The beginning of my toughbook oddessy...

[safn1949]

I actually appreciate the direction he thread went, because I've got backlit rubber keyboards on they way for both units!
Sounds like I'm in for some fun...

The trick is once you remove the black strip with 4 screws at the top of the keyboard,put a small flat screwdriver or knife in one of the bottom corners and gently slid the board up. Watch the center as you will cut the ribbon.You may have to remove the Bluetooth antenna if you have one.

[john_jrhan762]

I'm not sure if I'm going to install the keyboard on the CF-30 yet. I want to take a look at the the wireless situation inside it first, and then decide which one I like better, the 30 or the 19. (I'm a big fan of convertables, I've been nursing my HP TX2 along since '09 because I couldn'find or couldn't afford another one. Everytime I open it, I expect the screen to break off!) I'm not sure I can justify to the wife keeping both around, especially after what I paid for the 19.

[john_jrhan762]

Looked into the wireless situation on the CF-30 tonight. No antennas, and no WWAN sled. So I think I'll be setting it aside until I can justify spending more on it. As for now, I'm focusing on the CF-19KHRAX2M. It's refurbished & upgraded, but I'm operating on the assumption that it will still have at least the WWAN sled. What steps would I need to take to get it WWAN connected? This is my first serious foray into computer modification, but I'm guessing I would need to start with a card. I'm was thinking a GOBI 2000, and then what? Is it as simple as getting a prepayed SIM and plugging it i? I feel like it should be more complicated than that. Any answers are appreciated. Thanks a lot!

[toughasnails]

Blair,
Do you know of a tutorial for lifting the keyboard with-out bending it?

Jeff, that is some thing we don't have but a very good idea

Shawn sent me a long blade (like a frosting spreader) that works to pop the adhesive. Big point is to give the glue time to come loose.

You are right...give the glue time to come loose...that is a key point, don't hurry

Also a lot of the stock CF-30 KBs have pins that lock into the bottom case.

I have not run into one of these in any of my 30's. I did buy one like it.

[Shawn]

The magic tool is a dental spatula..Very similar to this stolen photo..

[john_jrhan762]

Went ahead and swapped out the keyboard on the CF-30, it was shockingly simple. No glue or tape, just slid up under the lightest pressure until the pins came free. I definitely want to keep it and it get it running, but that means an operating system and at least a WLAN card. The CF-19 arrived a couple days ago, and seems to be everything I expected. A little disappointed about the Windows 7 drivers situation, but that's my own fault for not researching everything. I want to add GPS and a WWAN card to it, but I'd like to do a prepaid SIM card with it if I can; so I could use some guidance on what card to go with and how to make everything work. All in all, I'm pretty happy with them both, and I continue to be impressed with the engineering... Except the screws on the bottom of the CF-19; They seemed to want to strip pretty easily.

[SHEEPMAN!]

Use a Wiha screwdriver. Push down hard as you break the screws free. More commentary tomorrow.

[toughasnails]

They seemed to want to strip pretty easily.

I have never stripped a screw since buying my Wiha screwdrivers. The best $20.00 I ever spent.

[john_jrhan762]

Yeah, the little craftsman did what I asked, but it was not ideal... With the amount of work I've got ahead of me with the CF-30, a good screwdriver set would probably be a smart investment.

[safn1949]

They seemed to want to strip pretty easily.

I have never stripped a screw since buying my Wiha screwdrivers. The best $20.00 I ever spent.

Which set do you have? My fingers are well used to say the least and a larger handle =less ouch.