Toughbook or is there something better - Page 2

Irishsquid · 05-28-2008, 09:39

I don't know if this thread is still active, and I'm not an 18E. That said, on my last deployment, I worked in the J6 for a SOCCE, and had a lot of experience operating/maintaining computers and communications equipment in a deployed environment. My experience with the toughbooks was positive, overall. As stated here, though, a lot of "extras," do end up on the laptops. We usually ended up wiping the hard drives and reinstalling everything about once a month. If you follow this course of action, keep some kind of disk image on-hand. Makes things a lot smoother that way. I'll go back to lurking now.

Irishsquid, OUT!

SF_BHT · 05-28-2008, 12:31

It is active as long as someone wants to comment.

Have a good Tech Day

**The Reaper** · 09-18-2008, 09:44

Anyone used the new Toughbook U1 yet?

TR

69harley · 09-18-2008, 10:52

This really depends on what is most important, size, ruggedness, speed?

For size, I like the OQO. It's main drawback is ruggedness though. To me, the OQO is more like an updated Libretto.

The GoBook appears to be very rugged and has the form factor of an ANCD. I have only seen these units so my opinion on them is limited.

We might as well discuss ANCD software as well in this discussion. Why cant we get a PC platform and adapter cables to do ANCD type stuff?

The PC's that connect to type 1 radios are already classified, so why can't we get software to run on them and a cable to do the various functions? It would mean one less 'box' that guys have to carry.

Makes sense to me, but then again my only agenda is the ODA and what makes sense for them

FireCrotch · 07-01-2009, 13:48

chance-alot: Did you ever get any of the Gobook MR-1's? I am curious because I have been looking into some as well. The U1 looks nice, it's about the same size as the MR-1 but (as long as I read it right) it has no PCMCIA slot and its a tablet pc rather than a clamshell which leaves that screen vulnerable. We are using some OQOs now and are not very impressed. They break and can't really handle the software well.

I do agree with irishsquid though and I think it is critical as an echo to make an image cd for any mission essential pcs and reimage at least once a month. Keep down on the viruses and of course non-mission related material

69harley · 07-01-2009, 14:27

We have been using the new Dell E6400FXR, not as small as an OQO but seems more durable than any Toughbook I have ever used. Ours our maxed out, to include shock mounted 128GB solid state hard drives, 8GB of RAM, back lit keyboards and Windows XP. All of our video and 'other' software runs just fine on these systems.

Irishsquid · 07-01-2009, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Anyone used the new Toughbook U1 yet?

TR

Haven't messed with it yet, but as soon as I get a chance, I'll give you a review.

smitty · 07-04-2009, 23:31

Still using the DumDoGs???

BBCommo · 07-26-2009, 11:14

I have been using the same Panasonic CF-29 for 2 deployments, and i haven't had a problem yet. Even with all the movements and conditions that aren't friendly to electronics it has been a good computer. That's my 2 cents.

Amato · 08-08-2009, 20:25

I'm looking for something smaller than a CF19, has a serial port to support ADC, and is ruggedized. So far I am looking at the General Dynamics one.

69harley · 08-10-2009, 06:32

USB to serial port adapters are now common. No need to limit your selection to those with serial ports, although I do like the GoBook from GD.

civil · 09-29-2009, 06:51

Not sure if you guys have seen this yet but I sure think it's great.

The first real dual screen laptop and they are making a tough version with MIL standards and supposedly Navy approval.

"We are moving forward with our TITAN M-1 dual screen workstation. This DUO 15.4 workstation is a ruggedized version of our G400 dual-screen laptop. This product is being built specifically to specs requested by the US NAVY for extreme environments.

Some of the specs and new technology that is based in this unit we cannot yet discuss, but it will have an INTEL CORE 2 QUAD QX9300 processor, 4GB ram, 500GB drive and is built to MIL-STD 810F standards.

http://www.gscreencorp.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtrVPywcdC0

Papa Zero Three · 09-29-2009, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by chance-alot

I think that I've found what suits my needs and in-case this topic ever re-emerges I'll answer my own question...

http://www.gd-itronix.com/index.cfm?page=Products:MR-1

I have contacted the manufacturer and will do some testing and evaluation. Hopefully it works out for us.

I've had hands on experience with that model for a bit over a year plus. We are using it for a HAHO/HALO Nav board replacement. We've had it up to 25k MSL and down to -52 on a few occasions. The only issue we had with it was when we initially had hard disk drives in them before the manufacturer could get us solid state ones. Even then, the HDs lasted through several hundred jumps before we started to have issues. Once we installed the solid state HD all the issues disappeared. Its a great little computer and it has a built in GPS receiver. It is also what the AF loadmasters are using on some A/C. A really cool feature is it's ability to slave to a set of AN/PVS 21's so you can see the computer screen through the NODs in true HUD fashion.

Since you're a LRS unit, you have a HALO requirement and this laptop can help you reduce equipment carried as it can do the commo tasks you need and it can also help you with the HALO/HAHO mission. Shoot me a PM with your .mil e-mail address if you have any questions.