New plan for my life of Toughbooks! Thoughts wanted!

So here is my current setup:

1) CF-19RMR unit as my main machine with a desktop dock driving one display though VGA and one display though USB - DVI. Works great! A little slow and Windows XP sucks, but I've been getting by! Love her too!

2) CF-H1 loaded for my notes (MILLIONS OF NOTES for that matter). I love her!!! She's treated me well and even though it's only a slow 1.6 atom, 1GB, 80GB, it's MORE THAN enough for one note 2010 (with 2 years worth of stuff in it)

3) CF-A1 toughpad mounted in my truck for navi and music! PERFECT. Love her too! This is staying the way it is. Nothing changing here. I use this for temp notes if I'm on the road in my truck anyways. I don't bring my H1 out of the office EVER anyways.

In an effort to simplify my life I was thinking about getting rid of the CF-19 and H1 and just have ONE CF-H2 to use as both my workstation AND my note taking machine. Here is my thought process and WHY I want to do this:

Carrying around a CF-19 AND H1 in one bag through the airport (and I travel a lot) is a pain in the !!!!! WAY to heavy and too much!

So, I would use the H2 as I do my H1 now (laying down just perfectly to take notes on the digitizer screen (Touch disabled)). Have a WICKED GOOD powered USB docking station to drive both my screens, keyboard and mouse. Yes I'd have to sacrifice 1 screen (Cuz now I have the 2 x 28" screens + the 1 10" screen on my CF-19 totaling 3 screens for work + the H1 as my notes machine) To top it off, I NEVER takes notes AND look in my system at the same time anyways.............. So multi-tasking it would be gravy!

My concern is this: Would having EVERYTHING run through 1 USB 2.0 port be too much??? it would be the POWERED port replicator driving one VGA screen then 3 USB's - 1 for the USB to DVI adapter for the 2nd screen, one for mouse and one potentially for keyboard (Although BT keyboard is probably what I'll get for simplicity). Additionally the dock would drive the network (hardwired giga-lan).

As far as traveling: I ALWAYS bring a mouse with me, so that wouldn't change. I'd have a more powerful CF-H2 than my 19 is now... and I'd bring a compact BT keyboard with along with the charger as usual. When I'm traveling at the airport, I don't ever use my computer unless I have 1+ hour to kill anyways at the airport and wouldn't mind busting out the keyboard and mouse (I always use my mouse regardless even when traveling.)

This is sounding more and more do-able every minute I think about it, BUT: WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK???

 

Would THIS work???? 2005pr - HP 2005PR USB 2 0 Port Replicator H2L60AA | eBay - it has VGA AND HDMI...

 

Powered USB Hub Recommendation - DisplayLink Forum

It is possible… I think I will take my chances…

I found a 2005pr HP branded dock (will only drive 1 display at a time though) + this adapter that I already own ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812156030 ) that should work with the Toughbook H2.

Basically I use the 2005pr and from one of the USB ports on that I would daisy chain the USB - DVI adapter that I already have.

 

I think you are crazy! LOL

 

Well we KNEW this...............

 

Hi Rob

I just watched a you tube video on the H2. I’ll take two . There is an option for an Ethernet port to be 2nd USB port.

But who would give an Ethernet port? Dump the atom processor H1.

 

Hmm, personally there is nothing better than having a keyboard fixed in my computer (I know that I'm odd in this, giving that I can type blind and fast on a CF-19 keyboard). And I don't like hauling around extra things to loose like a keyboard and a mouse.
I tried the ipad with a keyboard/case before, but it wouldn't work for me. I just couldn't adjust to a keyboard that small and bad, even though it was some of the better, zagg and logitech.

That all being said, I can understand you want to simplify/downsize. It's nice to have extra stuff laying around to play with, but I wanted just one computer that would do all/99% of all the things I do.
The H2 has a USB3 port, so that would have a lot of bandwith. And it has ethernet, so you could use a fixed line (I like wifi when I'm not in my office, but IMHO there is nothing like a good old ethernet cable for stability).
It also has a good processor 4/8Gb memory, regular sata drive, so you can update it to a bigger SSD/hybrid/HDD if you want to in the future and you have 7 hours of battery life on two batteries that are even hot swappable.

