New CF-19 owner

I just got my CF-19 MK1 (CF19CJBCNBA)

I love it.

Now I need to figure out how to convert it to Verizon, I intend to travel a lot soon so I thought I'd actually activate it and use it.

The only negative thing as far as I'm concerned is that I actually miss the internal microphone as I use skype and several other voice applications where the internal mike worked flawlessly.

The GPS actually works indoors! LoL

I'm going to use a bluetooth wireless headset to compensate for the lack of internal microphone, seems like it might be very cool if it works well.


Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all.

PS I never realized how small this thing was, the waterproof keyboard is working well despite the tiny keys. Amazing.

 

Delete this.

Merry Christmas

sadlmkr

 

Nevertheless that is the model number in bios and the label.

It's an Intel Core-Duo U2400 @ 1.066mhz with 2.5gb of ram, serial number begins with 7IKSA778XX

It has the AT&T wireless wwan option.

I'm not new here.

 

I know your not. No offense intended. I see you modified the Mark. They're a bit different. I have it's twin sitting here with a Verizon chip on the way.

Short answer: Rob has some Verizon cards/chips for CF-19. (he calls 'em chips)

 

I really really want one (Verizon card) as AT&T doesn't work so well out here, but Verizon is ubiquitous!

Thanks I didn't mean to seem testy, I am not. Well I was, but not at you. I realized I had an MK1 which deeply bothers me considering the person told me it was an MK2 and I didn't verify the numbers myself. Oh well.

I have my F350 in the shop for a new transmission and some other work, as soon as it's paid for I am going to get on the road and I'd like to have Verizon up. I also signed up for AT&T wifi again since they do have the most hotspots US-wide.

I plan on traveling for a long time since I am sick of the snow here and sick of the emptiness. I used to be engaged but we split up and the place I live in has less women than the Gobi desert. The ones that are here are old ex-hippies who scare the hell out of me.

I can work from anywhere but if there is problem at work I need to be able to bring up openvpn and get to business fast. With the WWAN I can do this even if there are no hotspots.

This was what it looked like on my deck at 0835MT today.

 

HOLY CRAP....now thats snow , So far we only got about 6 inches and by the next day at supper it was gone

 

We got slammed by the blizzard which added more snow on top of the existing snow. We've had snow on the ground for over 2 weeks now, I've been burning wood in the stove since Sept.

Last year I bought an old Kubota tractor with a front-end loader just to help plow my roads (I have about 2k foot driveway and roads leading up to the observatory and down to the gates...)

I am saving up for a CF-31 too, I know I have been absent but to be honest once I built up all my CF-28s there was nothing left to discuss :/

I am back now not just to learn about the CF-19s but hopefully to renew old friendships.

 

LOL! Somehow, we haven't gotten ANY snow here in Chicago... FAIL! lol

 

Terminus...This Rob. see above.

 

I HATE snow now (because when it melts all we have is MUD)

Rob, I have a CF-19 that has AT&T when I wanted Verizon. I understand you are the man!

Thanks

 

Do you live on another planet too? Rob thinks I do. I just bought a 95 F350 I've been drooling on for a few years. Warn winch, diesel, auto I'm selling my 2006 F250 17,300 miles.
I like it here so I stay home. Driest December in recorded history here. 52 degrees and I almost wish for this.

 

LoL, your place looks like mine. We definitely live on other planets.

I bought a 1989 F350 with an 85 front-end and a Cummins 6BT installed!!!

It's lifted over 10 inches, lol

I have to get it painted after it gets back from the shop then it will be camera-ready.

Len

 

Back in the day I had a 86 F250 460 c.i. Gas Flat bed. Great truck 9mpg whatever you were doing. Then my neighbor....2 miles one place in between goes driving up the road with MY 95 . I loved it when I saw it. F350 Du-ally chrome wheels 7X8 flatbed headache rack gooseneck ball recessed 9000# warn winch w00h00.

Anybody need a F250 2006 Powerstroke 6 spd?LOL Ummm 17,300 original miles. I like it here. Oooops repetitious. Hangs head.

 

What on earth are you guys talking about Sounds like I'm on a different forum lol.

anyway, I use the CF-19 to work anywhere I want as well. I don't travel far, I just make daytrips with a maximum range of 250km (500-600km max per day) and I want to be able to work online where ever I am.
As I'm going to be force to work with Windows 7 in a couple of months and I work with large PDF-files (OCR-ing them as well) I bought a brand new Mk5, but other than the processor and memory speed your CF-19 is just as good as mine.
I also have a 11" Macbook Air with a 27" External screen from Apple, but after just a couple of months of daily use and transportation, the motherboard stopped working. Apple Genius said it was from hauling it around. Stuppid me, I assumed an Ultra Portable was for hauling around. And it's not that I was careless: slow-foam sleeve, very thick leather bag with an extra 10mm clossed cell foam for added protection, so you would think that would be enough?

