Lets talk about Techtuff / Techtough CF-31 Black Cobra, any user feedback?

First off lets get the big controversy out of the way. Yes, all black Toughbooks sitting in a police car cooking in the sun all day is a bad idea. I am not a cop or SWAT. Nor will this ever sit in a car in the sun all day.

I don't like the weird stuff glued to another Toughbook refurbishers units, but @techtuff techtough machines look NICE!!! Having painted my orange beastie, I appreciate the work that goes into doing this.

Does anyone else have any good points against blacked out Toughbooks?

You guys know I hate spending money on these machines. But sometimes one comes along that makes me consider parting with that hard earned cash. @techtuff Techtough might be that one for me.

My MacBook has been acting up lately and I am NOT buying a new Mac. Apple has pushed me (and many others) away with their new un-repairable and un-upgradable machines. But my Mac is well specked out, and I am not willing to loose the performance I am used to day in and out.

The right CF-31 just might be my next daily. But, back to the @techtuff Techtough machines.

Anyone know HOW they get them black? Nowhere does it say "powder coated" but I suspect that is what they do. They say their method doesn't "offgas harmful VOC." Not sure that matters to me as my job will kill me long before that would. But I don't like how the painted palmrests get soft paint after a while.

I REALLY LIKE their HD webcam. That is super slick. And I am easily capable of installing the kit in my own machine.

For that matter, I could also buy powder coating stuff and give a go at doing it myself and probably for less than their tacked on premium. But, they did do a good job from what I can see.

The only real deal killer is what spec machines they have available. I need to find a good list of generations vs processor and performance specs. Looks like MK3 are 2.8ghz, but MK5 are only 2.3ghz... Say huh? What gives there???

It kinda looks like I want a MK4. But I see some MK4 listed at 2.7ghz, and some at 2.9ghz with ATI. So confused...

It looks like to get as much horsepower as possible, I will probably build and configure it myself. And might even end up shelling out more than @techtuff tech tough sells theirs for. But I would love to hear more about these guys.

I have bough some small things from them in the past, like a special. larger, CF-19 GPS cover. That was WELL made!

 

Concerning black color, I have to say that many much less rugged laptops come in black, and people buy them! And leave them in hot cars! Personally, I miss "boring beige". It didn't show dust as badly either. That said, no dust settles on my ToughBook.

I have long admired the looks of OSX and currently MacOS. I had a MacBook, and still have a Mac Mini, but find that the software I use most often is very expensive for Macs, and I get aggravated that little things are harder to do with Macs because of Apple locking down the OS so badly. My compromise is that I have set up my ToughBook to look like MacOS. I even found the dynamic wallpaper that changes with the time of day. The one and only software that is not so great in Linux is GPS software, but honestly, I have GPS in my car and in my phone, so getting GPS to work in Linux is more of an intellectual (or lack thereof) exercise.

 

The looks is the smallest part of it to me. I like how Apple has everything so nicely integrated. I can be looking at a page on my MacBook and go take an office break, pick up my iPad and open the page. Or go to work and need to look up something I was checking at home on computer or iPad, and pull it up.

My phone rings in the other room, I can answer it on my mac.

The list goes on. Apple has done an amazing job of integration. Seemless too. Sure there is some of that with Android, but nowhere to the same level of ease.

Linux alone is awesome! When it first started to have decent GUI, the graphics, look, and desktops avalible just blew me away. By itself without trying to look like Windows or OSX, it is just pretty and pleasant to the eyes.

 

Alright, I keep going back to the CF-31. I have a CF-19 being borrowed and most likely sold. If it sells, I am getting a CF-31.

Edit: moved part of post....

I am not going to limit myself to the Black Cobra Edition. Price versus performance doesn’t make too much sense. I would rather pay the same price for a Cobra Edition, and get more performance. I can put the webcam in myself.

Any ideas as to how they blacked it out??? I would love validation that it is powder coated. Or not.

But I have a couple ideas to pursue. I have one that would be much cooler, if I can pull it off.

