New to CF-28, questions

Hey all,
I've recently started looking at the CF-28 and really like what I see. I'm considering getting one and modding it with all the things I like for everydayish use.

Are any of you actively selling them? I'm looking at the 1GHz models with a touchscreen and the backlit keyboard.

I'm considering putting a bluetooth PCMCIA card in the hidden spot, Billionton seems to be the recommended card? The one with the antenna that folds down?

Looking at wifi cards it looks like you guys are all jumping on cards from Keenan Systems?

Now, for future use I'm considering an internal evdo card... but I also want wired internet..
Since I believe there are only two minipci slots(related note, is there a service manual out there for the 800/1ghz models, I found one for the 600) this may pose an issue? Has anyone successfully modded a pcmcia card to sit in the slot with the door and provide 10/100 ethernet?

Has anyone done a full case paint with any sort of success? Is that generally worth the trouble?

I'm still working my way through that beast of a GPS thread, but I'm definitely fond of having gps too.

I apologize if there are other threads that answered these questions, feel free to point me to them if they exist. I searched around a bit but certainly missed some.

Thanks!

 

It all depends on how much you want to spend, vs how much modifications, or additions you want to do yourself. There are some good deals on ebay if you know what your looking for!
Do a search for ULTIMATE TOUGHBOOK on ebay and you should find a CF-28 configured with exactly what you are looking for.

 

Don't be fooled though, several people are listing their toughbooks as "ultimate" these days. For a real Ultimate, make sure to look at the ones sold by ebay seller "klaatubarradanicktoh". (wierd name, huh? the guy must be some kind of freak

 

Sounds like someone who is fan of the movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still"
( excellent movie by the way..)

 

I'm working on a few projects right now, but after I move to Oregon (When it's warm again), I'm gonna work on figuring out a solid paint to use for our toughbooks. Problem with most paints is they don't offer the qualities that the stock panasonic paint offer (It's a thick epoxy paint, helps with bumps to absorb impact, and is scratch resistant).

I am looking at using a thinner rhinoliner style paint (Truck beds)...

Everything else is very do-able though.

 

Zorm,

First of all... Welcome to the forum. Like all of us... You will get an education as well as be a teacher. That's what we're all here for!

You can do all the things you want to do with no problem! First... You can have a modem, LAN and Wireless at the same time. There is a modem/lan combo card on ebay for cheap. If you can't find one... I can send you one.

I'd stay away from the full case paint for several reasons... The first is that the case is powder coated. To take that off would be a major endevour. Painting the top, hinge cover and handle is easy enough though. I would take it to a professional though. You could spray it with a spray can but you don't get the elastomeric flex additives you need to resist scratches. I've done that for several orders. I particularly like to match the paint on there already.

There is not that much difference, if any, between the 800Mhz and the 1Ghz. Maybe a little faster... Mainly in boot-up.

You can buy the Toughbooks on ebay but it is generally "Buyer Beware"... There have been a few horror stories but generally most people get something they can deal with. A premium Toughbook will command a premium price though. Prices also fluctuate monthly/weekly. Two months ago I could buy all the 800Mhz models I wanted for $150-$250... Now they are upwards of $400 or more for a good one. The 1Ghz models have gone up to $500 - $700.. .This is just for a base model with very few, if any, mods.

I sell The Ultimate Toughbook on ebay. I just sold the last one but will have another listed late tonight. There are a few people that have copied the "Ultimate" moniker... But you will see it when you click on it.

Remember... The only stupid question around here is the one you DON'T ask!

Again... Welcome to the forum and good luck with the hunt/modding.

Rick

 

Gotta laugh at one I saw on eBay.. listed as an "ultimate" ... but came witha FDD as the primary drive.. if ya wanted anything else ...ya paid thru the nose for it... what a laugh...... and he had it listed for over 400$!!

 

I've seen a few outrageous claims on eBay that make me think they belong in one of the crack houses in Detroit...

It's hard to find a deal right now actually, but some of these people think they have pure gold. I'd stay away from anything without a hard drive caddy unless you get the computer for under $100.

Toughbooks are my hobby, so if there is a project that we haven't done that you want to tackle, throw me some ideas. I'll work out the possibilities and see how it'll work. Just don't expect fast results (As I said, it's a hobby, and I've got a million other projects to finish).

 

Thanks for the information guys.

I was poking around ebay and found
http://item.express.ebay.com/Panaso...350007294109QQihZ022QQtrZexpQQcmdZExpressItem which doesn't seem like that bad a deal assuming it all works.
Then there is an 800Mhz motherboard also for sale for around $100.

