"New" Full Ruggedized Notebook or Tablet: Currently CF-31. Somewhat better with USB3 and support of large hard drives?

[Tobias Claren]

Hello.

Currently I own a CF-31 with ~1000cd/m 4:3 display with 1024x768 resolution.

In order to use larger hard disks (currently 5TB) a special partitioning under Windows is necessary.

To use USB3, a plug-in card is necessary.

The display of web pages on the 1024x768 display is not nice.

And under Windows 10, the operation is slow.
Despite a few open browser windows and 8GB RAM.

It is a "MK1" with I5 of the first generation.

I'm not looking for an expensive new notebook.
I have a reasonably fast desktop PC for surfing at home, for VR games etc.
I'm just looking for something for backup photos and videos from the camera, maybe go to a website (but that's not crucial) etc ..
But maybe even a Kinect One for Windows.
* 64-bit
* Physical dual-core 3.1 GHz (2 logical cores per physical system) or faster
* USB 3.0 (*)
* 4 GB of RAM
* Graphics card that supports DirectX 11

*) What USB3 controller is included in the Toughbooks with USB3?


Thanks,
Tobias Claren

[User32]

Wait a few more months and get yourself a CF-31 Mk5.

All Ivy Bridge and up equipped Toughbooks have USB3 from the Intlel chipset.

[Tobias Claren]

Why only in a few months?
Is this a new release?
I want to pay a maximum of $ 400, rather less.

[toughasnails]

So you are saying you only want to pay $400.00 for this Toughbook ? If so you are not going to find one. You are asking for an awful lot for just $400.00

[Tobias Claren]

No :-). "this"?
From the outset, I was just asking for a used full ruggedized notebook, and I had absolutely ruled out new models.
$400 is not unrealistic for a used Toughbook, or? Less for my MK1. Now you say "MK5", but is this the first Toughbook (or other full ruggedized alternative) with USB3?
MK2, MK3, MK4?

I do not need any computing power. I do not want to spend 4000, 5000... dollars.
I have a fast desktop PC.
I just want a sturdy waterproof device (also a tablet toughbook) that picks up a large hard drive (currently in the MK1 a 5TB plate) to empty full large memory cards, and a Kinect 2 to use...
For the Kinect enough USB3 and "Physical dual -core 3.1 GHz (2 logical cores per physical system) or faster ".
Yes, that's not very accurate. A benchmark number would be better.

[toughasnails]

$400 is not unrealistic for a used Toughbook, or? Less for my MK1

From what I have read so far there is a CF 31 MK2 i7 that was a high-end Toughbook which was special ordered by customers. You cannot add USB 3 to a i3, i5 or a i7. The USB 3 controller chip is built on to the motherboard. That is why it was special ordered and can only be done at the factory. If you can actually find one it's going to cost a lot more than $400. Check out the link below.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads ... 0m.813491/

[Tobias Claren]

[quote = "toughasnails"]

$ 400 is not unrealistic for a used Toughbook, or? Less for my MK1 [/ quote]
From what I have read so far there is a CF 31 MK2 i7 that was a high-end Toughbook which was special ordered by customers. You cannot add USB 3 to a i3, i5 or a i7. The USB 3 controller chip is built on to the motherboard. That is why it was special ordered and can only be done at the factory. If you can actually find one it's going to cost a lot more than $ 400. Check out the link below.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads ... 0m.813491/

However, the MBR-2TB limit bothers me.
When I install Windows 10, this notebook (MK1 with 8GB RAM) runs slowly.
When I try to install Win7 (included with the MK1), it does not work on the 5TB-HDD.

These are reasons for which I still like to look for a faster full ruggedized notebook or tablet with USB3 and support for HDD with more than 2TB.

I saw on eBay that a CF31 MK5 (with 1024 x 768 touchscreen - 1200cd / m2) has an auction price of ~ $ 468.
Four generations later, and still XGA resolution?
Why? It is clear to me that this is not a multimedia device for hifi, but XGA with a limited viewing angle is little for the age of the notebook. Websites are displayed at 1024x768 today with restrictions.

The question is less than a year old, it was said here:
[quote = "toughasnails"] So you are saying you only want to pay $ 400.00 for this Toughbook? If so you are not going to find one. You are asking for an awful lot for just $ 400.00 [/ quote]

A CF-31 MK3 from a retailer (with a one year legal warranty) currently costs around $ 383. From a private individual who resells it after a few month, about $ 310.


"You cannot add USB 3 to a i3, i5 or a i7"

I never claimed to add USB3 to the base hardware.
I meant a PCIE controller. I now have a PCIE controller for USB3 for the old MK1-CF-31. That's working.

[natescott90]

My theory on the XGA resolution still being around is that it makes it easier to use with gloves on, probably wrong though.

If you're looking for a tablet toughbook, maybe look for a Toughpad FZ-G1. It has native USB3 (only one port though ), has a 1900x1200 touchscreen, and they're coming down in price. I bought a MK1 FZ-G1 a month ago or so, it has a 3rd gen Core i5, 8 gigs of ram, runs Windows 10 Pro really well. As far as huge hard drives, it has one of those minipci-e solid state drives, so I'm not sure what you'd do about that. My unit cost about $430 on eBay if I remember right......

Just giving my 2 pennies for thought.