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    Looking for a new notebook for truck repair shop.

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by giannid, Apr 17, 2018.

  1. giannid

    giannid Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi, I'm new to the forum and am interested in the toughbook. I have a shop where repair heavy duty trucks and looking for a tough laptop that can be used outside and handle the elements of a shop. I'm not a computer wiz, just trying to find out what's best for our application. the software we use runs best on windows 7. We're obviously looking to purchased a used/refurbished unit for this task. What do you guys recommend?
     
    giannid, Apr 17, 2018
    #1
  2. SHEEPMAN!

    SHEEPMAN! Freelance

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    CF-31 MK 3. Like CF-31SLEAX1M.

    Very bright.
    USB 3 on one of the 4 USB ports.
    True Serial.
    Optional GPS.
    Optional DVD or second battery.

    Welcome to the madhouse.
     
    SHEEPMAN!, Apr 17, 2018
    #2
    Kent T likes this.
  3. giannid

    giannid Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yeah, that seems like the model everyone uses.
     
    giannid, Apr 17, 2018
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  4. toughasnails

    toughasnails Toughbook Moderator Moderator

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    Another model to look at is the CF-19. Last year I sold 2 of them. One went to a logging company to run there Cat software and one To a metal shop to run there cutting machine. These are a lot lighter but have a smaller screen.
     
    toughasnails, Apr 17, 2018
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  5. giannid

    giannid Notebook Enthusiast

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    Toughasnails, doesn't seem like I'm able to PM members?
     
    giannid, Apr 17, 2018
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  6. SHEEPMAN!

    SHEEPMAN! Freelance

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    You should be able to pm now. Requires 5 posts I think.
     
    SHEEPMAN!, Apr 17, 2018
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  7. giannid

    giannid Notebook Enthusiast

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    not yet
     
    giannid, Apr 17, 2018
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  8. SHEEPMAN!

    SHEEPMAN! Freelance

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    PM sent, check your settings.
     
    SHEEPMAN!, Apr 17, 2018
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  9. toughasnails

    toughasnails Toughbook Moderator Moderator

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    You do need 5 post but sometimes it might take a couple of hours. Click on the members name you want to talk to then Look for. " Start a new conversation" and click on it.
     
    toughasnails, Apr 17, 2018
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  10. ADOR

    ADOR Evil Mad Scientist

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    I sold one 19 last year to a guy that works at a Chevy dealership repair shop. (CF-19 Mk5, 1Tb, 8gb ram) I talked to his shop boss about the software they used. minimum specs was 500 gb hard drive, 4gb ram and i3,5,7 series processor with a recommended 1tb hard drive, 8gb ram with same processors. They also recommended windows 7 and windows 10.

    I got everything working on windows 10. It was on the machine when I got it and already activated. Software even worked fine. About 2 months later I reloaded the machine for him with windows 7. Every time windows 10 updated it broke something in either the software or toughbook specific drivers being replaced by something windows 10 thought was better. Since windows 7 install no problems at all. JUST FYI.

    On the 19 series the lowest you should go would be a Mk4 (1.2 cpu turbo 2.0), but a Mk5 (2.5 cpu) up would be better. The video is better on the Mk6,7,8 toughbooks but not a big jump in cpu performance.
     
    ADOR, Apr 17, 2018
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  11. Karl Klammer

    Karl Klammer Notebook Consultant

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    cf19mk1-mk4 should be skipped due to slow 2-core cpu. (mk5 and up have 4-core cpus)

    Cf19Mk5 if you do a lot of disk/ssd access, as it is the only cf19 with a un-throttled sata3 interface.
    Cf19Mk6 if you do a lot of number crunching, as its i5-3320m processor has the highest passmark cpumark score of all cf19 and cf20s.

    cf19mk7-cf20mk1 should be skipped due to slow cpu and high price
     
    Karl Klammer, Apr 18, 2018
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  12. Toughbook

    Toughbook Drop and Give Me 20!

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    If you have the real estate... Go for the CF-31. It will be easier to use with the larger keyboard layout. If this is going to be part of a tool kit where you need to pack it away after each use, or space it at a premium... Go with the CF-19
     
    Toughbook, Apr 18, 2018
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