Considering purchasing a CF-29

I have desired owning a toughbook for a long time, but never bought one. I am going Friday to look at a CF-29 that is for sale locally. The seller says that it is just back from refurb.

The general specs are:
1.6ghz Processor
40gb HDD
1.5gb RAM
CD-ROM
802.11
Touchscreen
XP

Price is $375

Could you give me any advice on what things I need to look for when I'm inspecting it? What do I need to be careful of? How do I tell if the battery is in good shape?

If I get it, I would like to make a few modifications additions:

1) Bluetooth
2) GPS
3) Bigger faster HDD
4) DVD Burner

I already have a Verizon cellular modem in express card format that I want to use, I think i can get an adapter to convert it to PC Card format?

For Bluetooth and GPS would it be easier(cheaper) to use a bluetooth PC card and a bluetooth GPS reciever, or should I really look at springing for the internal GPS?

I would really prefer (I doubt my checkbook would like it) to have cellular, bluetooth, and GPS all internal to the device so nothing is hanging off the sides. Is it possible to have a toughbook with 802, WWAN, Bluetooth and GPS all internal?

Looking forward to your responses.

 

Yes. All your mods are able to be made internal, and will work together. Spend some time reading the FAQ stickies at the top of the forum. It will answer your questions. As for the machine, verify the touchscreen and touchpad work, and that the touchscreen is accurate. If the rest is as he says it is, you have a good deal.

 

I second that one... IF it is in nice shape! The CD to DVD mod is quick and easy. USB or BT GPS would be your cheapest route but if you have the technical skills and can solder... You can build all of this internal. (Except perhpas the WWAN.... It IS possibly but I feel that you would need prior Toughbook experience before attempting!)

Yes.. They make PCMCIA to Express Card adapters... I would imagine it would work for your WWAN.

 

Thanks for the responses!!

I emailed the seller and asked for the complete model number which is:

CF29 HTM50BM

According to the Panasonic configurator the H indicates it is a 1.4ghz model. The T is for the the XGA Touchscreen but the next three digits don't align with anything in the configurator.

Do any of you know what the M, 5, 0 are for?

 

Sorry, hit send too soon.

While I am fairly comfortable with "plug and play" modifications, the thought of trying to use a soldering iron to mod a laptop does nothing except cause me to break out into a cold sweat.

 

Okay... It is an SBC ONLY model... And is a 1.4GHz model.... Read the bottom of the configurator....

***SBC ONLY***Pentium M 738-1.4G LV (Centrino),13.3Transmissive touch XGA,512MB,40GB, WLAN802.11a+b+g, Win XP SP2, Tester I/F, EDGE(GC83), logo, asset tag, replaceable RJ11 jack

It is still worth checking out....

 

Sorry I guess I am just slow... What does SBC only mean? Does that make it less desirable?

 

It means it was made for SBC... The company.... It may or may not have the SBC logo on the top instead of the Panasonic logo....

As was stated... Make SURE the touchscreen works!

Also... This MAY mean that you have to load the OS manually and the drivers separately instead of Recovery Disks... I think others have bought SBC Toughbooks here.... Perhaps they can chime in....

 

AH, that makes sense. Thanks for the explanation.

Two questions...

1) What is the Tester I/F?
2) Does the fact that it says EDGE(GC83) mean that it has WWAN built in?

 

Not sure about the tester IF..... But the Edge modem MAY work... Thought it would be slower that the WWAn card you presently have. (Most likely)

 

Would the Tester I/F be Tester Interface for a module like the VIP Sidekick?

mnem
Arrou?

 

I bought it.

The case is barely worn, the keyboard works great, the touchscreen works great. The battery is a yellow tab.

The touchpad seems to track a bit slowly/weakly.

How do I tell if there is a WWAN card (without SIM i'm assuming) in this?

 

The wwan module is located above the battery
Remove the battery and look up for electronics under the palmrest
Look for a wwan antenna on the lid

Toughbook touchpads track slowly/weakly -thats normal

Alex

 

On your model the WWAN is a PCMCIA card just open the PCMCIA door and look in, you will see the card taking up one of the slots. There is a pigtail that leads to the pass-thru and then up to your lid antenna.

 

You don't have a SIM in there... You just register it with the provider of the WWAN... Usually Verizon....

You can adjust the tracking speed of the mouse... That is the FIRST thing I do when I reimage one. Also... You'll notice... That if you make quick strokes it will get you all the way across the screen... If you trace along slowly... The pointer will move only a short distance. You will get used to it... And will love it the first time you use it with gloves while in the cold or while raining... Other laptop's touchpad don't work in those types of environments.

 

The SONY GC83 that is in that unit is an EDGE card and does have a sim slot so all you would need is a data enabled sim from ATT and you would be good to go.

 

There is no card in the slot. There is a metal bracket held in with 2 screws that looks like it's purpose was to hold a card in. It blocks use of one of the slots...I removed it.

Does the pull up antenna only work with the WWAN or does it also help 802.11 reception?

 

Must of been removed by the previous owner. Is there a mmcx connector in the vicinity behind the bracket? If so that is what connects to the pigtail that would be on the card. The retractable antenna has no connection to WIFI it is only for WWAN.

 

No, I don't see any kind of loose connector around the bay containing the PC Card slots.

Is it possible that it was removed when the laptop was sent through refurb?

How hard is it to add back, and do any current WWAN cards make use of it? All the one's I've seen lately don't have external antenna connectors.