 

Well there is one way to find out. Give him a shout . @techtuff Actually I already did for you. My guess he will check your thread out in a few days. I also fixed his name in the title and in your first post . TechTough to @techtuff , his user name on here

 

Cool thank you!!!

Yeah I have bought a few small things from him over the years and I will say the quality has always been top notch! As of yet I haven’t gotten a full on computer though.

 

Mac Os X on a CF-19 mk5

https://www.reddit.com/r/hackintosh...to_show_this_off_the_toughmac_success_with_a/

 

Some FUNNY stuff in them comments!

Well it turns out my new neighbor across the street is a serious IT and Linux guru with experience hachintoshing and also modding linux. And he has an overheating van. I smell a trade, or maybe just overheated coolant...

I need to delve into what it actually takes to mackintosh a computer to begin with....

Anyways staring at eBay trying to figure out what my I need to order next.

 

Hummmmmm so tempting. Also turns out that Shawn has done this before!

Toughbook OSX

And I just happen to have a 2011 MacBook Pro sitting in a bag... It has a bad motherboard, but lots of other good components like Wireless and Bluetooth. I wonder if it is usable....

 

It is frustrating that he doesn't bother to tell us HOW he did it.
How did he get the Intel graphics to run and what exact wifi card. Macs don't do Intel very well at all.

 

I have a really hard time getting Olarila Mojave installer past the loading screen, always gets a kernel panic. No luck on CF-54 mk2, FZ-G1 mk1, CF-20 mk1 and on my Ivy bridge Xeon desktop(even with only one core enabled). Picking up a Lenovo M93p tiny today which might help with the other ones(as many users had success with it and i might be able to transplant the storage afterwards in other computers).

 

I was not able to install the latest mojave directly on my desktop but by installing it first on the lenovo m93p tiny and then transplanting it in the desktop which is a ivy bridge xeon instead of a haswell core i7, radeon vega gpu instead of intel and many more differences, it worked even better! I will try transplanting it in other computers later on, osx is surprisingly portable!

 

Osx being portable.
That's interesting.

 

I just tried to boot it up on my CF-20 and CF-54 but it kernel panics, everything is the latest version. I don't think i will have much more success on my FZ-G1 either.

 

======================================================================================

Thanks for your interest in our Panasonic Toughbook CF-31 Black Cobra Wanterlustking.

To address your points:

- I am sorry but we cannot share our process on how we make our units the way we do, since that is a big part of our competitive advantage. I hope you understand...

- The internal HD webcam that we sell for the Panasonic Toughbook CF-31 blows everything else away on the market. For an internal webcam there is nothing else close for specs or performance. But yes, you can just get the webcam kit and most people can easily install it themselves.

- If you call us 303.732.3330 (Mon - Fri 10-2 Mountain) we will give you, or anyone else a free upgrade from Black Cobra CF-31 MK2 to MK4. This offer will be from now until April 14th, 2019. This is only until our stock lasts (only about 11 units at this price available as of this message) Otherwise call us for the normal upgrade pricing after this date or once our current stock is sold out.

- Some other reason our units are more expensive: 3 Year Warranty, Great sales / tech support before and after the sale (Keep in mind this is our full-time business, not an eBay hobby)
, our detailed refurbishing process, the hardware upgrades we make and so on... We add value in many ways that our customers do appreciate.

Thanks again!

TechTough

 

Oh boy oh boy oh boy!!!

TechTough, If I can scratch the money together quickly enough before the sale ends or stock goes out, I am sold!

I only ask about he process from a durability standpoint. Powder coating (if done right, and yours I am sure would be) leaves a rock hard coating like Panasonic's OEM paint (or whatever it is) application. I have no issues painting a Toughbook, but doing it right is labor intensive. And it leaves one flaw.

On the painted palmrests, the oil from one's hands (and in my case other automotive shop chemicals) makes the paint get soft after a year or so. If your process is durable enough to prevent this, I don't really care what it is!

