refurbished, you can buy them where they are said to be refurbished but are actually not.... And you can buy a used one and do the work yourself. If you're handy... Do it yourself. It always feels better to know that YOU have done the work and you learn in the process.... Plus you have a team devoted to helping others right here!

What is your budget for this?

 

Thanks men . Tom basically you're saying the 28 has about a 100 nit screen if i read you correctly. I know outdoors is not the 28s strong suite.

Rick , yes i think my real need is just a good daylight screen in a good durable package which i already know the Toughbook is miles ahead of anything else in that department , are the processor's in the 29s noticeably faster over my MK3 CF28 ? & is the 29 screen truly readable outdoors ? Rick I sent you a pm about my budget , and yes I do enjoy tinkering a little but I'll leave the surgery to you and the Tinkerdwagon..

"For those that can do."

 

I will expand on the answers given

The lcd panels between the touchscreen and non-touchsreen are identical
The added touchscreen panel in front of the lcd is not totally clear ,so you have a small loss in actual brightness
That is true for cf-28’s and cf-29’s as I have compared them side by side

Each Toughbook generation gets better outdoor viewability
The latest model cf-19 mk-3 specs out at 1200nits

Alex

 

Intresting Tomcat thanks, my 28 is a touch and it works great but I don't really use it much at all so think I'll go for the non touch.

 

Leon,

The price at Tiger sounds good for what you are getting... As I said... I'd be more than happy to image a disk for your specs.... Just let me know.

 

I pulled the trigger on the 29 Rick & sent you a pm . You know seems I read somewhere about a slipery slope into Toughbookdom ,,its addicting I'm alreadying thinking hmm do I want to sell my 28 ? It has already came in handy and saved my rear end ..Sell/No keep/Sell

Alex 1200 nits GEEZ guess you could always use it as a heater in winter , be sure and put on your sun glasses before you crank it wide open

 

Then there is the PDRC - Permanent Display Removable Computer -- at 1200 nits. It's only a touchscreen and keyboard that is driven by the (Toughbook) computer of your choice. Can get a used PDRC for $200 or so and hook it up to your CF-28, CF-29, or the CF-30 you'll be buying some day ...

 

1250 Nits Springfield
C/W (7) backlights and (7) backlight invertors
I have a couple of those around as well

Alex

 

sorry to hijack the thread, but is the pdrc weatherproof? and where can you get hold of a set for $200?!

 

No, the VDL01 and the VDL02 (PDRC displays) are any thing but weather proof! The front of the display is pretty much splash proof, but the back is wide open. You can find them on eBay every now and then for a good price.
CAP

View attachment CF-VDL02.pdf

Here's a picture of the VDL02 open to show the inverters.

 

Keep your eyes on ebay
They come up once and a while, although they are quite rare
They cost $1700 new c/w the keyboard so its not unusual to see them sell for a lot more than $200 used
There was a batch for sale about 15 months ago that me and Cap were fighting over and I bought 8 total from one seller
I have only one left , I have sold all the others and I am looking for them again
I will pay $200 for them as I can sell the VDL02 for $450

Nice picture Cap
Thats why these are so costly new


Alex