CF-29mk5 (Project) Vs. CF-30mk1 (Used)

I have my 3 years old CF-29 mk5 that I use for work (mostly in the truck) as a Nanvigator. I have GSM connection so I receive my email/fax, and use Skype as VoIP camera phone. I also have WebRadio as an internet radio and more. All of these running from a software that called CentraFuse.

So, I'm working on upgrading my CF-29 mk5, here is what I did so far:
I installed a mic to my mk5 folowing the thread here on this forum.
I removed all the parts needed for WWAN from mk2 to my mk5. (it cost me $800 for the mk2 but i sold it on ebay for $600 a year ago)
Also, bought a Bluetooth mini USB (I think it was $2 two years ago)
Next, I bought an extra caddy ($65) on ebay to install Windows 7 (I don't want to lose my setup on the corrent HD)
I also bought the SATA converter ($7.35 on ebay-link was found here on this forum. thanks) to install a larger HD, I see there is a 500GB SATA HD on ebay for $67.00.
I just Purchased a WWAN HSDPA sled for $160 it is unlocked, but I have a different mini PCIe modem with a GPS (MC8781) that I bought for $40 on ebay and I'm going to swap it as soon as I get it.
My next thing is Emmesive Keyboard. I know I can find them from $50-$250.

You can see, I did some and there is more to do. it is all cost money

In the other hand I can buy for a $1000 CF-30 MK1 with all the above built in, exept the HD is 160GB. But it is WWAN ready (I have my sled) and has GPS and BT.

So my question to you all the gurus out there is it wort to buy the CF-30 mk1? and, for once and for all what is the different between the CF-29 mk5 to CF-30 mk1?

Thank you all for a wonderful job here on this furom.

 

For starters, the CF-30 has a dual core processor, accepts 4GB ram, brighter screen (by a lot!), uses SATA HDs, and has much better battery life(with new batteries.
CAP

 

Plus it's more durable, a tad bit heavier and has more options for integrated WWAN...

I think it's obvious which model is better...

~Rob - Now where did I put my CF-31?~

 

:SLEEP: :SLEEP: :SLEEP: Rob....Wake up, your having that 31 nightmare again

I just got my first CF-30 (from Rob) and its like night and day. It runs so much faster. Put W7 + 4GB memory + 8GB Readyboost and this thing flies. You can not go wrong . I bet after using it for 2 days the 29 will be ebay bound.

 

*Stirs floor with one beclawed toe*

But I still love my CF28... it's PERFECT for what I use it for.

Does the CF-30 have a MODEM I can use to test phone lines or FAX documents? Does it have the serial port I need to Telnet into a CISCO Router? Does it have room for 3 WiFi cards so I can use it as a WiFi repeater AND connect my Remote display?

Sure I can do all of the above with USB devices plugged into a USB hub... but if I was going to do that, I could just use a HP Mini 10 at a quarter the weight and get Win7 & HDMI out in the bargain.

The CF-28 is like an old Dual-Xeon Server with a Full Tower, only in a laptop. Not many laptops have 2 Mini-PCI slots AND 3 CardBus to play with; it's the Swiss Army Knife of portable computing.

There's STILL a lot of life left in my old warhorse; it fills a niche that nothing else really can.

mnem
There, there... nobody's going to recycle you for a good long time...

 

I generally agree with the Dwagon on this but, my CF-30 does have a RS232 port.
CAP

 

Wait the 28 has 3 wifi card options?

 

Sure, running Mini-PCI and PC Cards, you can do up to 4 of them (2x PCMCIA, one hidden PCMCIA, Mini-PCI).

 

Really? Well... then... not so painful I suppose; I know ANY of them can still be ordered with a FAXMODEM, so I suppose not quite so sucky... but still, all those slots...

mnem
*Hopelessly devoted...*

 

Yup - I used that functionality to produce what was essentially a CradlePoint for a Tech Services gig; an Auto Show in the middle of a field where they wanted WiFi/Internet so people could order and pay for parts online at the show. I had it configured as 3 dedicated APs w/VPN, one for each customer. Worked flawlessly, I got paid VERY WELL, and I got to write off pretty much the entire expense of my equipment. Still have one of the VeriSuck USB EVDO MODEMs here somewhere...

mnem
*Wired/Unwired*

 

Actually, Panasonic might have been thinking of you. The serial port, while it is on the back of the machine, is not under the big door, it has its own rubber cover so you can use it without exposing the whole back to the elements. Very useful for my GPS connections on the dredge.
CAP
CA

 

We'll see... maybe someday, once I divest myself of a few other laptops that don't get used anymore and pay off some debts.

I find that for most of what I use my ToughBook for, I really don't require a lot of horsepower. I see it as a tool; when I need it, I get it out, use it, then put it away.
For general portable computing needs, I still use my HP or my Dell; I need the horsepower they have, and they're already paid for.

I've already considered buying a ToughBook for EDC; truth is, they're too heavy to pack along in my bag full of tools, and the ones that aren't are just way out of my price range. I find myself seriously considering that HP Mini and a bunch of little USB adapters for when I need to do the above mentioned work; it WOULD cut the weight of my bag almost in half.

*Sigh*

mnem
"We do Good, cheap, and fast work here. You may choose any two of the above."

 

So I just bought the CF-30 in $1000 it is CF-30CASLXBM.
This machine have everything I wanted to install on my CF-29

Now, it's time to setup the new machine get the old one for sale.

 

Smart move, its a great machine. Go for Windows 7 like I did. So many more features in windows 7.

 

Yeah if I could go 7 I would. This Mk3 is fighting vista to the end.

 

In my experience, Win7 is MUCH less hassle than Vista; it's almost as if they made Vista suck so much ON PURPOSE, so that people would flock to Win7 when they finally DID release it. fnord.

Naaaahh... Redmond would NEVER do that... :wink:

mnem
Floopy doot.

 

You've been reading from the “William Henry "Bill" Gates III Windows Marketing Handbook”.

 

Last week they had a restore disk on ebay for the MK3 . Two disk set, XP and windows 7....I think

FOUND IT But it's $55.00 shipped
Panasonic CF-30 Toughbook Recovery DVDs THE LATEST - eBay (item 150488372940 end time Oct-02-10 08:15:34 PDT)

Product recovery DVD-ROMs2-DVD set delivered along with a Toughbook CF-30 laptop computer. Still in unopened sleeves.

• • • factory original
    • Disc Labeled: Windows XP Professional SP 2 MK3-XP2M
    • Disc Labeled: Windows Sleven MK3-7PM32

 

You mean “Windows Sleven”, don't you?

 

Lucky Number S7evin?

One of the stranger movies Bruce Willis was guilty of...

mnem
"Charlie Chaplin once entered a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest in Monte Carlo and came in third; now that's a story."

 

I'm convinced apple is doing that with the iPhone 3 and below. 4 computers and the 4.1 update gets corrupted each time.

 

Well... if you want to Roto-Root your iPwn, it really IS best to do it on an Apple. Itoons is a joke on the PC anymore.

The unofficial guide to installing iTunes 10 without bloatware | ZDNet

mnem
I feel bloaty. Is it that time of the month?

 

Too late. Ended up throwing my entire winnings(apps) in and bet on black(restore from default)and barely broke even. Don't remember a single password to any of my apps it claims it backed up.