Buying a used Toughbook

[kadetklapp]

With getting my Tech license, I'm amassing more and more newer radio equipment. I'd eventually like to get software and cables for almost everything I use and also store frequency lists, owners manuals, etc all onto a computer. I would like to get myself a hearty laptop that is a tad more resilient to being carried around and whatnot. I've used Toughbooks (CF-29s) and some are better than others.

Anyway, Ebay seems to have tons of them. I'm wondering what sort of things I should ask about as far as hardware and software so I don't get hosed on these too bad.

 

[RolnCode3]

I spent some time here Panasonic Laptop Forums - Panasonic Notebook Computer Discussions reading up. Those guys seem to know their Toughbooks pretty well. What model you're looking at will have an impact on what question you ask.

 

[kadetklapp]

Thanks. Lots of computer jargon that I don't understand but I guess I'm going to have to read up.

I'm looking forward to a tough computer that's upgradable that I can use to run all my ham/scanner programs.

 

[cg]

the problems I ran into when I bought one included:
- only 1 USB port
- no CD-ROM (they included an external that used 1 USB for power and 1 USB for data, see above)
- had CDMA (cellular data for Mobile Data use) rather than wireless network
- battery was advertised as holding a charge but would not hold charge.

Still, I like the unit and would buy another (with CDROM and wireless networking)

It has a real serial port for programming older equipment, included Windows XP, has the touch screen and is .... Tough

chris

 

[kadetklapp]

Thanks. I need to do some studying to determine what "year" is best. Do you know how old yours is?

I know for sure I want touchscreen and I very much prefer the backlit keyboard, but it looks like I can install one myself if I don't get it with the machine.

I would like the internal ability to WiFi but I see several that come with wireless receievers that are external. I'd like more than one USB especially for programming/controlling more than one radio.

Battery- eh, I'd like one. What spooks me is some of these auctions I'm seeing are for computers with no battery or no charger or neither. That doesn't instill a lot of confidence in me that the thing will even turn on.

A lot are without OS as well. That sort of spooks me.

What is a good memory capacity for these computers? Seems like the couple I use are kinda pokey, but they are in squad cars and God only knows what all is loaded on the HDs virus wise.