Newbie Questions, please forgive me.

So I got this idea that I want a Toughbook. I've looked through the forums here to an extent, looked on the Wiki listed but haven't found the info that I'm looking for.

1. I know what Panasonic has listed as the max. RAM in the cf 29s and 18s but has anybody ever tried more? The Wiki asks that but doesn't have an answer.

2. I've read about putting in a faster hard drive for better performance on the cf 29s. Has anybody ever doe it on a cf 18?

3. For only the rare times when I would want it, would a USB GPS unit do the trick, instead of modding something up or trying to find an OEM unit for the few times I would want/need it?

Thanks.

 

i dont think the board in an18 can handle more than a gig atleast not the mk1 but im sure these other gents can help you with all your questions and ni love my oem gps becuse its there when i need it

 

Pigdog... Welcome to our little slice of heaven... You are about to be infected with The Toughbook Disease. (Just a warning if you buy one!)

Max RAM is MAX RAM... You need to stick with what is listed. Toughbooks have a base amount soldered onto the mobo so keep that in mind when shopping. Usually either 256MB or 512MB and then you can add 1GB to that.

Yes... Faster hard drives are added all the time. Some stock hard drives are 4200 RPM... Some are 5400 RPM... Hitachi use to make a 7200RPM drive but it is out of production. You can find used drives but the general one that is liked here (At least by me) is the Samsung SpinPoint 5400 IDE.... Or you can go SSD... But READ the forum about that... They make all flavors and you want the RIGHT one!

You CAN go with a USB GPS to start and to take a "Taste test" to see how often you will actually use it. As your new disease sets in... You may find that you need everything in one unit. We can answer all your questions about how to install a custom unit but you MUST have the skills and tools to install.... OR... Stick to the USB.

Hope this helps!

Rick

 

The Wiki thread suggests trying a 2 GB module to see if it is recognized
2GB modules are available in ddr2 ,so this is only applicable on the later mk#s as the early models used ddr1
I have tried installing 2GB ,in them but only 1GB extra is recognized

As Toughbook stated you are free to put larger hard drives in them, you are not limited to the 30/40/60GB factory sizes

For occasional use ,or if you don’t mind packing around the GPS ,a usb unit is fine
Look for a GPS that uses the SiRFstarIII chipset

Alex

 

I just picked up a USB GPS (Globalstat BU 353), and it worked just fine. I used it to navigate on my recent trip to Maine and had no trouble with it at all in my truck. Someday I may try to do a built in GPS, but for now I'm quite happy with the USB version. And it was cheap and easy! ($37 shipped on ebay..)

 

Thanks for all the responses. Just looking for a decent deal right now.

 

I think MS Street and Trips costs 70 USD and comes with a GPS (40 USD without)

that seems like a good deal to me, and it is the software I am eyeing (no personal experience)

 

Heck... You can buy S&T for under $10 if you watch ebay... I bought a bunch a while back... (Without the USB GPS)

 

You can do better (as toughbook mentioned) but after hearing different opinions on certain software packages over others, I'd rather not shell out money for software I don't like. So I figured I'd get the USB GPS and figure the software out later. Often times you can download trials before buying.

Also, I'm cheap and would rather have free software. Not to mention, most stuff that micro$oft produces is crap, I'd rather not pay for crappy software...
Thats just my opinion on m$.. I have heard good things about Streets and Trips, but I'll be damned if I'll try it. So far I've been using Roadnav, which is free, and works great to tell you where you are, but not great for giving directions (its still being developed, but not really finished).

 

Well... If you are cheap... You won't like my suggestion. IGuidance. I find it perfect for regular street navigation and it is VERY touchscreen friendly. Large buttons make it MUCH easier when driving down the road. (Um... Of course you stop when inputting directions... Just like everyone else does, right?) Anyway... I think it was Capt.Dogfish that said he thought S&T had better trip planning features for vacations and such... But S&T has the drop down menus and you really do need to stop to enter anything in.

So... I guess it depends on what you want it for. Regular street navigation to take you places near home without the need for POIs and stuff... IGuidance at $99 is what I use. If you are planning a long drive cross-country and need hotels and restaurants... S&T may be better.

 

Exactly what he said!!!
One of my favorite features in S&T, and others may do this, is the push pins. When planning our trips we will often stumble on some point of interest on the net. Instead of writing it down I just put a push pin on the map in the appropriate location, there are several different styles and colors. The real beauty is you can add a name and a hidden URL link to the push pin, fire up the air card, click on the link, and presto, you are logged onto the web site of the location marked by the pin.
Cap driving down the Rogue River, Mrs.DF "what's down the road here that we were interested in", click click, "oh, the Oregon State wild animal rescue shelter, lets stop and see the eagles and otters". You get the idea.
CAP