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    Toughest toughbook?

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by jviss, Jul 21, 2007.

  1. jviss

    jviss Notebook Guru

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    I understand there are "classes" of toughness for the Toughbooks. Anyone know more about this? I've seen references to "fully ruggedized," etc.

    Also, aren't there third party companies that enhance the ruggedness of these under govt./military contract?

    Wondering if the CF-28 is "fully ruggedized," and what current model is the fully-ruggedized model.

    Thanks,

    jv
     
    jviss, Jul 21, 2007
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  2. mikeymike

    mikeymike Notebook Evangelist

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    mikeymike, Jul 21, 2007
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  3. Toughbook

    Toughbook Drop and Give Me 20!

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    The CF-28, 29 & 30 are the "toughest" of the Toughbooks. All the cops around here use the CF-29s or CF-30s. They need no further "ruggedization" (If that's a word.) I don't know of any companies that can further toughen them up as they are pretty good the way they are. The CF-30 is the top rugged model... For a regual laptop. The make tablet versions too. CF-18, CF-19, etc.
     
    Toughbook, Jul 21, 2007
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  4. PsycoBob

    PsycoBob Notebook Enthusiast

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    The only thing better than "Fully Rugged" would be an update to the military spec it's based on, or a note saying "Waterproof to XX meters."

    Not counting drops for over 6 feet, there isn't much that'll break a normal cf-28 that wouldn't break a similar-sized block of wood.
     
    PsycoBob, Aug 31, 2007
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  5. DJACID

    DJACID Notebook Evangelist

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    For me a cf-28 is the toughest laptop and am more then happy with it, for what i have used it and where it will always have a first place choice for me
     
    DJACID, Sep 2, 2007
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  6. gravitar

    gravitar Notebook Deity

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    If the toughbooks really aren't "rugged" enough for you, the NotePAC (mentioned above) is a step up. We sold a few of those, not many though. The local water department liked them.. probably because you can actually SUBMERGE them while in operation! They were made by a company called Dolch, but I think they have since been purchased by this Kontron outfit. Actually, if memory serves, Dolch was licensing the product from Getac anyway.

    If you really want balls-to-the-wall performance, try this:

    http://www.femareps.com/fieldworks/model8000.htm

    We had the opportunity to sell some of those over the years, too. These are more of a "luggable" than a notebook, though. they have real ISA/PCI slots in them (which was a real benefit for us, since the Allen-Bradley ISA/PCI network interface cards have a much more durable connector than the PCMCIA ones)

    Unless you've got a sledgehammer or bandsaw, you're not gonna mess with a fieldworks. In their sales demo, they drive over it with a tank! It also has a network of gutters and drains to let water safely drain out.

    Only problem with the above computers is the price. I think we were paying $12k for the notePAC (and that was with our distributors discount), and $15-16 for the Fieldworks.

    Makes the panasonic look REAL good by comparison. Are they a little less rugged? probably. But at 1/4 the price? you can't beat it!

    And let us not forget what started it all..

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GRiD_Compass
     
    gravitar, Sep 7, 2007
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