First post and thread, with a simple question.

Hi everybody,

I've been lurking for some time here, looking how and what I want and need for my notebook and it helped a lot!

My current laptop is an Apple Macbook Air 11" with an i7 processor, 256Gb SSD and 4Gb memory. I've been using apple for quite some years now, but lately I have been running into more and more trouble. It might not be the quality of apple as much as I have changed my habits, when I went from a home office to a office on the other side of town. I now take my laptop with me every where; every day to the office and back, to my in laws, my parents, when I go for a walk, shopping, to friends, on holiday. When ever a clients gives me a call I can help him, answer questions accurately and mail him documents he might need. Also I work with/for quite some fisherman and in these environments it's a gives a good feeling to know that this laptop won't bend/break when it fall's down on the (steel) deck, some ice slurry get's slushed around or when you walk into a -20C freezer. (does anybody know how bad salt water is for CF-19's?)
Unfortunately the macbook air isn't quite up to this task, as I seem to have a motherboard that has been warped, bend or torqued too much and about 2 or 3 times a day the laptop just shuts down and I need to reset it to get it started again. Quite annoying, but luckily Apple's guarantee is good. But the repair won't make it any sturdier, so that is where tough books and this forum comes in to place.

I have been looking at used toughbooks but I decided to get a CF-19ADNAHF4. I can't go wrong with that and I hope it lasts 4-5 years. My Apple's usually lasted around 10-12 months. It fits superb in the 10mm foam padded back pocket of my backpack (that pouch was designed to hold a trauma-plate, but ultra-portable laptops are about the same shape and size, and I've read that Toughbooks have bullet stopping capabilities as well ) and it is light enough to have with me without getting bothersome. Extra bonus points for being a tablet so i can read manuals in PDF and the occasional ePub.

The question I have is: what is handy to have with it, what other extra's/accessories are nice in every day use? Always on case, extra battery with external battery charger? I already ordered the 12-32V charger.

And I have searched a bit, but what car navigation software is really good in Europe? I have tom-tom on my iPhone, but that isn't available on PC's. Only thing I could find was Microsoft Autoroute, but I have no idea if that works as well as tom-tom does?

 

Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 Mk5 Digitizer 3G
Model Number: CF-19ADNAHF4
Operating System: Windows® 7 Professional
CPU: Intel Core i5-2520M vPro Processor 2,5 GHz 3MB Smart Cache
Graphics: Intel HD graphics 3000
Storage: 320GB hard drive
Memory: 4GB DDR3 expandable to max 8GB
Display: 10,1" LCD sunlight readable 500 cd/m2 with Touchscreen and Digitizer
Audio: Intel® High-Definition audio integrated speaker
Expansion: Slot 1 SD card (SDHC), PC Card
Interface: Headphones/speaker, Microphone/line in, USB 2.0 (x2), RS232 serial port, VGA output
Wi-Fi: Intel 802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth® v2.1 + EDR (Class 1)
LAN
Modem 56 kbps
3G UMTS modem
Battery: Li-Ion battery 5600 mAh - battery life up to 9 hours
Security: TPM security chip v.1.2
Dimensions: 27.1 cm (L) x 21.6 cm (B) 4.9cm (H) weight 2,3 Kg
Environment: MIL-STD-810G certified MIL-STD-461 certified IP65 certified

Bijbehorende accessoires:
Panasonic PCPE-DCTBAG1 Carrying case
Prijs € 39,00
Panasonic PCPE-BASCD01 External USB2.0 DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive (Bus powered)
Prijs € 192,00
Panasonic CF-LND80S-FD Car Charger 11V-16V / 80W
Prijs € 122,00
Panasonic CF-WEB194B CF-19 Mk5 Vehicle Dock H: LAN, Secured DC-IN, LED (also V available)
Prijs € 416,00
Panasonic CF-WEB194BC CF-19 Mk5 Vehicle Dock H + GPRS | GPS external antenna connector
Prijs € 548,00
Panasonic CF-VNS001U CF-19 Shoulder Belt.
Prijs € 87,00
Panasonic CF-VZSU48U CF-19 Add. Li-Ion Battery
Prijs € 150,00
Panasonic CF-VEB191AU Port-Replicator Desktop
op aanvraag
Panasonic PCPE-INFBPK1 CF-19 rugzak
Prijs € 112,00
Panasonic CF-VCBTB2W CF-19 Acculader
Prijs € 182,00
Panasonic CF-19-Azerty BE keyboard
Azerty BE keyboard i.p.v. Standaard US Keyboard
Prijs € 1,00
Panasonic CF-19-Azerty FR keyboard
Azerty FR keyboard i.p.v. Standaard US Keyboard
Prijs € 1,00
Panasonic CF-19-German keyboard
German keyboard i.p.v. Standaard US Keyboard
Prijs € 1.00

 

Take a look at Navigator 11 see Products - Navigator 11 | mapFactor - Navigation and Tracking

There is even a free version, but it is not "door to door"
it has a sensual dutch lady to talk you on the route

 

It looks like you got a really good machine. I have only had my Mk1 CF-19 for a couple of months and really like it.

