my second toughbook

I just received my CF-U1 in new condition, 30 hours on it!

 

:thumbsup:

 

Good, lets start planning now for #3 and #4.

 

How do you use CF-U1? They are cheap, but I can't imagine how to use it without integrated GPS

 

What should I plan on getting next?

Any sugestions?

 

For mostly indoors use consider a CF-74 or CF-52

For outdoors, camping, in-car use consider a CF-18 or CF-19

 

CF-18 for the truck
CF-30 at the cottage
CF-51 in the shop
CF-52 in the house (up loads & downloads)
CF-53 in the house surfing the forums

 

That is going to be a combo of need/want/budget that will have to be balanced. So lets start there. What do you need/want in the terms of performance, screen size and ruggedness?

 

CF-29 with VDL01 PDRC for truck
CF-18 for balcony music
CF-C1 for work
CF-H1 for note taking and marine navigation

Maybe in the future I'll get a U1 for my wife for navigation and music

 

I don't need no stinking GPS. I know where I'm at and there is always someone willing to tell me where to go!:laugh:

 

Im leaning towards a CF-19.

 

The 19 is a good choice. The only things to really consider is it doesn't have an internal DVD drive and the keyboard is small. It weighs half of what a 30 weighs. The Mk1 is core duo 32 bit only 1.06 and the Mk2 is a core 2 duo 64 bit 1.06 processor. Up to 4gb of ram. WWAN ready, easy aftermarket/factory or GOBI GPS options. It is a mini power house with the right tweaks. With a desktop port replicator it can truly be your mobile workstation. If you have ever held a CF-18 they are exact same dimensions and even share some of the same parts.

 

Thanks for the info. I am still looking and trying to decide.

 

The 30's have really come down in price also, it's bigger then the 18/19 if you
find those to small.

My main machines:

CF-19 vacation/on-road
CF-U1 Navigation/Field work
Getac M230 home/work everything else.

I like the full size keyboards for everyday typing and find the 10 inch screen
on the 19 abit small for web surfing. My M230 has the 15 inch High-Res
and thats great for just about everything.

Have had 30's and 31's also but just prefer the feel of my M230 over the
larger Toughbooks. The U1 is great for navigation, not to big not to small.
Takes a little getting used to and you need good eyes to view the small screen but aside from that it's a great little machine. You use the U1's keyboard like a game controler and it works really well. I installed a GPS I had from a CF-19 in my U1 and it works really well.

But it depends on what you plan to use the Toughbook for and the specs your application requires. Another tip is using an SSD that saves tons on battery times and really speeds up the machine. I run SSD's in all my toys and will never go back to HD's for Operating Systems.

 

BIG +1 on the SSD, that really makes a big difference and they are not as costly anymore. At least for the smaller ones, above 250 Gb they are still pretty costly.

For which next to buy, just think if you really need Fully Rugged (who doesn't need one?!?! lol ) and then if you're gonna take it anywhere. If you walk/travel a lot, a 19 is nice, just try to find a chiclet style keyboard, it's one of the best keyboards ever. If it's a lot at home or left in the car, a 30/31 is nice.
But there is also always the option of going semi-rugged/business rugged.
Just depends on what you need and your budget.

Personal I would avoid older ones with EDI drives, those are hard to find, slow or take a lot of tinkering to get an adapter to SSD that fits and works well. if you're into that sort of thing, 18's are often very cheap.

 

Hi.
A help is needed. For CF - H1 I search caddy who knows where to buy! Does caddy befit that H2 ?

 

So... you're married then?

mnem
Have kids... then you can get the same thing in stereo. :laugh:

 

No wife, but I drove a school bus for 20 years.

If stereo is 2 voices, what is 64 voices? All telling me where to go.
It was still the best job I ever had. I miss it and them every day.

 

So that's where I seen you before.