Looking for specs on particular CF31 model

Looking at a used CF31 that's for sale. It has no OS but apparently has a 160 GB HDD, 4 GB of RAM, and an i5-520M (2.4 GHz) processor. Model code supplied by the seller is:

CF-31AWA70PA

Is anyone able to cross-reference this and tell me firstly what the base system spec is going on that code, and secondly where it sits in the CF31 range and if it's a spec that's good to have.

Thanks, Craig.

 

CF-31AWA70PA
Toughbook CF-31 Mk1 Touchscreen, Intel Core i5-520M 2.4GHz SV Processor,
13.1" XGA Daylight Readable 1000nit
with Circular Polarizing LCD Screen,
2GB DIMM DDR3 RAM Upgradable to 4GB,
160 GB SATA HDD, Serial Port,
SD Card & Express Card Slot,
4 x USB 2.0 Ports,
10/100/1000 Ethernet, 802.11a+b+g+n
WLAN, Intel WIFI Link 6200,
Integrated Bluetooth Ver 2.1 + EDR,
US Rubber Backlit Keyboard,
with VDM311U DVD Super Multi Drive,
Windows XP SP2 with Windows 7
in box.

 

what does the coa on the bottom indicate ... XP or W7 ?
if it is for XP , then does the "box" contain the key for W7 ?

 

The seller says it definitely has a Win7 COA. Is the Panasonic recovery media for it available or is the company trying to stop anyone selling copies of them (or even genuine ones)?

That aside, is a Mk1 CF31 worth investing in compared to say a run of the mill Mk2 CF30 which is the only type of CF30 that Aussie Ebay sellers seems to be listing currently?

For those in the USA with access to many more surplus and more current toughbooks, is there a 'pinnacle' configuration of CF30 that I should try to aim for? What about in the used (still rare!) CF31 department?

Quite a few of the used CF30's popping up locally on Ebay are being fitted with SSD's, but no indication of SSD brand/model. Might try to find out.

 

A CF31 is a huge improvement over a CF30.
A mk2 CF31 is even that much better, but a mk1 is still a great machine.
If you can afford a mk2 CF31 I would say aim for that. Otherwise get a CF31 mk1. You won't be sorry.

Go for the CF31. Get a SSD for it when you can.

 

Ta a quick EBay search is showing mk2 cf31's for sale via Ebay in the USA down to about A$1200 but the average pricing seems to be in the $2k to $3k range. However that's still quite attractive for what's basically still the current fully-rugged toughbook model sold by Panasonic. Brand new CF31's (mk5's I presume) here in Oz still sell for like A$5k to 10k if purchased at full price through a dealer!

 

I do have a CF31 mk2 here. I can check on shipping to OZ. Pretty sure I can beat those prices.
Start a private conversation and we can talk more.

 

what he said ...
good stuff - fair dinkum price .

 

Craig,
You just have to know the specs to hunt for the best deal. See here for specs ( http://www.roughworld.co.uk/cat_view/37-panasonic-documents) I purchased my CF-31 MK3 in the states here on EBay two weeks ago for $800. It has every option except for the fingerprint reader and integrated GPS and backlit keyboard. I purchased and added the backlit keyboard for $35. The MC7700 aircard has a GPS on it so I just use that and it's sort of like having the factory GPS since it's built in but I suspect that the antenna for GPS reception is not near as good as the Panasonic version with antenna integrated into the lid. I use Garmin Nroute for Navigation. But maybe this card has an antenna in the lid. Could be possible. I purchased three extra used batteries at $20 per. Havis dock for car for around $60 (including rugged hub). Car mounting arms and brackets for around $24. Carrying strap for around $20. Now the VLD02 External Display, Keyboard and cables ran me about $112. I upgraded the ram to 16GB for about $62 using Crucial memory.

Just know that you want a I5-3320 at least and that should help you get through the wheeler dealers. I noticed people selling "Gobi black edition" MK1's for near $1200 USD and ripping people off. Sure these devices support Express card so you can add a USB 3 based express card but I think it's important these days to have at least one USB 3 port on board. You don't see that until the MK3. I use my express card slot for a $10 Haupauge/HP tv tuner card and it works absolutely beautiful. Hope this helps.

