CF30 MK3 prebuying advice needed

Hello all I want to purchase the CF30 but there are many questions that I have.

Internal Options: GPS, Dual Pass Through Antenna.
also I will add the 2nd media bay battery.

Questions:
1. The Dual Pass Through Antenna is only mentioned with respect to a vehicle mount, I will never own one of those I simply want to attach a bigger antenna to it.
2. Battery Life: who gets more battery life with just one and with both batteries installed, the Getac B300 or the CF30 Mk3?
3. Internal options: I am really not interested in a fingerprint reader or a smart card reader (what do you need those for anyways?) however I might strike oil in my backyard one day and be rich enough for 3G, how easy would it be to add the Panasonic parts to it after having purchased it?
4. Vendor: where do I buy the darn thing? I have only found two vendors that let me configure it. Any experience with OCRuggedLaptops?
5. Has anybody fitted these things with an SSD yet? I plan to do this.
6. Can you fit non Panasonic DVD drives into the media bay?
7. any advice?

thanks - Dominik
PS.: sorry for all the questions

 

Welcome to the forum!

1. Sorry... It is for the vehicle mount only. You'd have to mod your own antenna mounting system... It's doable... But do you really need it? Unless you need a specialty wifi system to bridge a 10 mile gap with a Dish TV fabricated wifi setup... I doubt you'll even need it.

2. Getac is crap... Next...

3. Unless you want to take your new CF-30 TOTALLY apart (pretty much)... pony up the duckets for the WWAN now... GPS too... Don't wuss out with a USB or BT GPS... (Okay guys... No flaming!)

4. I bought mine from Ray at Fully Rugged Depot... You can call him at 800-995-5007 and tell him that Rick sent you. I have no affiliation there... Just a happy customer. You'll probably hear of other places too.

5. I think I a few guys have but they will have specific recommendations for you. But do you really need it?

6. No... There is a unique caddy that is used.

7. Get the most expensive one that you can reasonably afford now. Get the internal stuff... Don't waste buying the DVD drive right now if you can wait and use a USB DVD. Don't get the extra battery now unless you REALLY need it! That will add $150 - $175 and you can always shop ebay and pick up deals.

You didn't really say what you planned on using this for.... Will you be relocating to the jungle or the desert? Is this for the coolness factor or bragging rights? Everyone has a different reason but only 2% (Maybe) of the people who buy them ever use them up to their potential.

Hope this helps...

Rick

 

Dominik

My cf-30 mk-2 had a 80gb regular hard drive and I upgraded to a 64gb Samsung slc ssd
Its way faster on boot times,one of the best upgrades to improve performance going


Alex

 

1. "Unless you need a specialty wifi system to bridge a 10 mile gap with a Dish TV fabricated wifi setup" wow you hit my project on the nail, how did you know?

The way I figured it the Dual Pass Through Antenna just gives me two places to connect external antenna for the GPS and the WiFi, correct? the 50 bucks to get external connectors don't seem so much to open up a host of possible fun!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v322/RonWill/WiFi/cf28intWifi_080711i.jpg

It is that coaxial out right? or does the vehicle mount part mean it goes through the port replicator?

2. thanks, that was exactly what I needed to hear to be at peace with my 4k investment.

3. im getting the GPS, but there is no way I will be able to afford 3G within the next,2,3 maybe 5 years, by then 3G will be useless anyways, that is the way I figure.

4. thanks ill give that a try
Edit: On their website they don't seem to have the MK3, ill try calling to see whats up.
5. crap

6. I was afraid that if I buy the battery off of ebay I won't get the real deal, especially not a 100% functional battery.

Use:
1. boring stuff: email, etc
2. work & play
3. functional in the woods for extended periods
4. in car and out of car Navigation (I forgot to ask a question about this)

Question: I do not know what gps software to get, I want topographical maps of the entire USA on the computer so that internet access is not required, secondly I want turn by turn directions as well.

thanks - Dominik

 

Thanks Alex, I think ill go with Ricks suggestion and see if I even need the performance upgrade.

Although what have you seen in terms of battery life improvement? since a typical ssd ideals to less then .1 watt in less then 15 ms you should see the difference. did you?

thanks - Dominik