PLEASE help me with my decision.......

First off, I am a new member and happened upon this site by doing a Google on Panasonic Toughbooks. So glad I did as this looks like a great place to hang out!!

My problem is that I just won my first Toughbook on Ebay, but didn't really do my homework well and purchased a 600 mhz unit. Below are the specs of the unit I actually won. After contacting the seller I had seen that he has been selling quite a few of these, he told me that he was willing to send me (I just paid for it today) at no additional charge a 800 mhz or 1ghz unit instead BUT that it would NOT contain a wifi card and it has some minor scratches on it (my unit had no scratches)

I would not be using the laptop for gaming or anything like that mostly surfing the net.

Which way should I go? Is there that big of a difference in the 600 mhz to the 800 mhz or 1ghz units?

I do plan on upgrading the hard drive and memory regardless of which unit I decide to go with

Thanks in advance,

Dssemulator





Auction Includes:

*

Panasonic Toughbook CF-28
*

Panasonic A/C Power Adapter

Specifications:

Intel Pentium III

600 MHZ Processor

20GB Hard Drive

256mb of RAM (memory)

DVD-ROM Drive (not a writer)

13.3" Touch Screen

*Infrared port Built-in*

*Cisco WiFi Adapter Built-in*

Windows XP Professional and
Office XP installed

 

How much did you pay for it?

Honestly, I'd go for the 800 or 1000 just because they are better machines. Wireless cards are so easy and cheap to install, that it's almost a no-brainer.

I don't mind scratches at all, but that's me personally. My main book that I intend to keep looks like it went to war.

 

That Cisco card still sells on Ebay for around $100.00 so if it were me I would go with what you got and you can always find a 800mhz or 1ghz base with motherboard for around $50-$80 if the 600mhz doesn't do what ypou want. but I have seen well configured 600mhz 28's run much faster than a minimally configured 1ghz.

 

I paid 350 for it.......The scratches are not that big of a deal but just a little concerned that the seller takes advantage of this and sends me a 800 mhz "stripped down" model....No Touchscreen, etc....

 

No touchscreen either? In that case... That's a harder decision.

 

Not sure yet on the touchscreen, he hasn't gotten back to me yet tonight. I am just hesitant of giving the seller a "opening" to take advantage of the situation.

I have seen others post on here to not buy a 600 mhz under any circumstances, this has me concerned as well as being taken advantage of by the seller...

Are there any 600 mhz owners out there that are happy with there setup?
How bad could it be?

 

Don't let "processor" envy get you down. You can surf the web, and do word documents on a 166 MHz.

Try it out for a while, and if you don't like it, put it back up on Ebay.

No worries

 

I don't know about the 600's but I added 512 of ram and a 7200rpm 100GB HD, updated the software.. WOW, the speed increase was incredible. Adding the Wifi is no big deal and the newer cards work better than the older stock cards.

 

The big issue with the 600mhz models is the 384MB Max RAM limitation; this is enough to run XP, but barely. XP Pro just starts to run right at 512MB & 1 GB is best. Above that & XP really dosn't care - what would care is memory-hungry apps like CADD/CAM & video authoring programs, which you are very unlikely to run on this machine.

I have a Touchscreen (12.1") 600mhz model; I'm using it for parts to make my 1000mhz model the way I want it. What's left over I'm toying around with in Ubuntu; but its still my test mule for stupid stuff, I'm not gonna cry if I let the magic smoke out. I'd get the 800mhz or 1000mhz model; whichever one comes with 13" touchscreen If possible; altho even if not with Touchscreen, that's up to you (how important is it to you?); some of our users have stated they like the display better without the dulling effect of the touchscreen.

mnem
*Still cooking on his Toughbook*

 

Get the 1Ghz... Then add your own wifi. (Easy!) and live with the laptop if it is not a touchscreen and then you can score a tscreen on ebay later and swap them out (easy)... In the meantime you can buy the RAM and wifi card and have it all when the laptop gets there.

 

Myself, I'd get the 800 over the 1000mhz, IF it came with the 13" touchscreen (like mine did) & the 1000mhz didn't. Otherwise, get the 1000mhz; I think they ALL came with at least 13" (TB?), touchscreen or not.

mnem
my 2C worth

 

Some of the tscreens on the 1Ghz were 12"... But I haven't seen too many of them. It was an option.

The speed difference between the 800 & the 1Ghz isn't much!

 

An option? Why would anyone choose the 12"... Oh, wait. DUH! Mine's got the transflective option for viewing in direct sunlight... is that what you mean?

As for the diff between 800MHZ & 1000MHZ, that was what I meant. Unless you get REALLY lucky and find a Mk3 with 512MB onboard (giving you the magic 1GB Max RAM capacity), there really isn't a lot of difference performance-wise or high-performance upgradeability-wise...

mnem
*Did NOT get THAT LUCKY, punk*

 

According to the seller the 1 ghz model also has the touchscreen, so I think I am going to go that route at least I will be starting with a solid base and can upgrade the hard drive and memory....

Thanks so much for all the opinions, I will definitely be hanging around here and look forward to reading about the different "hacks" and remods.

Thanks again
Dssemulator

 

DSS emulator? man, that brings back memories!

 

The "good ole days" right gravitar.......

 

yup.. the letter "H" was our friend!

 

and "Dave" our enemy!....lol

 

Damn,, it really IS a small world

GB

 

hey, maybe you guys know. what happened to the "helper"? i used to be on there every day.. even was a site supporter for a while. but then i got out of it for a while, and when i checked back a year or so later, it was gone. vanished. did dave buy 'em or close them down?

 

"Dave" got to a lot of them and some were scared away by the letters that the lawyers sent out. I was never a member of any of the sites, I got all my info from a.d.h.
I was into it 'till the HU died and it ended with "Dave"
Now most are doing the same with "Charlie" and the rom 102

GB

 

Dewed... I got out when they whacked all of the loopers... It was easy; I used the money I'd made to buy a 500/300 for the motorhome with 2 years prepaid +Sunday Ticket. They wouldn't let me buy any further ahead!

mnem <~~~ Co-Genitor of the Winegard RV Antenna Dish Conversion

 

Hey! For what its worth, If you have the option ,I would go with the 1ghz and work your way up the food chain from there. You have more options for upgrade with a 1ghz than a 600mhz machine (unless you can get that "magic" 1 g of ram on the 800mhz). I started with basic 1ghz without a TouchScreen and worked my way up. I would say start with a solid base and go from there. Just my 2 cents.

Welcome to the forum and enjoy..you will learn allot...I have.