Jesse

 

something for consideration is an after market gps kit that contains the antenna and the receiver in the same area as where the stock gps antenna resides ...
and , the cover has a lower profile .
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GPS-Kit...574663?hash=item35d0eec147:g:Pn4AAOxydlFS2YVi
i have one on my '30 (they will fit in a '31) and it runs circles around the stock factory stuff .

a guy here (shawn) came up with a modded gps antenna assembly that works very well .
technical stuff aside , i observed that the modded flavor actually out-performed the ublox based kit in a couple of parameters .
by inference of the data , the modded flavor also would perform better in certain situations but to prove this , i would need a 35KUSD spectrum analyzer .

 

One thing to consider on that 31 is if it had the xp downgrade and a 7 COA it might not have the BIOS activation that a regular standard 7 COA device would have. I have run across three toughbooks so far that were xp, but 7 COA and the cert in the bios to activate 7 wasn't there. You would have to physically key in the COA key and activate that way. Just FYI.

 

Ok thanks... soooo lets say I want to try and get a good spec used Mk2 (or perhaps Mk 3) CF31 from the US to use here in Ozzie Lund. What model code(s) are the premium ones to look at?

I'm all for aftermarket GPS, etc. which beats the pants off factory-supplied stuff. Also what are the best SSD's to get for the CF31's? All my current TB's have normal HDD's so keen to go down the rugged (if such a thing exists) SSD route.

Thanks!

 

Come across a Mk2 CF31 for just over A$1k and it's code doesn't work in the configurator -

CF-31JECJMDA

Anyone able to decode the code? It's the only mk2 cf31 I've come across so far for sale here in Oz.

There are some brand new Mk3 CF31's up for sale on Ebay with an asking price of over A$8000 - dunno I'd be forking out that much even new unless I was in a business that needed some.

 

http://www.techbuy.com.au/p/189268/NOTEBOOKS_13.3/Panasonic/CF-31JECJXDA.asp

Close

 

Hey Craig,

I have a working CF-31 JE @ 10K hours and a 31SE @ a lot less than that. (near zero) Go for the SE.

You would need to find a SSD......ummmm I think. W7 coas on both. They are at the bottom of the stack over here.

Let's talk PM...fair for you/ fair for me. PM if interested I don't check every post every day.

Jeff...how's about a free train ride?...

 

What's the difference between Mk3 'standard' and Mk3 'performance'? I'm looking at a document comparing Mk2 to Mk3 CF31's from a link at roughworld.co.uk as absolute none of that information is available through Panasonic Australia (not publicly anyway).

The only Mk3's for sale here are new ones with very high A$ prices.

None of the docs I've looked at so far explain the model codes though.

 

The document at roughworld.co.uk is pretty good. I have read it before.

The biggest difference is that the Mk3 performance has the dedicated graphics card.

I have a CF31 mk2 standard model that I will make a deal on. I am tired of looking at it. I ship anywhere.

 

Is this the same as what's being called a 'black widow' CF31?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Panasoni...105052?hash=item4af9e4db5c:g:HdQAAOSwv0tVP7qa

Ebay's telling me the price works out to A$2675.86. I don't know I can budget that much - maybe A$1500 is as far as I could go for a new computer currently but depends what's out there. Most listings mentioned SSD's are's saying which brand/model of SSD is fitted.

 

This is a much better deal. This one lists all the specs and hours. This one is an ORIGINAL FACTORY black version. It lists the exact model of SSD. He will take a best offer. I do know the seller and he builds // sells top notch equipment.

The ad you linked Craig is vague in my opinion. It never lists any hours or the full model number. Does not list brand of SSD.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-T...171146?hash=item4d3d32094a:g:VTcAAOSw~bFWJ8QT

 

Ta I did see that listing. Isn't 'ohlip' a contributor in this forum? The name sounds familiar.

Looks like a good deal actually. Might have to make some el-communicado and see.

 

Yes he is a member here.