Dead keyboard CF-19, where do I get a new one?

Hello,

I have got the CF-19 mk1, and I must say that I am a bit disappointed at it quality. I had the computer with me in to the bathroom and got a bit of water on the keyboard, but I though "hey, it is a Toughbook so there is nothing to worry about". The next day (I shut the computer down the day before since I was finished using it) some keys had stopped working, (to my surprise), the water itself seemed to have dried away. So I tried to use electronic spray cleaner since it never has let me down before, the result of this was that the keyboard completely broke down, since the keyboard apparently started to dissolve the metal on the keyboard. (The copper(?) loosened from the plastic layers). And now it doesn't work at all...

I have contacted Panasonic for support here in Sweden, but it seem to be worthless! Therefore I now request your help.

How can I get a hold of a CF-19 keyboard to a decent price? I would want one with european layout and I would prefer to get one with swedish layout, but a UK layout would also do, (since it is the one I have been using so far). I have also had some thoughts of getting the rubberized keyboard, but I would like to know how it is to type on.

Thanks in advance!

 

Hi Mr. Tough, I've got a keyboard for you that is perfect!
It's a backlit rubber keyboard. Almost impossible to type on, but that is really waterproof! (kind of a joke, I do have the keyboard, but you've got to realize it's not useful for typing away the next great novel. It is very useful if you work in the mudd, in the big sandbox or places where there is a good chance of getting a water/particle logged keyboard. )

What happened with your old keyboard is that water got stuck between layers and it takes weeks or even months to evaporate. Stick it in dry rice for weeks and it would have functioned most likely again. *edit* also remember your laptop isn't brand new, it might have had a lot of (ab)use over the course of it's life!*unedit*

Spraying it wit solvents is never a good idea as the rubber membranes, and contacts are not made for this kind of spray's. Those sprays are usually to remove corrosion and can be really aggressive.

 

The best way to dry the keyboard out is to place it in a bag of rice for 4-5 days. This trick works great for cell phones too.
I have gotten water on my keyboard before (rain) and never had the problems you are having. All I did was set it on its side for the water to drain out. I was caught in a rain storm on my ATV and my 18 got good and wet. It's got me thinking did the last owner have this apart and not install it right, like the seal where the cable goes to the mother board. Maybe water got to the mother board. Just a thought

 

Thanks, at the moment I am thinking of getting a normal and used CF-18 keyboard off eBay since they are much cheaper. (Thanks for the tips too, I will think off them the next time, but now the keyboard is completely useless since the metal has loosened from the plastic...)

Still it would be nice to get the rubberized keyboard, since it would be an upgrade to the computer. I would like more opinions on how it feels to write on them, if you could compare them to other newer keyboards. The last couple of months I have been writing about five pages of text on it each day.

 

Well on the rubber it will be 1 page per day . If you type that much then the rubber one is not for you. You have to press a lot harder . Have you ever used the keyboard skins that you can buy for most laptops...well the rubber keyboard is about 5 times thicker than them skins.

 

Thanks, I found a seller that had five (original) keyboards in a package on eBay, so I have purchased them ($82,50). Now I got some spares, so I can do anything with the computer now!

 

That is dirt cheap!

 

When I first got my CF-18 my first task was to tear down the laptop and verify that EVERY water seal was in place, then and only then did I install a rubber keyboard and take a shower with it. > Buying a toughbook is a lot like buying a military surplus vehicle. you gotta tear it down and inspect it thuroughly before putting it into any (Dangerous) use. Best to be sure than to lose an expensive laptop due to a bad seal next to the motherboard.

You've got to pretty much expect something "waterproof" not to be water proof until you make sure of that yourself.

 

A number of people have learnt the HARD way.

Your "Toughie" was NOT designed to be "Waterproof"....at best they would pass as being "Water-Resistant"....there is a difference.

o.g.

EDIT_1: Ref. MIL-STD-810 - ello.

EDIT_2: Face Cream is quite cheap....but it turns your Skin Orange.

 

Hmmm, IP65 is pretty good waterproof. And my mk5 is.
But if I would buy a several years old 18 or early 19, I would indeed give it a good inspection!

 

O.K...difference of opinion.

IP65 constitutes "Low Pressure Water Jets".

IP67 constitutes "Immersion" for a limited time period.

IP68 constitutes "Continuous Immersion" - WATERPROOF.

Just sayin'.

o.g.

 

yeah i know, water-resistant or something like that, would be technically a better term.
But, considering how allergic to water my Macbook Air is, my toughbook is pretty nearly waterproof....

 

Oh.... ....when using a Macbook Air as a "Yardstick" I stand corrected....

IP Fully Rugged Toughbook constitutes "Indestructible".

Just correctin'.

o.g.

 

yeah, the first macbook pro 15" I bought had a core duo and after that came a macbook pro 17, a 13", then another 13", a sidestep to a white macbook, then a macbook pro 13" and after that a Macbook air 13" and my last one is a macbook air 11", which I still use in the office coupled with a 27" thunderbolt display. In retrospect I might have bought as well the biggest baddest iMac there is, as the i7 11" costed 1800 and the 27" costed another 1000. But I didn't expect the 11" to break down under normal every day use.
So there is the yardstick: 7 years of macbook use. After the 11" broke down after just 5 months, I decided mac use would be only for the office. It was getting a bit expensive, to say the least.

 

That's most peoples experience of other brands....so what originally looked like an expensive Toughbook....turns out to be a better quality, more reliable, cheaper alternative...happy day's. :wink:

o.g.