So if you can find a good stable keyboard that's compact enough to take with you has good keys, why not use the H2? It might feel like a bit of a gamble, but as far as I can see it's not that risky.

What don't you like about the H1/why can't you do it with the H1? The Atom, 2Gb ram, 64gb drive that are slow/low/small? But do you like the form-factor?

Just one question I would have: how to protect the screen when packing it in a bag?

 

Just buy the CF-D1 to replace all of your toughbook collection. No more brain conflicts. LOL!

 

Hmmm, that's a good idea perhaps as well. just not a hot-swappable battery, I think?

 

the h2's don't have USB 3.0. at least not the one that I have access to at a steal deal! I do know that some of the newer mk2's have 2 USB though

yes!hard wire Ethernet FTW! couldn't live without that!

 

the h1 I have now is fine in the bag with the exposed screen

my h1 is only 1gb and 80gb spinning... atom CPU sucks big time for full time productivity! trust me!

 

hmmm, combination of atom and spinning disk (1.8 or 25"?) must be lethal for productivity indeed.
But if the H2 is mk1, it's got something like an i5-2557Man i5 processor and it would be a blazing fire-tornado, compared to the Atom.
If it has 2Gb memory and a slow HDD, I imagine you could update it to a 4Gb memory without much costs and perhaps a 128Gb SSD inside, they are not that expensive anymore! Is an H2 easily upgradable?

Sounds like you have a new toughbook on the way ?!?

 

Nope,

H1 and H2 RAM is NOT upgradable in any scenario... yes the MK1's are i5 1.7GHz and the MK2's are 1.8's. The 80GB drive in my H1 I think is a 1.8" drive.

I'm gonna check tomorrow if it's USB 3.0. If it was, that would be A-W-E-S-O-M-E, but I don't think it does.

Thanks!

 

I have a few General Dynamics Itronix GD3000.
Almost same machine as CF-H1, but Core 2 Solo, 2GB RAM, 64GB SSD, Wi-Fi, BT, Gobi2000.
Very good and bright (LED) screen, but very slow SSD
I think they are useful for car navigation, but I don't think any tablet is comfortable for data entering. Text etc... It's possible to use BT keyboard and mouse, of course, but CF-19 is so much easier to use...
Waiting for my new CF-19TSB14 (MK4) Will try to upgrade it to 16GB RAM

 

Hi BaRR, I feel the same way about tablets and BT keyboard, mouse etc. But I also know how much Rob hates the 19's cramped keyboard. I personally have no problem with it, being able to type blind on it (although I got sloppy and use only three fingers per hand).

 

Wait wait wait, who said I hated it? I L-O-V-E it! I can type faster on that than ANY other keyboard... shorter throw on my fingers = faster typing

Albeit, it DID take some getting used to (And typing on a normal keyboard now is a b!tch lol)

 

For sale:

CF-19 MK4 and CF-H1....

 

Just out of curiosity, do you like the digitizer screen on the H1/H2? I find it much more frustrating than a WACOM screen on the C1/C19. I also love the idea of One Note and handwritten notes and diagrams and I hope your new H2 setup works well for you.

 

It's all wacom dude.

Yes, I LOVE the screens on the H1's and H2's... h2's more so since it has the ciru-lumen and 1000 NIT

CF-19 (MK5 and later) Screen = CF-H2 screen VERBATIM.

One note is GOD! It's a salesman's BEST friend

 

Soooooooooooo

Supposedly, the H2 has an open slot for RAM - can take up to 8GB.... (Which I thought it was all only from the factory, but I guess not...)

I will investigate when I get mine. It's on backorder for a few days, but when I get it I'll let you all know

 

So the unit I wanted was the CF-H2ASHKZDM (CF-H2ASHKZ1M really) - but it ended up selling to a customer before I could get one... so I will get a CF-H2ASFAZDM (CF-H2ASFAZ1M really) instead...

Customer comes first of course

I wanted the FP reader, but I can live without it... the later unit is cheaper too

 

Hmm, I don't know the full differences by the model-number, but I know I'm still sulking and regretting about not being able to install a FP on the 19.
The again, cheaper is always good of course. When do you get it?
I'm really curious how it works out in the long run.

Btw. you didn't tell me that you got used to the 19 (backlit?) keyboard. But if you can get used to it, (almost) everybody can! You where seriously opposed to it, a while ago! I also have trouble getting back to "full sized" keyboards these days. I feel like they are humongous!

