Test report: CF-18 Mk2 in the shower

So, I had the crazy idea in my head to put my shiny new CF-18 in the shower and try to use it while it was being sprayed with water. Bear in mind that the following test is really not scientific, and your own results may vary. Also, while Toughbooks are meant for this kind of treatment, I cannot assume any responsibility for what may happen if you try this yourself.

This unit is a CF-18DDAZXMM, high-brightness digitizer model, with the regular non-backlit keyboard. It has Windows 7 Pro as its only operating system, and this is what I used during the test. Other specs of interest:
* 1.10GHz Pentium M
* 1.25 GB DDR
* 80GB hard drive, 5400rpm (not the original drive, and not a Panasonic part): Hitachi HTS541680J9AT00
* 7.4Ah Panasonic battery CF-VZSU30B, orange-tab, fully charged beforehand

For this test, the unit spent at least fifteen minutes with water spraying on it at all times.

Findings:

* I literally had the shower water spraying directly onto the keyboard, with no problems. The keys continued to work just fine as I typed up a document in Notepad.

* The touchpad also worked perfectly despite being inundated with water.

* For the duration of the test, the laptop's wireless adapter was associated with an 802.11g access point with WPA2-PSK, and was constantly pinging Google (Windows command: "ping -t [hostname]"). The connection was maintained the entire time, and no packets were dropped.

* The digitizer began to malfunction within a minute or so. It continued to track the stylus accurately, and the button still worked, but the stylus caused a persistent "held-down" mouse button state, making it unusable as a pointing device. I experienced this problem both in tablet mode (with the screen folded down and secured) and in standard laptop "clamshell" mode. It was not a fatal problem, though, as the laptop continued to function 100% with the keyboard and touchpad.

* The above digitizer problem persisted for the following day after the exterior of the laptop had already been dried off. The next day, the digitizer began working normally again.

* I rotated the laptop in order to allow the water to spray directly on all sides of the unit. All port-covers and slot-covers were closed for the duration of this test (of course!).

* The screen (unsurprisingly) is difficult to read when covered in water droplets. This was a persistent problem during the whole test.

* The laptop was not set down on the shower floor. I did not wish to risk the formation of a puddle around the laptop, as Toughbooks are not rated for immersion in liquid. The laptop was held in my hands for the entire test, in various orientations.

Conclusions:

The laptop remained operational during the entire test, with the exception of the digitizer. The laptop has behaved normally ever since.

This test has demonstrated that, with the exception of the digitizer, the CF-18 Mark-2 can be expected to remain operational during rain conditions that the shower simulated, for at least 15 minutes. I would speculate, however, that the laptop could remain outside in direct rainfall for a much longer period than I actually tried.

Comments?

Have any of you tried a similar experiment, or perhaps tried the "real thing" and used your fully-rugged Toughbooks in the rain?

 

Good report

I do remember one of our members a year ago doing a similar test with a cf-29
As I remember steam or water found away under the touchsreen and he either had had to disasemble the display to dry it out or he wrecked the display completely either with the water or when he took it apart.....I forget the details lol




Alex

 

Rep to you for not posting images.

 

even without the rubber keyboard or emissive, darn that is tough

 

Heh - no kidding.

 

Ive used my cf29 poolside but afterward I realized that the power port had finally ripped off and fallen off. I got the blue screen a few times due to water intrusion but after an overnight dry I haven't had one problem

 

Yeah sure they are tough but seriously taking a shower with any electrical device especially one with a quarter stick of dynamite built in (li-ion battery) is just asking for trouble. I have already submitted you as a candidate for the Darwin award for thinning the herd.

 

Took me 10 seconds to figure this one out... Also glad!


There is a video on youtube of the guy placing the TB in a sink full of water. I'm pretty sure everyone here seen it so no need to post it. I'm not gonna do that either. My palmrest on both units have a crack on the left side and I wish to not see how waterpoof they are in that condition.

 

I disagree. This is the type of treatment that fully-rugged Toughbooks are meant for. The battery is in a sealed compartment.

 

Yes... Thanks for not posting pics... OR mentioning the uh... Sites you visited while in the shower...

 

I have used both my CF-30 and my CF-19 outside in moderate rain conditions. While being use it sat on top of a vehicle for most of the time, while photography and other acitivites were completed. I dont know that the rain was as direct and as hard as the shower would be but I have never had any problem assiciated with the water. Both my units have a non-rubber keyboard, the CF-19 is a regular chicklet, the CF-30 is an emissive backlit chicklet.

 

I've happily used my CF-18 mk1 to draw and write in the rain. I vaguely recall the pen failing to work once but it was probably the small included pen which is not much of a performer in any respect. I normally use the Cross one and I don't think that's ever had a problem with moisture ingress. (The splashproof pen was good too, but I've lost it,)

I carry the CF-18 with my in rain, even though I have three port covers missing at the moment (new ones on their way at last!). I do it by simply having the strap attached so that it hangs with the ports facing downwards.

I don't recommend that people do this!