Spare battery, spare stylus (in bag), check your connections and make sure you can hook up to the type of projectors and other office stuff you may be using it on. If you have a nice sided office look into a port replicator and you have have a external keyboard, mouse and monitor that stays on your desk when you are there. Cases or backpack will depend on your style and what you like.

I don't see GPS listed under your model number. Does it have it or you planning on adding it later on?

 

WasmachinemanNL, I had spotted you before, always nice to see a fellow countryman. Thanks for the welcome!
Like I said, I'm always careful with the Apple's but still, they never seem to last more than 10-12 months. And it's not like I NEED to have the latest, it's more that they are just not TOUGH enough to be hauled around all day.
There is just one thing a bit problematic, that's the price on Toughbooks. And I complained about the Macbook Air being expensive. But I'm really happy to become a TB owner.

thanks! I look into that, Free is always nice, although I don't mind paying for a product when it is good.

There is a GPS inside on the Ericsson 3G/HSDPA+ card. It's not as accurate as the dedicated GPS, but it is onboard, out of the way and 3-6 meters accurate. That's quite good enough for most purposes.

But that's quite a list of extra's
Spare stylus is a good one, bluetooth keyboard and huge touchpad are already on my desk, but the desktop port replicator is quite expensive at € 350 IIRC. I'll have to think about that one.

 

I need to run XP at least and around May next year I need to run 7 for security reasons so they say. I have thought a long time to get a Mk3, but the only ones I found where around 1200 without an invoice, so I can't write it on the companies name. I couldn't find any Mk4's but I guess they would have been even more expensive.
As my Macbook air mono is failing and needs a week at the "genius-bar" I need another laptop to replace the air. So I went with the Mk5. I just got a mail that it won't arrive in Januari, but it might arrive next week! They pulled one out of a big project for me. Wooohoooo!

Do you think a Mk3 would run 7, Office 2010 and Acrobat 10 smooth? Windows laptops I have seen so far usually don't do that smooth without something better than a non-ULV C2d.

 

Welcome here Alecgold. We spoke on the phone on monday, still interested in one of my 19's?

 

Well, up until 2 hours ago I had the idea to use a Mk2 until I get the Mk5 in january, but I just learned that my Mk5 might be here next week!!
But I might get a 30 for my wife if she finds the 19 handy. She want's the bigger screen, I know that.

 

I obviously can't speak for your wife, but my wife can't stand the fact that my CF-31 is so heavy! For her, she's a tiny girl and a CF-30/31 is too big for her. She has a 19 instead. The 31's are LIGHTER than the 30's and she still thinks it's too much. She LOVES her 19.

Just an FYI...

*Women - you can't live with them, you can't shoot em*

 

Crap, wasn't thinking about that GPS since I really haven't used that type.

On the port replicator if you have a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse all you would have to plug in is VGA for monitor out.

"Do you think a Mk3 would run 7, Office 2010 and Acrobat 10 smooth?"

I haven't had a problem running windows seven on my core duo 1.06 on my Mk1 CF-19, but then again I tweak the hell out of my OS.

 

For the moment I think I skip on the port replicator, I just plug in power (when needed) and the VGA (when I get a larger display with VGA, my current has only thunderbolt).

But the 7 running smoothly on a 1.06 is good to hear, the "tweaking the hell out of my OS" sounds a bit less good. How extensive is that tweaking?
ATM I'm looking at a CF-30 1.66 CD 80Gb 1Gb but it's priced at 800 and the optical drive is another 125. But the 3.8Kg still is a lot.

 

I can tell you that Win7 and Office 2010 run just fine on my CF-19 Mk2. I use it every day.

 

What is so different about tough books that they run this smoothly? I have seen laptops with C2D's that won't run 7 nor Office smoothly.
Just a newbie question perhaps, but it really makes me wonder.

