What do you guys think of this?

Panasonic ToughBook CF-M34 P3 700/30GB/CD/Touchscreen - eBay (item 120567033630 end time May-17-10 21:03:30 PDT)

I am considering this, as it is faster than my current machine, while maintaining the form factor i desire.

 

jeez that only 700mhz . i would consider adding $100 and getting something a bit faster

 

Adding another $100.00 is beyond what I can afford for a project / toy.
Married and kids tends to do that to ya. lol

 

You can pickup a basic CF-29 that should fit in your budget , it just takes some time and looking . They can be had for under $200.00 but you may need to load XP Pro and or maybe put a hard drive in it and you will not be sorry. Just make sure it has a hard drive caddy and a CD drive unless you had a USB one. The price of the M34 is on the high end but that is just my feelings.


CF-29, PC Laptops Netbooks, 500 MHz or more. Great deals on eBay!

Panasonic Toughbook CF-29 TouchScreen 512MB MK3 Fast - eBay (item 330434062144 end time May-22-10 14:02:02 PDT)

Tested Panasonic Toughbook CF-29 CF29HWQGZBM 1.4GHz 512 - eBay (item 150440868909 end time Jun-04-10 21:19:49 PDT)

PANASONIC TOUGHBOOK CF-29 CENTRINO 1.2GHz,40Gb,256mb - eBay (item 350352742721 end time May-17-10 22:45:08 PDT)

 

While I admit the 29 would definitely be the better performing machine, the M34's small form factor is better suited to what I use it for. it fits the Chest panel of my tactical gear perfectly, and is also small and unobtrusive in my Jeep.
(1973 CJ5 ) Currently I have an M34 with a 400mhz processor, and would like the benefits of the faster processor and newer bios.

 

how about this junk

1 TOUGHBOOK CF-T2 LAPTOP 1.2GHZ WIFI TOUCHSCREEN NR - eBay (item 260603275480 end time May-15-10 18:30:01 PDT)

 

The T2 is nice for what it is, a ruggedized netbook with a touch screen. I have one and like it a lot for around the house or to take on a quick trip out. But definitely not really rugged like the CF-27/28/28/30 series.

 

Now we all know the Toughbook is tough, but you cannot use it as a substitute for ceramic strike plates! :wink:

 

The M34's weakness is still going to be video, just like your Mk1. It's only 800x600, and XP doesn't "fit well" on anything less than 1024x768. I know it will RUN at that resolution; but dropdowns will be cut off at the bottom of the screen, and your Start menu items will be truncated unpleasantly.

mnem
Frogs on Pogs.

 

If you like the size of the CF-M34 I would strongly suggest you save up a few bucks and find a cheap CF-18. You will be a lot happier. The M34 suffers from a display that is about three generations behind the CF-18, not to mention all the other issues, ram, processor speed, boot from usb, etc, etc, etc.
CAP

 

The main problem with CF-M34 MK3 (700MHz) is that it' only has 256MB RAM soldered on the Mobo, and no additional slot, so you're stuck at 256.
A few months ago, on eBay, you could easily get MK5 (866MHz) or MK6 (933MHz) without battery, power adapter, with missing port covers around $30 (+shipping), some went for $10... These models have 256MB soldered and a free slot that allows you to reach 768MB total with a PC133 512MB stick.
If you could get one of these, strip your 400 MHz (port covers, kbd, screen, batt, ...), and you have a good usable CF-M34 for almost nothing.
I love CF-M34s and probably will use them until I can get a CF-19 for a low price.

 

Capt. hit the answer for you... Save for a CF-18... It is SO much better in many respects!

 

Rick, if the advice was for me, thanks, but I will have to save a lot, see how I use the CF34 (1GHz): docked in 2 trucks (1 in France, 1 in Western Africa) with LIND 24V power adapters, and with a 3rd dock home on my desk with a 21' monitor connected to it (I run Windows on extended desktop with 1280x1024 external resolution).
So basicaly, to switch to a CF-18 and use it properly, I'd need:
3 docks, 3 power adapters (or change the tips of my LINDs), and a few good batteries, I would also have to hack some antenna on the CF-18 for my Sierra HSDPA card (I use it everyday in France when I'm on worksites)
Tell me the total cost... Thats why I'll be waiting for a definitively faster computer and with 1000nits screen brightness

 

Hi PaulDwog,

I own 3 CF-M34s (mk3, 5 & 7) a CF-18(mk5) and a CF-19(mk2). If form factor is important to you then you should get the CF-M34. Although not much bigger, the CF 18/19 just feels bulkier and less rugged. IMO the mk7 is the one to get. The 1gz processor and 1.2g RAM capability allows you to run Vista/Win 7 quite well despite what you might hear. The mk 7 has USB 2.0 which I find indispensable and if you upgrade to the intel 2200 wifi, its wifi performance is just as good as the CF-18. The 700 mhz (mk3) doe not have RAM soldered on the motherboard and its 1 memory slot is limited to 256m. I run Windows Fundamentals on my mk3 with a 8g SSD and a 3com pcmcia wifi card with the Xjack retractable antenna. If you don't need USB 2.0, this setup is very usable.