Since a week and a half I have the CF-19 and I'm sold! The apple is nice for the office, but outside the office it's the CF-19 that goes everywhere!
My only worry was the keyboard as it's not a full sized one and I'm typing blind. To my surprise I got used to it within a few days. That's partly just because you use it a lot and you'll get used to it, but also because the keyboard is really good. It's soft and smooth but not swamp-like as some keyboards bend and waves beneather your fingers.

So you'll enjoy the CF-19C for sure!

Just to be curious, why would you want to add a CF-31? Just for collecting or for specific use?

 

I work on the net, I do unix, security, and network stuff mostly. I can work anywhere there is a decent connection. I am planning on becoming a migrant soon just traveling to wherever the women are It sounds like you really put some mileage in on a daily basis. I usually don't go anywhere so my systems are always stationary. I mostly chose Toughbooks (CF-28) because I kept destroying laptops. The Toughbook CF-28 has held up well but since I bought all of them used various problems from wearing out keyboards and touchpads keep cropping up. The only one I ever destroyed was when I spilled coffee on it while it was on standby (and sitting behind my seat in the Jeep) and it shorted out the motherboard. It leaked into the power connector rubber covering and actually started smoking. Now that the CF-19 is here I hope to sell my CF-28s and replace them with CF-30 or CF-31. I guess I just like a full-sized unit but that might change as I use the CF-19 more. I just installed 67gb of USGS topographic maps (geotiffs) last night on the CF-19 and brought up OziExplorer on it. I intend to transfer one of my Iguidance licenses to it as well. Like you I am becoming used to the tiny keyboard but I type so much it's still causing me some grief. In addition it has the waterproof backlit keyboard so it's stiffer than normal keyboards. I really love it, even if it is an MK1 and I love how bright the screen is. I still need to purchase a dvd-drive so I can load stuff, and possibly reload the OS in an emergency. Speaking of that I need to locate a recovery cd for an MK1.
I am surprised your macbook didn't hold up well, they seemed to be high quality construction.
Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

PS We got 5 more inches of snow last night.

Here is an image from my rustic cabin in the mountains where I built an observatory. We finally got DSL there about 1.5 years ago so I no longer rent an office in a town 30 miles from here.

 

What altitude are you? 3200 here. (ft) Do you have commercial power? I like your office.

Jeff....off planet.....

 

I'm at close to 8k feet here, I do have commercial power but also have several wind generators and some panels (about 1500w-worth).

This isn't off-topic if you keep bringing Tougbooks into it. I have modified several dc-dc converters to power my Toughbooks so I can power them off of 12vdc batteries. I have a few emergency power systems for my Toughbooks that are "kits" with folding solar panels, small, cheap charge controllers, and a few 12ah batteries.

My computers get so dusty I have to move them out onto the deck every few weeks and use an air compressor to clean them. The one in the back is an I-7 running windows 7, the one in the front runs WinXP. I keep the I7 off unless I am encoding video. I have about 10tb in RAID5 systems in the rack to the left, everything in the rack is running off a home-made ups system with 10 - 12ah batteries. All wired networks are gig-e, and I still use pretty ancient 802.11b for laptops. I like Cisco access points because they run IOS and I'm using some old ones. This place is a mess, but I try to keep my systems clean.

ETA Adding a picture of why I moved here.



I love this picture it makes the observatory and trees appear like they're toys

 

I think Rob is the one on here that could help you in locating a recovery cds for your CF-19 MK1. I bought one from him a year a go and he helped me locate recover cds for my CF-19 which is also a MK1.

Is your touchscreen or a digitizer Screen

 

It's a touch screen model. At least I think so, the Panasonic configurator won't recognize my unit.

Thanks

 

What package has the software keyboard? I just noticed my software keybd isn't coming up when I press that keyboard button on the front-panel.

ETA Never mind I found it: meiskb_19_1_d060019.exe

Thanks

 

How hard is it to find the OEM stylus WITH the tether cable? I've seen just the stylus for sale on ebay but none with the original tether cable. Seems like I should get a spare now.

I want to convert the AT&T 3G to Verizon, and then I am hoping to use the same SIM card or actually to be honest, I want to clone the SIM card and keep them both running on the same account. I still haven't learned enough about the wwan hardware to be competent yet.

The more I use this little thing (CF-19) the more I like it but I'm going to buy a CF-30 (have already done so in fact) from he who should remain un-named at this point.



I'm going to be listing (3) fully loaded CF-28s soon, one with a damaged touchpad :/ (fully-loaded means touchscreen, MK3, 768mb, built-in factory wifi, backlit keyboards, large hard drives, factory GPS, XP COAs, et al)

 

Verizon doesn't use a sim card. If you get a gobi card you can switch carriers without switching cards. You will need an account with each carrier that you use.

 

I see, thanks for that information. I've never used 3G services before, I assumed everyone still used SIM cards. Does this mean I could use the same account on both my CF-19 and CF-30 as long as I didn't use them simultaneously (using the Verizon card which I believe is Sierra Wireless)

Thanks!

