toughbook reviews.?

[gripit_N_ripit]

I'm in the market for a panasonic toughbook and was wondering if any of you fellers have used or dealt with them.  Just curious as to how it performs with normal use. I am an auto technician for Ford and I know that the toughbook was the laptop of choice for running their diagnostic software however we dont have one in our shop. I'm not much of a comupter guy but 1G of RAM doesnt seem like much. Any thoughts and opinions are appreciated.

[Lotsokids]

I used the Toughbook extensively for years - in the Air Force, and even now as an aircraft mechanic. They ARE certainly tough. I've never seen a functionality problem, even changing tires in the rain. They are a little bulky and heavy to hold for extended periods of time, but usually when we are working, it's open and sitting on something. I've seen a new model that you are probably considering and it looks a lot nicer.

[Klavdy]

They are strong things, we've used them in the field in third world countries but eventually went to cheaper and far more powerful net books with cases for a 1/4 of the money.

[miked]

Hi Mate, The Toughbook are an awesome piece of kit. I had one for few years, dragging it around mine sites for engine and machine ECU diagnostics.
It had more than enough processing power to run the Detroit, Caterpillar and Cummins software packages, along with the specific software for our mining machines
It used to operate mainly in underground mines (heat, humidity, constant water and etc) and never missed a beat. Even the occasional bonehead operator that slammed it in a cabin door of a machine couldn't kill it. BUT as pointed out by Klavdy, there are more powerful and much lighter laptops.
These days I do everything with a Thinkpad (IBM), and just use a hard aluminium case when I travel. Much lighter, plenty faster and shit loads cheaper to buy/lease.
Just gotta be mindful of the bonehead operators.
Cheers
Mike

[roverfj1200]

Have a CF 18. Which I use everywhere.. Run all the programs I need.. Currant OS Ubuntu. Works very well.

Built in gsm modem pulls a signal even when the phone is dead..

For out door use one of the best units you will find.

Cheep as chips here on e bay.. Mine $365 au..

Love mine..

Cheers.

[andyb]

They're pretty much the same guts that everyone else uses, in a mildly bulky but fairly strong case.

From the factory, like all OEM computers, they'll be horribly slow, because they're loaded with the same stupid bloatware that everyone else insists on putting on their products.  Nothing that can't be fixed easily enough.  90% of the time when someone's computer isn't "fast enough" to run some given software, it really just means that it's configured poorly and loaded with stupid shit.

For a situation where you have to use one in a defined area (like a shop), I'd personally want a decent desktop system and some longish cords to hook it up.  A third the price, more powerful, upgradeable, and so on, but I'd want it in a nice protective cabinet, which would eat some of the cost savings.

[racerman_27410]

there are alternative to the toughbook


i have a durabook and its considerably less expensive than a toughbook and has held up great to all my abuse.



http://www.gowin.com/cgi-jsp/product_ruggednotebooks.jsp?prod_type=SR


KOokaloo!

[wakdady]

i have a fleet of CF-19's. They get used every single day for 9 hour stints.
i will say, they are tough. the solid state drives do go out. and they aren't the best for computing power. did i mention they are tough. and pretty water resistant too!

unless you really need something that will get lots of abuse, i wouldn't get one. They are rather expensive.

[rktmanfj]

i have a fleet of CF-19's. They get used every single day for 9 hour stints.
i will say, they are tough. the solid state drives do go out. and they aren't the best for computing power. did i mention they are tough. and pretty water resistant too!

unless you really need something that will get lots of abuse, i wouldn't get one. They are rather expensive.

Welcome back, Henry!   

[racerrad8]

Welcome back, Henry!   

My thought exactly...

I was reading some old threads last night and came across Henry's post and thought...I should drop him an email and see how he is doing.

Randy - RPM

[wakdady]

lulz! Thanks for the warm welcome back guys! I've been cheating on my FJ with my Tiger. Went to death valley again and finally got to see the Racetrack. Probly crashed a dozen times on some single track only little dirtbikes were meant for.

I rode the FJ on monday, went up the PCH for a little. Had a blast! What an awesome bike, i missed it but didn't realize it.
So, where we going for the West Coast Rally?