New owner - CF-19KDRANGA

Hi guys and gals, first post.

I am the proud owner of a rather cheap (US$190) second-hand Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 Mk 3 running Windows 7 Pro, which is my first fully-rugged laptop. It's in pretty good condition, with just the AC cover missing, and the 56k modem and network port covers damaged. There is a chip/gouge from one of the corners and while the main latch is cracked, there is a replacement on the way.

I'm in the process of setting up the machine for some remote area photojournalism work (photo processing, word processing, document production and emailing/cloud), but the machine will also be used for 4WD navigation using Oziexplorer software as well as general internet browsing and social media in areas with a signal.

I have yet to decode the full product designation so I don't know if this toughbook has GPS or WWAN as standard.

System info indicates a built-in WWAN, but I haven't been able to get it to work with my carrier and their broadband management software, so I'm going the route of a PC card modem. Device manager doesn't appear to mention any onboard GPS, so I've purchased a USB mouse GPS (GlobalSat BU353). I have contacted Panasonic to see if they can provide a Windows 7 Pro recovery disc for my model.

I have installed some of my old versions of Adobe products I use day to day. Although on my home system I am up to Adobe CC 2015, there's no chance of these running on the CF-19 Mk3 as it is. Instead I have installed some programs from my old Adobe Creative Suite 2 - Photoshop, Indesign and Acrobat Pro. I had forgotten how clunky these are and I'd like to run Creative Suite 5 or 6 versions of at least Photoshop and InDesign. The Toughbook isn't meant to be a full desktop replacement, rather it should allow me to crunch some photos, write copy and design layouts while out in the field and away from those niceties of civilisation, the power point and the mobile phone tower.

So far, the only upgrades I have planned for this machine are to max out the RAM to 8GB and add a larger capacity and faster HDD - 1Tb SSD would be great if I can find one at a good price. I notice there are hybrid SSDs of the same capacity within my price range, but I am not sure if they are any advantage over a normal HDD?

I have some questions about the performance of this machine vis. lagging but I'll ask them at a later date.

I'd like to thank the forum for providing such a wealth of info on these and other models of the Toughbook. I've spent hours already lurking on the site.

Cheers!

 

Are you 100% sure you got the model number correct? Nothing on either the toughwiki or the configurator can make any sense out of CF-19KDRANGA.

 

Yep, that's what is says on the sticker and in the system info. It's a difficult one for sure.

Here's the specs from an old sales page for it -

Source: http://gimme.com.au/product/panasonic-cf-19kdranga-toughbook-cf-19-mk3-dual-touch--2

" Panasonic CF-19KDRANGA Toughbook CF-19 MK3

• Dual Touch
  
• Intel Core 2 Duo SU9300 1.2GHz Montevina Processor
  
• 160GB SATA Hard Drive
  
• 2GB DDR2 Memory
  
• 10.4 XGA 1000 Nit Daylight Readable LCD Screen
  
• WLAN 5100SP-V A/G/N & LAN 10/100/1000
  
• Express Card Slot,
  
• Firewire Port
  
• USB
  
• Up to 9 Hours Battery Life
  
• Windows XP Tablet SP2 with Windows 7 Disk (CF-19KDRANGA)

Features: CF-19KDRANGA •

• Convertible Notebook to Tablet Design •
  
• 10.4 1,000 nit sunlight-viewable LCD with Panasonic CircuLumin technology •
  
• Standard touchscreen or dual touch LCD (touchscreen and digitizer) •
  
• 5.1 lbs.,
  
• lightweight design •
  
• Full magnesium alloy case with handle •
  
• First MIL-STD-810G certified tablet PC • 6-foot drop and IP65 certified •
  
• Shock-mounted flex-connect hard drive with quick release •
  
• Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n •
  
• Mobile broadband ready design •
  
• Optional integrated Gobi mobile broadband •
  
• MIL-STD-810G and IP65 certified"

 

Welcome to the Panasonic Toughbooks forum

We got a guy on here that is darn good at finding info like this. He will be on in the morning......oh Shawn

 

Pure SSD is the way to go,I am buying 480gb SSD's for $117,along with 4gb of ram and the restore disc you will be in decent shape. How many hours does it show in the bios?

Gps would be on the right side of the case in a noticeable square bump.

 

Nothing looking like a square bump on this one.

The accumulated Operating Time in the BIOS is 6490 hours
Thanks for the info.

 

Hours are good so no problems there,get a factory power adapter if you don't have one as it will last forever and have less problems. I have a factory CF-72 from about 1999 that still works.

 

CF-19KDRANGA Toughbook CF-19 MK3 Dual Touch - Intel Core 2 Duo SU9300 1.2GHz Montevina Processor - 160GB SATA Hard Drive - 2GB DDR2 Memory - 10.4 XGA 1000 Nit Daylight Readable LCD Screen - WLAN 5100SP-V A/G/N & LAN 10/100/1000 - Express Card Slot, Firewire Port & USB


Dual touch--Very good--Especially for photo work--Make sure you have the proper stylus(does it have a button on the stylus?)
NO factory GPS--I suggest you add one eventually.
The A on the end of the model means it's an Australia model. It will not show up in the configurator.
The Intel 5100 is a decent wifi card...The Ubiquiti SR71e is better--A $50 upgrade..
Even just add a third antenna and go with an Intel 5300 wifi card. Very cheap but effective improvement
Go full SSD.
No WWAN card, but you can add one later.

 

Thanks for the reply Shawn.

The Toughbook came with a cheap, generic stylus designed for a tablet or similar. It really doesn't work very well and is difficult to calibrate, so I splashed the cash on a proper CF-19 stylus, however I'm pretty sure now I got the one for a basic CF-19 Mk1/Mk2 touchscreen rather than dual touch. I'll pick up a proper dual touch stylus locally.

@safn1949: The unit came with an old IBM Thinkpad AC adapter which outputs 16v 4.5A. It's been working fine so far, but I will definitely source a factory unit.

Incidentally, I have a Lind CF-LNDDC80THW car adapter on its way to me, as well as a spare battery (CF-VZSU48). The existing battery came with no promises at all that it would even hold a charge, so I have been pleasantly surprised that it's lasted over 4 hours both times I've used the Toughbook away from the AC adapter. Very impressive compared to the consumer laptops I'm used to which are lucky to get 2hrs out of a similarly-sized 5200mAh battery.

 

The IBM adapters are pretty good. I use them all the time. No worries with that one.
You will be surprised how much better it is with the proper stylus and using the digitizer instead of the touchscreen.

 

yep ... the IBM supplies are ok ... see if you can find a 12VDC/110 (or 220)VAC input adapter (made by IBM or others) ... this is really nice for mobile work .
do not use a "regular" ac adapter that is sold as a new replacement (or used) ... these usually are 19-21 VDC and will damage the '19 (as well as several other models) .

GPS :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/UBlox-6-GPS...top-MS-Streets-Trips-WWAN-works-/221359552279
hands down ... you'll throw rocks at the others .

 

OEM GPS is 2 times cheaper on ebay. And is almost as good. I think there is no sense to buy Ublox 6 based GPS now, chipset is too old and has newer editions with GLONASS etc.

 

yep ... they are making some new stuff that is darn good .
the oem gps cards are getting a little age on them ... the failure rate and decline in performance is an issue .
(i am looking at the noisy/failed gps modules that i am collecting for parts)