 

The difference is that the one I bought doesn't have: 2D barcode reader (Don't care), RFID smart card reader (Don't care), 2MP camera (Don't care) or the fingerprint reader (which I want, but I can live without...)

Yes, I got used to the CF-19 keyboard! Am typing on her right now! I love the CF-19's keyboard! It'll be hard to adjust to a full sized keyboard again lol.

WAIT WAIT! Ohhhhhhh teo!!!! How can we mod a CF-19 keyboard to be used outside of the CF-19??? Don't care about the backlight, but it would be cool to "hack" it and hotwire it into a normal USB cable to plug it into any computer..........

*Hamsters are turning in my head....*

 

Doesn't someone make a "mini" usb keyboard? I will search.....

Here is one

View attachment 93626

 

I would prefer the ENTIRE setup to be pink AND bedazzled...

http://collegecandy.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/glam-keyboard11.jpg?w=400&h=227

 

I think I'll buy the K810: $100 keyboard for $58: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Logitech-Bl...94?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item23293b2746

Looks nifty and portable!!

 

Very nice keyboard.....

I have this wired one on my desktop. I have had it for over a year. It still works well. Nice feel on the keys too. Backlight works great.
I tried half a dozen different keyboards before I found the Logitech that I liked.
Logitech Y UY95 Illuminating Wired Keyboard | eBay

 

I NEED wireless Sorry, but wired just sucks for traveling.

I offered $50 and he came back at $55.... I just countered again at $53...

It's all about the art of the deal!

I'm hoping he'll come back at $54 ... I'll accept $4 for the WIN!

 

If I had to buy one now, I would get wireless, but I already own this one so....
I have found Logitech's in general to be my keyboards of choice.

 

I ended up losing out on this deal!

He declined my counter offer. I then sent in a $55 offer and that was it... GONE. Maybe I should have just accepted at $55... Didn't realize there was THAT big of a demand for this particular model!

Ohh well!

 

Pink ones are still available!!!!

Sadly, probably someone read this thread and bought it out from under you. I won't post a fleabay link to anything I am trying to buy on the forum. I learned my lesson already...

 

Haha, I don't care!

It's a blessing in disquise. I'll tell you why: I ended up buying a Corsair Vengeance K60 for my office! It is simply AMAZING! I can't wait to hook it up and use it like NOW! It's like the old school IBM "clicky" keyboards! VERY heavy, made well (out of metal) and is LOUD to type on! GOD I LOVE IT!!!

I also bought a 7 port USB 2.0 powered hub with a 3.6 Amp PSU. Max output of only .5A per port but it still works great! It's a Cyber Power one with the model of CP-H720P

I will also buy a K810 later for traveling purposes

 

Instead of getting a K810, I ended up getting the Microsoft WEDGE keyboard. it is cheaper and comes with a tablet stand, which I know I will need. I snagged it from eBay for $44.10 ($6 below distribution price). Didn't post link this time! ... Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard U6R 00001 Black New in Box PC Mac Bluetooth 885370379938 | eBay

Totally prepped for tomorrow! I re-organized my desk too and finally bought a new plastic mat for my chair to roll on! The old one has been SHOT for OVER a year!! I feel like my life is becoming more and more perfect in the Toughbook world!!

Tomorrow will be the day to investigate the RAM deal and to transfer everything over!

Monday morning I'll be rocking and rolling!

 

The corsair looks good. I like real metal and mechanical key press ....No backlit though...no 3am internet without the lights on...For me anyway. I don't have the keys memorized.

I picked up an Adaptec Xhub 7plus a few years ago, with 5amp PS. I didn't need it, but it was new and a price I couldn't pass up.
I keep thinking about scrapping my desktop and getting a dock, but the desktop works fine and it's very handy for burning Bluray and DVD's

Anyway, I'm glad you found what you wanted.

 

So far so good!

Can't transfer info yet because PANASONIC GOOFED UP! This H2 came with a 128GB SSD instead of a 320GB 7200 RPM drive! GAH! 128GB isn't enough. Getting a 500GB drive overnighted for tomorrow already loaded so I can get the stuff up and running over the weekend! So far so good though! Everything is running great!