 

The outside lid etc.. will last as long as the original OEM on our units. We are quite careful and understand the steps necessary to ensure this. Which is why we are
confident enough to give our units a 3 Year warranty (which many sellers do not offer on their refurbished Panasonic Toughbooks)

The palmrests on our Panasonic Toughbook CF-19, CF-30 and CF-31 are not painted, so you do not have to worry about any paint getting soft to body oils, etc...

Our palmrests are custom manufactured. I have attached a picture to show you more details so you have an idea...

Have a nice week!

 

Even our lid label is a sleek brushed aluminum label vs. the original Panasonic one that is just plastic

 

I wouldn't mind knowing how much the HD Webcam costs.
https://www.techtough.com/single-post/2018/08/17/HD-Webcam-for-Panasonic-Toughbook-CF-31

Edit: nevermind. Found it in the last paragraph in the above link.

 

Yeah, so it is $199 for the webcam kit, or $269 installed. GPS is $147 for the kit, but $99 installed. Crappy thing is my tax return happily covers any configuration I want. But my little VW just dragged a hole through its oil pan and is crying out for a new motor. LowLife sucks sometimes.

The missus doesn't ask too many questions about my toys. But if I have a UN-shiney new looking bad @$$ Toughbook and can't afford the engine, she probably will. This Toughbook is different enough that it won't go unnoticed.

I have cobbled together many a Toughbook. I really want one that is new-ish and un-cobbled this time though. But, if I am changing a motor out of my car, it isn't getting another crappy 2.0 like it has, I will stuff a VR6 into it. A VR6 swap will cost me about the same as the computer.... Ugh.

 

Yes, I could EASILY build a computer ALMOST as nice. But their unit is "essentially" a brand new unit. Short of actually buying a brand new Toughbook... To get an A quality low hour machine will cost me almost as much, or more than TechTough's. And it won't be black with the cool extras that theirs has. If this were just a toy, I would for sure only spend the $299 I can get a barebones MK4 for.

Unfortunately with TechTough's I am paying for some extras I am unlikely to ever need, or use. 3yr warranty is awesome, but in my almost 20 years of Toughbook ownership I have had almost ZERO failure rate. I had one explode after I threw it 30' while open and it missed, hitting the concrete instead of its intended soft target. -=cough=- It was a CF-71 I believe, so not fully rugged anyways. I have actually killed a few platter drives, easily solved with SSD ones now. And I wouldn't ship a computer back for a HDD failure anyways.

I used to kill power jacks. I have repaired enough to not care, and finally learned that it was cheap non-Panasonic power supplies doing it. So not sending the computer back for that, and unlikely now to see it happen.

I am more than willing to pay for the effort they have put into their Black Cobra Edition. It is seriously bad @$$!

As for the NSA, well whatever. It doesn't matter how secure my laptop is from them, they will be smarter and better. And if they want to get into mine all they will find out is I spend too much time on the internet stirring up silly trouble. If they want to waste taxpayers money trying to prove I am a bad egg, well they can show up on my doorstep and simply ask. I will hand them my computer and write down my passcodes for them.

Yeah on one hand I hate that we are a short step away from a full surveillance state, but I am not a revolutionist or homegrown terrorist and I have NOTHING to hide. You know what? I can break into most computers too. Yay. I am a normal almost broke American happy to be living here most days and glad for a government that at least mostly cares about protecting its assets. And we are its biggest asset.

I own a C.A.C. CF-19 and I am proud to do so. Because I know what that stands for. I know it has protected American borders and ideals.

I think there are lines that need to be drawn in the sand. We HAVE to retain the things that makes America, America. I know when somebody breaks into my home that the NSA isn't going to be monitoring my webcam and show up in 2 minutes to protect me. I am responsible there. And honestly if they WERE and DID show up, why would I complain?

Security isn't my concern. Heck, I will be putting the fingerprint scanner on my daily CF-19 and likely on the CF-31 too. Conveinance, not security.

If somebody wants to steal your car badly enough and has the skills to do so, they will. If somebody wants to get into your computer or see what you are doing on your webcam, and they have the skills to do so, they will.

