Robs almighty Toughpad G1 review + simple Toughbook life story :P.

Okay guys, long read, I know, but I know the people that count will read it

I know I'm few and far between the last couple months. Business has been good to say the least so I haven't had time to "BS" if you may. So here is my current setup and the goods and bads of everything.

So before I start, most of you I've known for many years now knows that I'm crazy and I've owned almost every single model Toughbook known in existance. Each time I post reviews I always say "This is better than the last set up"... Yes, it keeps getting better and better. This set up is superior in my opinion and is the best to date! (Once again!):thumbsup:

So a brief history of my Toughbook ownership:

2004 started it all with a wicked brand new MK2 CF-29 NON-touch. I upgraded it to have touch and emmisive. I also had a Sprint EVDO REVA PCMCIA card which was lightning fast at the time and trumped every other carrier (ESPECIALLY VERIZON) for coverage and speed. I then moved on to a brand new CF-30 MK1 Touch and brought my emmisive with me. I then got the INTERNAL Sprint EVDO REV A card and I paid a little over $400 for it and gave my shot later on with Win 7 on it which was working great! From there I tried out the CF-T5 MK1 for some time but didn't like it because it wasn't durable enough and didn't have a backlit keyboard. From there I moved to a brand new ATI model CF-31 MK1. Shortly thereafter I switched to a CF-C1 as I wanted a lighter machine. I rocked this bad boy for quite some time and dropped it once and of course it was fine. It was at this point that I joined Rugged Depot. Now from here it's REALLY down-hill... I fell in love with the CF-C2 which I got brand new as well with a Verizon 4G LTE card built into it. Lord I was cooking MINUS the backlit keyboard (What was Panasonic thinking!??!?!). I doubled up and bought a refurbished CF-H1 for my notes with the digi pen. I used this to help me keep track of my sales pipeline and it prooved to be a deadly, wicked combination.... Except when I traveled.... with 2 laptops.... and a desk phone.... UHGG!!! I got a bug to get a CF-19 MK4 touch with emmisive and GPS. That didn't last long and I went BACK to my C2 and H1 double up because of the crappy resolution. Plus it didn't have a digitizer so I couldn't do my notes. Then I got the bright idea to get an H2. After all, it's an i5 and digitized.... So if figured I'd condense. Bad idea. I was dieing without a keyboard. BACK TO THE C2 for a 3rd time!!! . I just couldn't get away from my C2. I used it for nearly 1 year (Yes, that's a LONG damn time in my world to hold on to one computer). Finally I acted on the itch to get a G1 which I was putting in the grave every time my mind started wandering. I got this G1 on April 24th of this year and haven't looked back. I'd go to a CF-19 MK7 dual touch in a heartbeat if the screen res wasn't so crappy. This reason ALONE is why I've stuck with the G1 along with a few others:

1) Screen res - 1920 x 1200. I need not say more.
2) Battery life. I have the standard battery pack on my G1 and it's simply wicked.... with the screen turning off after 5 minutes I can easily get 8 hours out of this thing. That is equal to the C1 with dual batteries and its MEGA light!
3) 800 nits screen - works GREAT while camping
4) GPS - MC7750 GPS is simply amazing. Again, a life saver when out where there is no cell service!
5) Full sized HDMI. Most other tablets are micro/mini or not even there
6) USB 3.0 port (Yes the C2 had that too)
7) LAN retrofit port - a network guy like me NEEDS this. It's a no go without it.
8) But ROB, THERE IS NO KEYBOARD!!!! Again, yes, there is. Yes I sell iKey as well and NO, I WILL NOT push anyone to get one as I feel at $400, they are WAY WAY WAY too much money (Of course I didn't pay that ), but OMG, these things are amazing. They are backlit and fully rugged. Yes they are a silicone rubber, but they are EASY TO TYPE ON. Yes, MIND = BLOWN. I couldn't believe it until I played with a pre-production sample. They are simply amazing. I'm talking about this one here: IK-PAN-FZG1-NB-C1 - iKey With this, I will tell you that it more than doubles the weight of the damn thing but it's STILL Lighter than a CF-19 and has a mega high res screen... It's simply amazing

So Rob, what you're telling me is that you want a "tablet" and you wanna attach a keyboard to it to turn it into a "normal clamshell laptop". And my reply is: YES, YES I DO! Why? See first bullet point! If the C2 had that res screen and a back-lit keyboard it would be the PERFECT machine. Also, the CF-54 is coming out. I'm anxious to see what it'll have as far as screen size and res. I DOUBT it'll be digitized as the C2 is still around as a "brother" and IT DOES have a digitizer.

I'm out for now. If you have any questions, just post here. I really need to get to work lol.

Thanks!

 

Hmm.....I missed the line about replacing the cracked lid on the CF 30???:laugh::laugh:


It was a good read, thanks Rob..

 

My brain suppresses some things....

 

I have to admit. With that keyboard, it's a pretty sweet setup. Does the iKey fasten solidly to the tablet?

 

Hmmm, I'll stay to my cf-19 as I dont need high screen res. It's nice, but not needed for me.
But its a setup I had been wondering about, not knowing the iKey's. they are nice indeed!
Is the keyboard expensive??

 

Yes they do cost $$$$

panasonic iKey | eBay

 

I guess I don't see the issue with 1024 X 768... It works perfect for me in most instances. Perhaps I have just gotten used to it.

 

AUCH, $400 is a lot, even for a nice keyboard like that.
I'll keep my cf-19 and add a FZ-X1 with voice when it comes available... (probl. not before januari 2015 ) if someone can help me to get one before that????

 

Ohh god yeah!! You can pick it up from the screen or from the keyboard and bounce it all around and it'll stay attached NP!!!

 

Yes the iKeys are a lot of $$$ but they are built extremely well! The specifications you see on the jumpseat keyboard for the G1 are written BY PANASONIC. Panasonic circuitry is inside too. iKey is simply the manufacturer.

Thanks!