 

I don't think it has much chance of working, the i5-540UM, like the 520M & all Arrandales, have the memory controller in the CPU support for only 8GB of RAM.
http://ark.intel.com/products/49159/Intel-Core-i5-540UM-Processor-3M-Cache-1_20-GHz

I searched myself for someone who used 16gb on a 520m (for my C1) but found only a failed boot attempt.

Anyway good luck with that, you did it with the Cantiga chipset on the mk3, but in that case, the chipset was designed for 8GB ram:
ARK | Mobile Intel® GS45 Express Chipset (Intel® 82GS45 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub)

 

Alec, do you still have the full FP kit from Heartlands ? I could help you sweeten your feelings about it, by selling it to me.
I'm not 100% sure it's exactly the same board for mk5 and my mk4.
At least I don't have bios fp whitelisting so I should be good to go.

 

I'm sorry, I don't have the Fingerprint reader.

 

This is worthless without pics!!!!!!

 

So why not order one that would fit yours for sure...I just might be able to help you on that one...incoming PM

 

Pics coming tomorrow. Got her all set up!

One issue I am still having which is going to really KILL me if I can't get fixed is that traditionally, I can erase with the back side of my digizitizer pen in Microsoft OneNOTE 2010... It AIN'T working! Driving my crazy!!! I've tried (Started with) OneNote 2010, and have upgraded to 2013 and it still doesn't work! 2013 looks LAME AS HELL! It's like they only know how to use 4 colors out of the color spectrum!

HELP! I need to be able to use the eraser with the back side of the digi pen like I did on my H1 with XP!!

Thanks!

 

Hmmmm, sorry i cant help. That's something the cf-19 doesn't do.

 

The MK5's and forward have the option for dual touch... I have hundreds in stock!

 

dual touch is resistive and wacom, but the 19's pen doensn't have a eraser? AFAIK at least.
Mine does have the resistive and the wacom btw.

 

Resistive yes. Wacom yes.

Eraser pen standard does NOT... ever... but you can buy them from ebay for like $30 with the eraser and they work (except for mine damnit! *BANGING HEAD STILL*) arrgg


So yes, you have a dual touch!

 

yours doesn't work on the H2, but it did work on the H1 ?

so you're saying that I can buy a wacom digitizer pen on ebay and use it on my dual-touch C1 with the eraser function ?
the standard supplied pen has only 1 button (right click function), but the digitizer can handle 2 buttons ?

 

That is correct.

The side button is typically for a right click. The one I have is this one: New Official Genuine Samsung Slate 7 Digitizer Pen Black AA DP0NE2B US | eBay

It fits right into the spot where it's supposed to go on the H1/H2 and the back end of it has the eraser.

Yes, it works GREAT (BEYOND PERFECT) on my H1 with XP and OneNote 2010 but won't work on the H2 for some reason

I installed the OEM Wacom Tablet PC driver and then I was able to reprogram the button from right click (Because If I want to right click then I just hold it down on the screen) to serve as an eraser, but then the digitizer was effed up... if i hovered and moved the pen around on the tablet the mouse would move on the external 28" screen I have hooked up... GOOFY! I did a system restore to fix it back to the way it should be but now my eraser dilemma is still there! GAH!

If your C1 has a DIGITIZER SCREEN then yes, you're good

It's a Wacom thing and is NOT specific to the computer!

Thanks

 

Here is my setup

 

cool setup there

the samsung pen in the link looks very similar to the one my C1 came with, except the color (white) and the lack of erase button on top.
here is mine:


does the original pen from your H1/H2 look exactly like this ? if so, then I could be pretty sure it fits on the C1 pen slot.
they're all wacom anyway

thanks for the pen and driver tips !

did you try using it without any external monitors attached ? I assume you use Win7 with the H2, and that somehow the driver gets confused by the screen dimensions when you have an extended desktop.

 

Screens make no difference

Yes, they are ALL the same size... trust me... ALL... Color may vary (And there are 4 different nibs to get, which I prefer the "Felt tip(nib)"), but the size is all the same. The reason I bought the Samsung one was primarily because it has a tether hole in it...

wacom nibs | eBay

Felt ones: wacom nibs felt | eBay

I go through about 4 nibs a year with all the notes I take

Pic attached of my collection... The white one actually got ripped in half one night out with a bunch of drunken Panasonic people and still works... I taped it back together