Simply put, don't give them a reason. Don't leave the keys in your car. And if the FBI or NSA wants to have a close look at your files... You PROBABLY gave them a good reason to want to do so.

I am more concerned about identity theft, than our government. So lets just walk away from this conversation before it gets any more "political."

I want a very nice Toughbook. I want one to replace my MacBook in quality and use. My 2012 Mac is almost perfect cosmetically, and with almost zero effort I could fix its one small blemish. I want a ToughBook that nice.

I don't think I can find one that nice on eBay for what TechTough's awesome unit will cost me. ESPECIALLY if they will do the upgrade to the machine I want performance wise for the price on their website. Not a bad deal there!

 

Screw the VR6

 

Yep, I also believe techtough's product is a bargain at their price ($1664.00 for 480 GB SSD, WWAN, GPS, and their lovely looking paint job). I wish I could afford it. I have to settle for one from eBay with me putting in optional goodies. But techtough's price is within reason, especially when you consider their like-new condition, and not having to scrounge missing (quality) parts. You cannot touch that price if new. (I'm not employed by techtough, just a fan).

I also agree that although our government is imperfect, and even unfair at times, it is far, far, far better than anarchy. I also agree that if you don't want the government "spying" on you, don't do things that attract their attention! They are really trying to control crimes of all sorts. Not easy these days!!

 

kode-niner I am pretty sure that the VR6 swap IS the path to the dark side. I mean really, who can resist putting a turbo on it next?! Once you have a taste of the darkness.... And I could paint it black. Cause that would be super cool... or um dark? LOL!

Well I finally went and did my taxes this evening. My old job and Prez Trumpster screwed me out of my tax return. It is 1/3rd what it has been the past three years. Wit a conservative estimate based on the past three years, I could have easily grabbed the Black Cobra and put down much of what I needed for the swap. Now, it will be a stretch to do either.

So priorities first. I need transportation. Preferably with AC, so not the two wheels and pedal type. So I will hobble my car to work and get out a compression and leak down tester to see how badly damaged the motor actually is. Wait for my next paycheck coming up, it is supposed to have a good commission payout on it. I also have 12hrs overtime. And a computer that is "almost" sold.

I need to know exactly what I have to work with, then hopefully I can decide from there.

I think a possible compromise might be to get the Black Cobra with zero add ons and only a 240gb drive. I can add in the GPS and Webcam from them later.

I agree, while I can make it myself, the quality of the job TechTough has done will be hard to reach. And by the time I get the right computer, and disassemble it enough to fully murder it out with a good powder coat, I may not be able to beat their price. And once I factor in the custom made dogbone and palmrest, yeah I can't beat that.

 

Well sadly, I missed TechTough's deadline. And right now any deadline would be missed. My car won this round. I came across a good engine swap deal I just couldn't pass up. Unfortunately getting it to me broke any fudget room I might have had. But that is okay, next month prices are likely to drop a touch LOL! In the meantime, I will get my CF-19's up to full speed. My MK6 will at least give me a minimum speed idea.

So I did decide on the CF-31 I want anyways after much digging, thinking, and justifying. I want the MK4 2.8 with the ATI video. Between 2.5 to 2.7 or 2.8 I think the performance increase will be fairly minimal. But add the ATI to the 2.8, and that should be a decent upgrade especially how video intensive I tend to use my machines. No gaming, but I spend a lot of time streaming and a fair amount of time in Photoshop and the like.

The ATI would also free up some memory the video usually steals, if I understand it correctly.

I will max the memory of course.

I don't care about a DVD drive, and instead want a second battery.

Don't care about the touchscreen.

Defiantly will have the backlit keyboard, chiclet type.

Want the high definition webcam.

Want GPS.

