Demo Toughbook CF-30..have to comment

[draco2527]

I have a CF-30 that I am testing for work (maybe we will deploy them)

I have to say, there are not many laptops that I like...this one is one of those few!!


I put some use on it today, an my battery still reads 90% with 7 hours left on battery life!!! With the tablet (X41T I would have been around the 20% mark and maybe .5 hrs left)

I have to say, this is ONE WELL MADE LAPTOP! Feels a little cheap on the coating choice....but it is anything but!

Today I opened up a bottle of water and dropped 500ml on the keyboard....this thing laughed and kept on ticking!!! Clean up was simple as well, do to the fact that there is no empty/hollow spacing between the keys, they are basically "sunken" in on the keyboard surface!!

I was indoors at 74 deg. F and went outside with the laptop on, and the temp outside was 20 deg F...the laptop did not feel that either...

The passive touch screen, while it takes a little to get used to is SWEET....amazing how much stuff I have been doing with my finger as the input option on the screen...now I am starting to think twice on the dual touch screen on the X60 T.

Another cool feature is a lighted keyboard, it has 4 brightness levels plus OFF. Plus aside from the ThinkPad keyboard this is as good or close second...feedback is good and it is a joy to type on, spacing is good and I have yet to "bump" a side key!

The screen is not too bright indoors and PERFECT on direct sunlight while brightness is set at the 50% factory default.

EDIT: Decided to look for some reviews and reading on specs...NO WONDER...from a review:

...the CF-30 boasts a record breaking 1,000 Nit LCD option for easy outdoor viewing. (standard on "Touch-Screen models")

It is a Centrino Duo and I have yet to see it "hang" while doing everyday stuff on it.

Controls are straighforward and easy to get to.

I took some of the "user replaceable" components out and this thing has more shielding (EMI) than... I think the presidents emergency bunker...NO JOKE!!

My only complaints at this point:

Most of the port covers are metal hinged and have an O ring type seal, SOME of them like 1 USB port and the POWER have a plastic cover that is a one piece design; in my opinion this will likely not last more then a few thousand cycles before it falls off...can't understand why the less used ports have sturdy metal hinges and the ones that you are bound to use the most are "subpar" plastic...

The other drawback is the power supply, this thing is hefty. While the battery seems to hold a LOT of juice, I think the need to be able to charge said battery in a relative "short" amount of time is paramount so a huge power supply is needed.

Edit: Also the add ons are a little overpriced!! The ac/dc car adapter is $300+ and once you add GPS, WWAN and a few other goodies the price BALLONS by $2K!!

This thing is by no means "light" but the carry handle seems to do a good job on weight distribution and the beast feels easy to carry. I think there is no need for a case with this design.

Dell JUST released a "rugged" style D620 so I am looking forward to get one of them to try out as well.



I also have a Toughbook 74 but that thing is "ok", nothing to
comment about other then the price is a little high (the CF-30 is NOT cheap..but you can figure out were the $$ went)


I will try to post some pics to compare the X41 T (yes I know, these are not even in the same playing field..but nice to have something to compare it with!!)

My understanding is that this unit is available for purchase but Panasonic will not be shipping them, until April or May of this year.

[tfflivemb2]

Nice review!!

I have heard that these might be some pretty sweet systems...and I think that you just verified that...not that I have the ability to buy a NEW laptop.