Toughbook N00b requesting advice

[kadetklapp]

How does the CF-29 stack up against the Motorola ML900? This was suggested to me also.

[Sadlmkr]

I know zip-all about ML 900 but that hasn't stopped me yet. Below from a brief glance at pictures on the bay.

1. Someone says "hey, nice computer" you say "it's my ml 900" or IT"S MY TOUGHBOOK".
2. Looked at pictures and it didn't seem to have doors on USB and etc.
3. It's 1.7Ghz Mark 4,5 CF-29 for almost the same $$ is 1.6Ghz.
4. You would have to find a new forum.

Jeff

[kadetklapp]

LOL thanks. Like I said, someone suggested it. I don't think it's as ruggedized as the TB.

[toughasnails]

Just looking at the ones on fleabay they don't deserve to be called Tough, these have been replaced by the ML910 Rugged Notebook.

Rugged PC Review.com - Rugged Notebooks: Motorola ML 900

[kadetklapp]

I've been playing with a Motorola ML900 for a couple of weeks. The guy wants $250 for it with a busted left clicker, fingerprint reader, and no working wireless. I like the machine for one stupid reason....it has a red backlit keyboard.

Is there a mod available to turn the backlit keyboard on a toughbook red? Sounds dumb, but I dig it.

[ADOR]

Is there a mod available to turn the backlit keyboard on a toughbook red? Sounds dumb, but I dig it.

It is probably doable but you would have to look at the lights on a stripped board and see about a red filter or changing the lights out for red ones.

[interestingfellow]

Just about anything is possible, if you are willing to throw enough time and money at it.
And that's not stupid..... a bit dangerous though.
I recently replaced my rubber kb on my 29. I had planned on a photographed necropsy of the old one, but have other things going on.

The back light on my current rubber one is green. I will assume they are LED back lights, but they could just as easily be electroluminescent (hence the green tint). But I believe my old rubber KB was a white back light. Led's are cheaper, more efficient, and easier to implement, so I'm going to stick with the guess of LED's.

ANyway, it should just be a matter of cracking it open, and replacing the LED's. Be carefull, they are probably tiny SMD type, and of a specific rating which you will need to match.

When I go to perform the necropsy, I will take pics and report back.

[kadetklapp]

I'm curious as to if maybe different models/series of ToughBooks have different backlighting. For instance, the old 2003 CF-28 I used to use for work had a rubber keyboard with a nice green glow, the one I use in the squad car now (two-year old CF-29) has a chicklet keyboard with white glow (ANNOYING!). I wonder what the CF-18 would have, and while we are on the subject of the CF-18, can anyone tell me if it was available with a rubber keyboard and not chicklet?

[db04p71]

I wonder what the CF-18 would have, and while we are on the subject of the CF-18, can anyone tell me if it was available with a rubber keyboard and not chicklet?

The CF-18 was only available with a standard kb or a rubber backlit kb. The emissive backlit kb didn't come out until the CF-19 Mk3 or Mk4 was released. It will fit a CF-18 and has a white glow. All keyboards are interchangeable between CF-18's and CF-19's.

[kadetklapp]

I prefer the rubber keyboard anyway, for what I will be using the machine for. Thanks. Any idea on the color glow on the rubber KB?