After that it looks like it'd just be a matter of ordering a caddy/AC adapter from heartlandsi, along with all the cover ports.

How hard is it to order from heartlandsi? Are you just calling them up Toughbook? And has anyone made sort of a unified list of part #s that work when ordering from them? I see a lot of information scattered about in various posts heh

 

I'd stay away from the one you linked unless you want a total rebuild on your list of things to do. You'll find that sometimes the "deals" you buy turn out costing you twice as much as if you were to just wait until the right deal came along.

If you just wait and keep scanning the most recently listed items something will come up. It always does. You just have to be quick.

 

I'm not afraid of getting my hands dirty, thats part of the appeal. But do you think its just not a great buy altogether?

At the opposite end of the spectrum there are several like http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110209161254 they seem to have everything but demand the premium. Perhaps its worth it? I'd feel kinda bad if I ended up trashing it after spending a considerable amount on it but.. thats part of the fun right?

I don't have a problem with waiting at all, I just don't know whats really a good idea so I figured I'd ask since you guys have been at it a lot longer.

 

That's not a premium... I just listed mine... Now THAT is a premium! BUT... You get what you pay for.

It's really up to you. I would think if you want to do the modding and building that you should get one that already has a good base going toward the direction you want to go. Missing doors is one thing but every time you open it up you risk messing it up somehow. I don't think I would want to swap mobos... Even I try to avoid that if possible. An errant spark can really ruin your day.

You can find a good donor 800Mhz that is maybe missing some doors but has a touchscreen for under $400. Likewise... There is a seller selling 1Ghz NON touchscreens for $379. I thought that was a fair price and have almost bought some from him... But then I find a slightly better deal elsewhere... Plus I love the touchscreen functionality. Especially if I am installing GPS.

Just some thoughts to confuse you even more. Heh heh heh

 

you wouldn't have said that before coming to my house

 

Hell, if anybody wants, I've got an 800 with a touchscreen, rubber/backlit keyboard, CD drive, all the doors, and an XP pro license, you can have it for $400 shipped... It's got a dead battery though. I've done nothing to it other than install XP on it.

You can probably find better deals out there, but if not.. I won't have the money to fix this one up for a couple of weeks.

Edit; gravitar; Your house is far from ghetto
I'm talking McNichols & Hamilton kind of houses

Plus you've got good deals!

 

Thats pretty funny! I should take one of my junker CF27s and list it as Ultimate I wouldn't really be lying, as it would be ready for its ultimate resting place!

 

Wanna give it a proper funeral? We can get a firing squad (for testing purposes, really!), then throw it in the hearse for a final ride

 

I would love to see the you tube of that! I would bet that with the proper marketing that CF-27 would fetch a bundle on Ebay.

 

There is a phenomenon about these toughbooks you my have not yet realized. Because of their original customer base (mostly government agencies and corporate fleet sales), certain parts are not readily available for resale, and thus end up being pretty expensive. This includes the following:

Hard drive caddies
CD/DVD drive caddies
batteries
port covers
wireless options OTHER THAN the ones for service truck fleets
(probably a few other things that i'm forgetting)

Now OTOH, the "base unit", "shell", "bare-bones", etc. what ever you want to call it.. i'm referring to what is left when all these unboltable/unpluggable parts have been unbolted or unplugged.. what you would THINK would be the most valuable part of the system, is actually cheap and plentiful.

I do not think you would see this same situation with a dell/gateway/compaq/etc. series of notebook. Those are mainstream, while toughbooks fill niche markets with special needs and operating practices.

What I'm trying to say here is, buying on ebay is fine, but consider the total cost of the system when deciding how much to spend. That $90 one is probably 80% complete, but its that last 20% that will kill your pocketbook. The $700 one is 100% complete but I think you could do better by carefully studying the listings and gathering the parts yourself. Don't be afraid to end up with some extra parts in the process, less money is less money!

 

You should see the youtube video after me and my friend got drunk in Oregon...

My head was literally on fire.

But you are right, we could sell a shot at 27 on eBay and probably make some cash.

 

This seller didnt seem to bad, I didnt have the money but he had some 1GHZ for about 400 and it had stock gps, he did say he was closed until 1-2-08 so maybe he will relist some cf-28s in a few days.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290192130530&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:VRI

 

Seadiel... I've bought from him before. He has some pretty good stuff sometimes. On some auctions he will tell you that he has 15 laptops to sell but only 5 of them are in really good condition and the others are a little beat up. At least they are honest!