 

You have now arrived at the reason I don't use internal WWAN on any of my laptops. I use Verizon, best coverage period, which means no sim card, which means account locked to just one modem. My new 4G Verizon aircard does have a sim card so maybe this will now change. I've just got the new modem from the company so I haven't had time to mess with it. Nice to see you back.
CAP

 

I don't think you can do that but, I don't use Verizon. I use AT&T and swap the sim card between laptops.

 

I can see I am going to be very frustrated. I did order a Verizon card from Rob for the CF-19 but my CF-30 will probably have to be the one online as I need the full-sized keyboard to do real work :/

I am told the CF-30 will have a Verizon card but it's not here yet. I already have AT&T wifi service for traveling, I will see how much a 3G data plan is to add onto that.


Nice to see you again Captain!

Merry Christmas / Happy Hanukkah To All!!



I took this picture today after:

1. hauling 400 gallons of water from the well and dumping it into my cistern.
2. Plowing all my roads again, scraping down to the dirt.
3. Riding my Z400 all around the sub-division going Zoom! Zoom!

 

Ahhh... as much as I hate the Mountain Cedar allergies this time of year; it still beats fighting the snow 5 months out of the year.

mnem
Sure it's hot down here. But nobody ever died of a heart attack shoveling sunshine.

 

I also hate humidity!

 

Now the mud has set in, temperatures are still low at night but the daytime is in the 40s.

Has anyone replaced the CF-19 built-in ethernet with gig-e capable card yet?

I have been looking for pictures of the internals but so far haven't found them on the forum.

 

Doesn't the 19 has standard 1000BASE-T?

 

The manual seems to say otherwise, in addition plugging it into a gig-e switch seems it only connects at 100mb. The RealTek RTL8139/810x is a fast-ethernet NIC according to Windows.

Maybe a newer generation than MK1 is, I wouldn't know right now.

ETA I just saw this: Japan Clears Western Digital's Purchase of Hitachi Disk Unit

 

OT on the WD/Hitachi disk unit.. Hmm, selling of the 3.5" floppy activities doesn't sound like a large penalty... These things are almost completely history, just for some industrial/legacy users?!
OTOH, how long will HDD's still be around, when will everything be integrated into the motherboard including 6TB of SSD memory.

 

Those aren't floppy's they're talking about, but 3.5" hard drives. I agree with you when all is SSD we can kiss hard drive crashes good bye!

 

Oops, misread it.

about those crashes, we will still have memory going AWOL... perhaps it won't be as catastrophic any more as HDD's can fail. And SSD is a lot less prone to damage by vibration and shock.
I have to say the speed of those SSD's is impressive. The one in my macbook air makes it blasting fast even though the processor is an ULV. starting programs is unbelievable fast and as long as you don't do any CPU/GPU intensive tasks, its as fast a much bigger machines.

 

I'm looking for an external USB DVD drive and so far most of them seem to require BOTH usb cables to get enough power. Does anyone have a current model they've tested that uses only ONE usb cable?

I don't want to have to carry a USB hub around and most of the external USB dvd drives cables are about 6" long so it wouldn't reach the second usb port on the CF-19...

I've looked at Newegg.com - LG USB 2.0 External CD/DVD Drive Model GE24LU20 LightScribe Support and Newegg.com - PLEXTOR USB 2.0 / eSATA External CD/DVD Drive Model PX-L890UE LightScribe Support as viable choices but would love to have something smaller.

TIA

 

I got a Panasonic CF-VDRRT3 from springfield a while ago. One cable.

 

This is the drive I use:
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG USB 2.0 Slim External DVD Writer (Black) Model SE-S084D/TSBS

Though the cable is too short to reach both USB ports, the second connection is only needed when you burn CD's or DVD's. It will read discs with only one cable connected.

You could always get an extension cable:
Newegg.com - Nippon Labs Beige 3 ft. USB cable A/Male to A/Female extension USB cable Model USB-3-MF

 

I've been using an older version of the Samsung SE-S084 Glen linked to for years and have never needed more than one USB port to run it. Same model # just a less streamlined case. Reads and writes fine.
CAP

 

So now, I've got a CF-30 as well. Oh well, at least I will have a lot of fun grokking these two systems in the next year or so.

 

Thanks for posting those model numbers guys I will research them all and try to get one at least. I won't need it often just to load software or perhaps burn a recovery (Acronis) disc now and then.

Right now my fingers are covered with flour as I am preparing my world famous home-made pepperoni, anchovy, mushroom and black-olive pizza.

I learned how to cook while I was gone too, believe it or not. I guess that comes with becoming (depressingly) single.

ETA in case you doubters think I am lying about my kitchen skills:

Before




After



If you want to see the really huge versions, substitute "small" with "low" Heh.

 

Now I'm hungry

 

I was too!

I cut into six-pieces, then ate 3 of them. Phew!

LoL I am going to crash soon, It's been a long day.

 

Ok, what about a bluetooth headset with a boom mike so I can use skype again?

Has anyone gotten the CF-19 embedded bluetooth working well for audio?