New CF-19 owner and new to forum

Hey there everybody! I just picked up a used CF-19 (core duo 950 GMA) a few days ago and, after lurking and reading a whole slew of posts, decided to say 'Hi'. Been rather busy too, since buddy had lost the USB stick with the XP install a while ago and had Ubuntu running on it. Been playing aroundwith various distros (still haven't managed to get the hotkeys up 'n running.. but that's my fault) and threw on Windows 7 the other day. Still no hotkeys, but maybe the Vista drivers 'n such will do the trick. I will say, however, that Windows 7 sure is slick. Nice 'n fast with full aero and no real slowdown because of it. I'll probably end up disabling the eyecandy for a performance boost, but it could be left on and not cripple the system.
Been thinking though.. was looking at a CF-18 that can be had for around $600 CDN and I'm thinking that I could swap out the good stuff with my CF-19 and use the CF-18 as a 'thrasher' unit, or just sell it. I dunno, played with an Asus R2H umpc (900 MHz Celeron and GMA 900) and found it to be, in a word, GUTLESS. Don't have much experience with such low spec. CPU's, but wasn't impressed. I wonder if the CF-18 will be similarly underwhelming? Seems to me that there's a lotta hoopla going on about the Atom CPU's, but they're not supposed to be much better than the 900 MHz Celeron. Maybe I'm missing something here.
Anyway, someone could chip in on the CF-18 vs 19 'cause $600 is still a signifigant amount of bux (it's what I picked up the CF-19 for).
That's about it for now; enjoying my new toy. ..Willy.

 

most CF-18 and CF-19 parts are different. It depends on what you would want to swap over.

I would say just stick with the cf-19 it is a great machine and it takes a lot of abuse believe me.

The CF-18 is a nice machine i had one. But they are on the slower side but still can keep up with most stuff. They are limited on memory upgrades and the CPU cannot be changed.

-James

 

Hey there James. Some of the things I was thinking of swapping over are parts of the case, rubber port covers; stuff like that. It would also be nice to have a source of spare parts and, if I were to feel energetic, I could probably swap out the MOBO for a mobile-ITX one. One of those dual core Nanos that VIA is supposedly gonna come out with would be pretty sweet. The thing is, electronically speaking, the toughbook is pretty ho-hum.. but the rest of the story is entirely different.
Whatever I end up doing, my original thought was to get a netbook (even went so far as to buy and try.. and return the next day), but found them to be too limiting. A lot has to do with my being out in the mountains/desert for months at a time; prospecting and just enjoying the outdoors. Regular consumer electronics, unless extremely good care is given, just won't 'cut the mustard'. Also, at near $400 CDN (after tax) for a wimpy netbook vs $600 for a Toughbook.. HMMmm.. gotta think about that one. ..Willy.

 

hello, will somebody help me with this problem with my CF-19 please.

I am able to install windows xp sp3 and install all but the touchscreen driver.
I loaded the drivers from the panasonic website
( http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/cgi-bin/itn/toughbook/dl01.cgi) with the exact model number.
panasonic claims the driver will only work on windows xp tablet edition.
when i install xp tablet edition, i am able to specify the proper sata driver, and can format the hard drive. setup then asks to insert the
"intel matrix storage manager" disk into drive A.
I created this disk and setup does not even try to read the disk. i have tried this on 3 different systems, and am certain the hardware is good.

has anyone else run into this problem?

 

Are you installing the sata drivers from a usb floppy in drive A ?


Alex

 

Unfortunately, even after a few Redbull's you aren't going to get the motherboard exchanged......... It just can't be done

The battery charging circuit, touchscreen / lcd panel/backlight etc is all too difficult to think about conecting up



Alex

 

I have had this problem but not with toughbooks. Try to go into the bios and disable the Native SATA support and see if that helps anything. Not sure if it's correct but on the crappier computers it works

There are 2 types of computers, Toughbooks and not toughbooks

 

Well some of the port covers and latches are interchangeable but a lot of things are not. The GPS, WWAN, some port covers and actual case is not interchangable.

The screen is do able as someone did a cf-18 screen on a cf-19. The motherboards are not interchangeable. The memory, battery, and hard drives are not interchangeable.

Most things will not swap over. The motherboards are non changeable unless you did serious and i mean serious modifications.

You are better off just getting what you need as a lot of things cannot b changed.

Also the CPU's are non changeable on any fully rugged model. They are soldered in place.

The toughbooks are great for outside use and being rugged but are not the fastest machines on earth. They do moslty what is needed but you dont need to be doing some crazy 3d studio max renderings when you are in the middle of the pouring rain and in the mud.


-James

 

Hey Alex.. B.C. eh? I'm here in Abbotsford at the moment and will be headed up to the sunny Okanagan in a few days. I'm just totally stoked about getting the CF-19; wanted one for many a moon but no dineros. As for replacing the MOBO in a CF-18 (just 'cause, but I probably won't), the mobile ITX formfactor is supposed to be near the size of a credit card which makes for many possibilities. I'm one to never say never and my motto is 'Where there's a Will, there's a way'. There truly are many solutions to be had by thinking outside of the 'box', but that's neither here nor there; have better things to do with my time.
Hola James. It's too bad about the lack of case interchangeability. Mine's missing a small piece, but nothing serious. It's definitely taken a few 'licks', but still a'tickin'. Now that the buttons are working with the Windows 7 I have installed, I'm very much the happy puppy. As for high power graphics and whizz-bang CPU's, I don't play any games and have a powerhouse lappy that can be used for such things if needful. The CoreDuo does just fine (kicks Intel Atom butt) and, while the GMA is no great shakes, it's better than an S3 Twister. ..Willy.

 

Toughbooks do not have that option
Thats why its nice to have the proper restore dvd for the newer sata models

Alex

 

I live on Vancover Island , if you need anything for your toughbook I do order parts ocasionaly and can add to the order
You live very close to one of the main experts on this forum as he lives in Richmond


Alex

 

For easy install of Win XP use Nlite for integrate SATA drivers rebuilt ISO and use this for install with USB Key
http://www.eeeguides.com/2007/11/installing-windows-xp-from-usb-thumb.html

For you touchscreen driver it's digitizer ?