 

Maybe the amount of memory. I have 4gb, 3.24gb usable.

 

Hmm, that could be it. I also had the idea Panasonic tweaked the OS, but it could also be that they write their drivers really well, (which is what Apple does as well, I think, making it a very smooth experience).

 

I don't think they tweak the OS. They do not load any cr@pware. The only program besides the OS and their programs is Acrobat Reader.

BTW, Win7 on a Mk1 or Mk2 is a custom install. Panasonic never offered it.

 

The OS is not tweaked. The drivers are slightly modified from their original form to "Panasonic" them.

Most of it relies on the fact that unlike most manufacturers, the devices aren't filled with cr@pware.

 

It's been 7 or 8 years since I had a Windows computer, but I never imagined bloatware and cråpWåre would slow a system so much down.
A bit odd practice, I think, when you buy a new computer and the manufacturer has made it slow as hell, so the consumer can first uncråp his new toy.

@Ador (or others) how can you tweak the OS? by removing as much software and installing a lean and mean OS?

 

It depends on the laptop. Mainly I just get rid of any boat ware, get rid of unneeded utilities.( I don't need windows and Intel both to manage my network connection.) I use at least 2gb of ram and add more when I can. For vista and 7 I recommend "ultimate windows tweaker" program. Puts lots of hidden vista and 7 windows tweaks in a simple easy to use point and click interface. Last I will do some registry tweaks. The "black viper" site is good for finding out what services you don't really need and turn them off.


On the other side of the coin I have worked with a program called "v-lite" (v-lite won't work or work well on SP1 AND UP) and make a completely different ISO. Have took enough stuff out to have a version of windows 7 to fit on a single 700 mb cd and have only about 25 things running on start up. Makes for a very zippy OS.

Since you are use to mac you can also re-skin the windows OS to look like mac or add something like rocket dock. I have seen some good installers for these but haven't tried them out personally.

Black Viper's Website

 

Thanks for all these tips, (including the PM), exactly what I needed!

 

I don't mind helping some one trying to actually learn, not just dropping by for one post.

 

I'm here to stay, i might have caught a but today...

I got my CF-19!!! it's been much earlier than expected because they pulled one from a big project for me! How's that for service?
I do need to get used to the smaller keyboard as I'm used to typing blind, but I think it will only take a few days to get used to it.

But I have some questions.
- is it possible to get a CF19 mk5 HDD caddy? I want to swap the current drive with an SSD, if that is possible, are these caddies available from the dealer network, or do I need to start looking here? A Caddy with SSD is really expensive, something like €940 for the 256Gb with caddy from Panasonic. ouch!

- I have one dead pixel, vertical in the middle of the screen, horizontal a bit to the right. It's quite an anooying place. Does anybody know what Panasonic's criterea's are?

- my keyboard isn't backlighted, I thought every keyboard was standard backlighted. My fault most likely, but it's a bit pity as I often work in darker or lowlit environments. On the other hand, there is the dual touch screen, that will make a lot of things easier.

Overall I really like this little tank, it's so overwhelmingly well build, works good, good size, good screen, very bright screen, even more bright as my Macbook Air, lowest level really low, but I'm not able to put the backlight fully out.

Processor is good, the body gets a bit warm when copying loads of files (around 60Gb in total via the Wifi). Downloads are fast (my connection is a 50/50Mb glasfibre, so I max out at 5Mb/s and this laptop is very well capable of doing so. Overal it's a fast experience, but I'm spoiled by the SSD's in my last laptops, so when my wallet does recover a bit, I want to replace the HDD with a SSD.

Is it normal to have an urge to start tinkering and modding a perfectly working brand new notebook? I might run some fever?! LOL

Anyway, first thing tomorrow I'll be making recovery DVD's and some backups after I installed every thing I want/need.

 

I haven't gotten my hands on a MK5 but I would say all the caddy's from Mk1 to Mk5 should be the same. (double check)

That sucks about the dead pixel. I would say something that expensive and new it should be covered. Give them a call on it.

The standard keyboards are not back-lit. It is a very popular option. With the CF-19 you have two options. They have a rubber keyboard that is back-lit. (harder to type on but you can get use to it) They also have a emmissive keyboard but that item to my understanding is now discontinued and harder to find.


"Is it normal to have an urge to start tinkering and modding a perfectly working brand new notebook? I might run some fever?! LOL"

Welcome brother, you now understand, lol.

 

w00h00! Welcome to the loony bin.