 

I bought a few little bits from TechTough a few years ago, great quality and very professional.
I was tricking out my new/old CF-31 Mk 2-ski a few weeks ago and seriously thinking about one of those TecroTech HD webcams.
Then I came to my senses - looks like a brilliantly-designed bit of kit but even if I did make video calls, which I don't, why would anyone want to see every pore and wrinkle on my geriatric old mush?
I know you don't care about the touchscreen and neither do I really - but the touchscreen itself was already there from new on mine and all it needed was a £28.99 circuit board, a bios setting and the drivers so I decided it was worth doing.
'Course then I had to buy stylus & tether & some replacement black plastic trims but who's counting?
Oh, and I'm down to my last 17 GPS devices on the boat so I bought the factory GPS for the 31 - dunno why you guys say it's no good, I'm under 5mm of steel overhead and got a fix from cold in 25 seconds.
Still trying to get used to ten acres of new US chiclet keyboard though, after using the 19 for so long.

I did have to specify that the TS controller board be included with the lid shell & TS but ebay seller tough-stone in HK was very helpful.
eBay item number: 273626734126 if they've any left.

Precision powder coating thickness control relies on hundreds of hours of practice and coating thickness is critical to appearance and durability.
It's nothing like wet spraying where the wet film reflection guides you. I've had thousands of hours of professional experience in both disciplines and my work was quite highly regarded - and I wouldn't choose to powder coat at home, I'd take it to one of the custom motorcycle guys.
Or at least practice on the spare lid that came with the TS

 

I think I have the bug too, as I picked up a cf-31 also. It's an i3 mk3. Think I might try to find at least a mk4 so I can have windows 10 support from Panasonic if I need it.

I was intrigued by the ATI models, but they seem tough to find. Also something to consider, you can't use a second battery if you get the ATI model. It doesn't have the battery connector.

 

True, but I was more referring to the support from Panasonic. They only have a one click driver package for the the mk4 and up. Mk3 you would probably have to piece together yourself.

http://www.panasonic.com/business/iframes/toughbook-computer-support-search-downloads.asp

 

Sorry, "the spare lid that came with the TS" on my previous reply should have read "the screen surround that came with the TS."
Meant to edit it at the time but got distracted by something (I forget what) and forgot the edit.
Now I just have to remember what I was planning before the forgotten edit occurred to me and I'll be completely up to date.
Hello 2019, Happy New Year everybody!

 

Huh say what?!

Can anyone else verify this? And more importantly, if so, can this be added back in easily enough? Loosing this actually is a MAJOR strike against the ATI version.

As geeky as it sounds I kinda wanted the 2.8 ATI version to match my 2.8 VR6 engine conversion... But, I think I want a second battery more. $4!+ ...

Oh well if that is what it is with no fix for it, then the other ones are a good bit cheaper and easier to find.

 

Could of changed in new version of the cf-31 but here is what I found about it.

Scroll to the last post in the link before for explanation.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/cf31-media-bay-battery-i5.638900/

https://toughruggedlaptops.com/acce...-mk2-mk3-not-compatible-with-i5-discrete.html

 

No you can not retrofit the 2nd battery option to a CF 31.
Different motherboard and no room for the connectors.
If it was not optional from the factory, you can't add that option.
No you can not use the 2nd battery with dedicated ATI graphics CF31.

 

Thank you Jester321! That explains most of it.

Okay Shawn, so not in the MK1, or any with discreet graphics. Gottchas. Now do I need to run the model number through configurator and figure out if other MK2-4 models had it optional? Or do basically any other than the MK1 and those with the ATI discrete graphics have the option?

So next I guess is to decide how much I really want the extended life... What is the average runtime for a CF-31 on battery, VS one with dual?

And honestly, is there going to be a big difference in performance between a 2.5ghz, jumping up to the 2.8 with ATI? All other things being even. SSD drive and maxed memory. Unlikely I would go with the 2.5 when other slightly faster options are available for not too much more... But whatever.

 

That's my understanding of it.
----------------------------
Performance difference.
I would imagine it depends upon what software you are using.
Also, from what I understand the Windows 32bit-3.2gb memory limit includes video ram. So if you have the ATI model, you would be better off running a 64 bit version of Windows and 8gb of ram.
-----------------------------------
Like Toughasnails said, the 2nd battery gives about 1.5hours more. It does make the main battery "hot swappable" so that is nice.