Some toughbook advice for a new member

I have been going through this great website doing as much research as possible on the Toughbooks.

I was hoping to get a little advice if anybody has the time: in a nutshell, I am looking to buy a laptop/notebook, and I have always been fascinated by the Panasonic Toughbooks. I have been looking around on ebay, and there are a bunch of them, and a bunch of different sellers.

I have about a max of $500 to spend on a used toughbook, and I do not know what to get. I am really hooked on the CF 28 style, but is there one better for that kind of money?

Also, are there particular things I need to be looking for to make sure I do not get a bum deal?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Scott

 

Ur not gonna touch a CF-29 for under about $600-900 and you can't really touch a cf-30 for under $3 grand - and the cf-30 ones that are cheap (one forum member got one for like $1400 i think) are usually stollen.

Personally if you want a CF-30 and don't wanna spend the money they just steal one out of a police cruiser

 

I got a CF-30 for $600 lol and it is not stolen as far as i know but there is something wrong with it and i dont know what it is yet. I get it in two days. Cant wait to play with it.

If you hang out on ebay for a while you can find a CF-29 for around $500 but you have to wait it out and not be impatient. I bought one with GPS for under $500 so it is do able you just have to be on ebay A LOT refreshing the page LOL

What do you really want in a toughbook as far as options go? I mean like GPS WWAN (sprint or verizon mobile broadband) touchscreen or not anything you might want. If you are looking to try and get alot of options then you might want to go with a CF-28 as they are cheaper and you can get more options.

For a CF-29 you will get a more plain one with just a touchscreen and a wifi card.

-James

 

Scott,
Welcome to the jungle. I paid $1650 for my mint somewhat basic CF-30, definitely not stolen, but your budget is much below that. I just bought a real clean wireless ready touch screen MKIV CF-29 for $400 shipped. All it needed was a hard drive, it came with the caddy. $54 for one of Tomcat's Samsung 160gb 5400rpm single disk drives from zipzoomfly and I've got a pretty good machine for less than your budget. They're out there, you just have to be patient. PM me if you want to know where I got the CF-29, I'll help you out. Once you get one come on back and the guys here will get you "hacked and packed" with any extras you feel you need.
CAP

 

I bought my CF-29 on ebay for $500 shipped so you can find some great deals out there. Probably wont find a 30 under 1k unless it needs repair or is stolen. I have a CF-28 for sale, drop me an email since you cant PM if you wanna go that route. [email protected]

 

Posted by Moderator (Toughbook) - Scott.... Sorry... You cannot post classified ads here. If you want to offer anything for sale it must be in the B/S/T forum and the rules need to be followed.

THanks,

Rick

 

???

I don't see anything for sale here, just a guy trying to get some advice before sinking money into a Toughbook... And who is LUDEDUDE? A newbie with only 1 post??? Go back to your Dell...

fstik

 

Sorry Rick, I assumed that might have been an issue.

LOL @ fstik. Just because I have 1 post here doesn't mean I'm a newbie to the toughbook community. I have several CF-29's that I've torn apart/modded/repaired.

But thanks for the warm welcome and bump for the OP.

 

Welcome to the forum

Without rules here there would be anarchy


I had a look at it before the link was removed, and the cf-29’s looked ok

As Rick said it has to be posted in the buy+sell forum

It would be great if you would take the time and put them in the toughbook buy and sell forum



Alex

 

Woober... You can find CF-29s for $400 on ebay... Look in the stores too. Every now and then someone will get 200+ off-lease 29s and put them up on sale.

However... With the current economic conditions... Some of them are being pressed back into service. I used to have a reliable source in the midwest... They were taking their CF-29s out of service (Strangely enough) at the same rate I was buying them... So I could get a crack at them first. Last time I called they said that there were no more because they had put them back into service for another 2+ years! So... There goes my 2+ year reliable source of clean, well equipped CF-29s!

Keep looking and be patient... Make SURE you check their feedback rating and don't buy from sellers that use stock photos... Then you'll never know what you are getting or the condition. Just my two cents...

 

Fstick... You don't see it because I edited his post.... We can't do links to Craigslist... And we should save our tongues for the guys who have DELL in their siggys... They are fun to cut into every now and then...

(I didn't say that!)

 

Gotcha.

Ludedude, I apologize. I have been on many forums where a newbie tries to pass themselves off as a moderator and try to exert authority. Seeing your 1 post with "Moderator" in the text but "Newbie" under your screen name seemed suspicious.

I know it's a little late and probably won't seem sincere but Welcome To the Forums. If you have done some modding, please share. This is a great collection of knowledge from some really talented people.

Robert

 

No offense taken. I also apologize as I posted that link without reading the ENTIRE rules. My fault.

I also agree on the newbie/power trip stuff, seen it myself all too often.

To the OP. I've been monitoring ebay as of late and it seems like the deals come and go, just like everyone is stating. I do notice that all of the bids are on toughbooks that have real pictures and not stock photos like Toughbook said. Who would honestly buy a laptop without actual pictures? LOL

 

Oooopppss... I think that was my fault.... I thought that when I edited someone elses post that it left my thumbprint... Instead it made it look like he posted it... Sorry for all the confusion everyone....

Now.... Back to our regularly scheduled program.....

I AM SOOOO HAPPY TO HAVE MY TWO WORKING TOUGHBOOKS! I am making some special wallpapers for them now...

 

Post the wallpaper when you finish. Rob (JB007rules) put my wallpaper on his website for others to use. I have seen it on a couple of toughbooks on Ebay, and one member is using it as his avatar.

fstik

 

IMHO if you don’t mind a little work a 28 is a lot of Toughbook for the money. Add wireless – memory – DVD burner – XP and you can have yourself a nice rig. I have built 3 of them now, 2 for other people that had a look at my 28 and asked “can you make one for me?”

 

For sure, let me know and I'll put it up no problem!

 

I am the one using it as a wall paper on toughbook for sale on ebay but I add a bet of text to make it not to obvious. Like this one: item no. 330293582679


teo

 

Thanks a million for all the great advice. Captain Dogfish, could you possibly email me regarding where you found your CF 28? If so, email is [email protected]

Could anybody tell me the major differences between a CF 28 and CF 29, or maybe just point me in the direction of the info if it has already been addressed?

Scott

 

Scott

Read the FAQ's for the cf-28 and cf-29

If you don't find what you need there
Just ask


Alex

 

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

I know these are waterproof, but.......... well, let's just not get TOO excited there big guy!!!

 

Nice work on the CF-18 Teo! And I am flattered that you like the wallpaper enough to make it your own.

Robert

 

And here is another one, ebay item no. 330295661568


teo