 

Backlit keyboard, compatible with all Mk's CF-19:

PROVANTAGE: Panasonic CF-WKB193VM-Single Emissive Backlit Keyboard for CF-19 MK4 MK5 Single

A worthy first mod.

^^^^What he said^^^^

Also this:

http://www.provantage.com/panasonic-cf-k19hd3252~7PSO91H1.htm

A donor caddy for your SSD and an extra HDD. Though it's a special order item.

 

I got in touch with the dealer and they are checking it with Panasonic. So I'm curious what they will do about it. We'll see.

The rubber keyboard is no good to me. I already need to get used to the keyboard, but the regular keyboard is a very good one. Good, smooth travel, clean, clear point where you know it made the contact and most of all, waterproof! The rubber is nice in ultra dusty places or when you have lots and lost of sand blown around like Iraq etc.

The links from db04p71 are nice, but I need to mail them and ask questions if these keyboards are original and if not so, if they are waterproof. No use modding your TB and loosing 2 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 4 days of manufacturers guarantee....

But now I'm off to research a bit on taking the keyboard out and what it does need to become lighted. (like you need a new 5V connection or that kind of things).

Oh, one more thing, this is a really nice place to hang, and you guys are really cool to share all this info on these nice machines!

 

It will have the connection for the 5v you need for the back-light already there (No modding), you will just need the correct keyboard and install. There is a waterproof plate under the keyboard you have to remove before unplugging the keyboard. So worse case if something is spilled on it just turn it over as fast as you can so it can drain.

Here is a close up of the cf-18/19 emissive keyboard.



(think the part number is CF-WKB193VM for the emissive one)

You can also see the plug in for the keyboard backlight. I have two CF-18's and one loose rubber keyboard to install on my CF-19. Not bad, just take some getting use too.

 

Those are genuine Panasonic parts. The keyboard is water resistant.

Everything is already there to connect the keyboard.

We try to be helpful.

 

thanks for the suggestions. Replacing the keyboard seems relative straight forward, but I do need the waterproof keyboard. I have been sitting out, in the rain on the deck and that was great. (the deck has a kind of roofing as well, it's open on three sides, much like a veranda.) I love being on that deck, it's just such a pity my works is always inside. And with previous laptops the risk of the wind swing some rain onto the deck that would ruin them instantaniously. But my toughbook laughs at some rain. And if I understood Ador right that waterproofness might be comrpomised at removing the waterproofing plate.
But one thing I've decided to change is the memory, I've now got 4Gb but the usual programms run up to 2-2,5Gb and running OCR in Acrobat, something I do on a regular basis, eats away the rest of it. So that would be a relative cheap improvement with measurable effects.

 

The only "waterproof" keyboard is the rubber backlit KB. The normal KB and the emissive backlit KB are water resistant. A little rain shouldn't hurt them. IMO, they are much better than any normal laptop's KB which I wouldn't want to spill anything on. The "waterproofing plate" is under the KB and seals the point where the KB ribbon cable enters the body of the laptop. It is sealed with a foam rubber gasket. Removing and replacing it one time should not affect the water resistance of the seal.

Also, get yourself a set of quality screwdrivers such as these by Wiha:

Wiha Tools Screw Driver Set WHA26190 | eBay

 

I have been told this regular keyboard is also IP67 "waterproof" where water is projected in powerful jets (12.5mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects, with a test duration for at least 3 minute, 100 litres per minute and a pressure of 100kN/m2 at a distance of 3m. The spec sheet says this laptop is IP67, so IMHO that includes the KB?!
Edit: remember I have the 19 (mk5) (CF-19ADNAHF4)

The screwdirvers look nice, but I already have a nice set of those, I like the rotating caps.
Saves on the blister-bandages

 

Oopsiedaisy. You're right, the laptop is IP65. My mistake.
So it is resistant against water jets and according to wikipedia:
Water projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.
test duration: at least 3 minutes
Water volume: 12.5 litres per minute
Pressure: 30 kN/m² at distance of 3m

So that should be more than enough to work in the rain, I guess?

What I did last week was when I was walking in the rain (I like that, when wearing good rain clothes like an old Musto HPX jacket, and lightweight gore-tex pants) a client called and he needed some info. So I whipped out my TB, found the file and emailed it to him. All while having a light drizzle. (It has been quite a wet week, wasn't itWasmachinemanNL?! every drop of rain we hadn't in November decided to fall in the first two weeks of december!!!).
I like that a lot as I helped the client as if I was in my office, but I'm free to 3G wander where-ever there is 3G

 

Panasonic does what they can to keep the water out, but they don't guarantee it against water.

Here are some being factory tested to give you a idea of what they go though.

Panasonic Toughbook 31 Fully-rugged Testing - YouTube

Panasonic TOUGHBOOK CF-18 & CF-29 - YouTube

 

The exposed keyboards are, for all practical purposes, WATERproof. They are NOT COFFEEproof, or APPLEJUICEproof, VINEGARproof or ORANGE JUICEproof.

Plain clear water will evaporate and cause no damage. In fact, recommended cleaning is to rinse the keyboard under a faucet and towel dry as powerful compressed air will blow the keycaps right off the keyboard.

However, caustic chemicals which can attack the aluminum substrate and circuit traces will still harm it; coffee, juice, & sodas which leave a sticky residue when they dry will gum up the keys and butterfly hinges, even water with a high mineral content (like we have here in San Antonio) will leave crunchy particulate which interferes with those hinges.

I have resurrected several food-encrusted and gummed-up keyboards by washing under an aerated faucet (any gentle stream of warm water) and cleaning gently with a toothbrush. Then I blot dry with a towel and inspect; once I'm reasonably certain I'm done cleaning it, I rinse the entire keyboard top & bottom with distilled water, then blot with another towel and let air dry.

I figure it's worth the 99c for distilled water; for the same reason I use distilled water in my car's radiator too.

mnem
Slightly off-key.

 

Good to hear some experience!!!
So if some latte or orange juice finds it way in my keyboard, the first thing to do is to rins it off with water from the pint-sized bottle my wife keeps with her

I have been typing quite a lot with this keyboard as of lately and it starts to grow on me. I know this is an odd place to say, but I find it working so wel, even despite it's not a full sized keyboard, that I might start to dislike the apple keyboards.

Also I finaly found out where the GPS has been hiding, it was on com8. Odd place, but hey, i got a position and a battery life that dropped to less than half of what is had been. But that means I can start to use some road navigation and plotting software.

I think this laptop might become my best gadget ever. And a very usefull gadget as well!

 

I'll watch them when I'm home again. At the moment I'm surfing via a 500Mb/month 3G plan and every Mb I get over will cost me € 0,25. That does hurt a lot!

 

AAAAAHHHHH,
Why even bother to buy stuff when it doesn't work?
When you have Win7SP1 and a tablet function, don't bother buying Autoroute 2011. I wanted to do the nice thing and guess what? the driver for the tablet in SP1 isnt allowing AR to work. If you stop the tablet service in msconfig, reboot, it works like a dream. But that is not why I have a touchscreen, to put it off. Another 55 Neuro's down the drain. /rant off

 

I did a little digging and it seems a lot of people are having problems with it and map point 2011 and windows 7 sp1 64 bit. Do you have a widows xp disk and can set it up to run in a virtual machine?

 

If you are using Win 7 Pro or higher you might try XP Mode. It's a free download from MS. I use it for several programs that are not compatible with Win 7.

You might also try Navigator 11. There is a free version to try and also a paid version with more features.

http://www.mapfactor.com/en/products/mapfactor-navigator-software/navigator-11/

 

No, it is compatible with win7, but the XP1 update broke something.
But, I did found the Navigator 11 and installed open maps and that works nicely. It doesn't do housenumber to housenumber, but it works nicely. Biggest plus for me is the big screen, easy to make multiple waypoint routes and I think tracking your route is an option as well.
I have tomtom on my iphone and that works for point to point navigation, but with navigator I hope to be able to drive more quiet routes.

 

I'll feel better saying this, be sure to close all the covers before you rinse it. Whichever KB you choose, don't fret because it will take alot more rain than a human would like to take.

Enjoy your new machine!

 

sounds like the voice of experience? Hope not, must be horrible to drown a TB, when trying to rescue it!

 

Didn't want to make a new thread, but my first "mod" is done. Cloned the HDD to a secondhand SSD I bought, opened the caddy, in goes the SSD and WOW, this is a lot faster. Well, booting is still not superfast, I think from buttonpush to the password login screen around 23 seconds but opening onenote, word, but especial outlook (with 18000 items in the inbox) is much, much faster! Even when outlook is still indexing all my files!
The drive is way to large, I was looking for a minimum of 160Gb drive and I got a 600Gb Intel 320 drive. But at this price (€ 300) it was to good to let go. You can't have to much storage space?!