Truck mounted computers

[tdewitt]

Wanting to get my truck set up with a computer for on site communication for emails and layouts/blue prints. I am looking at the Panasonic Tough book CF-30 and the Gamber-Johnson Tough book mount. Does anyone have any experience with the tough books or any experience with the do's and don't s of truck mounted computers?

Thanks in advance!!

Edited March 22, 2015 by tdewitt

[Joseph Licari]

Panasonic's "Tough" line is an awesome product line. Especially for mobile applications. Only thing I would make sure of is a solid state hard drive and internal LTE data card. If you're in and out with it alot, eventually you will forget you have an USB LTE plugged in and break it off.

I recommend either the Huawei ME906V or the Sierra AirPrime..... Both are LTE 4G capable and both make good use of 3G spectrum when you're not in a 4G service area.

The main reason I suggest a solid state drive is because a standard or hybrid drive is still subject to shock.

Again, the Toughbooks have been around a while and are a proven workhorse. They're not usually set up as a graphic powerhouse, but they're great for almost any other purpose. Although, I would stick with Windows 7 as the operating system.

Hope this helps.

[anthonyk]

I have used Toughbooks for several years. My first was a cf-28. I sold it to buy my 29. My Cf-29 still works and I use from time to time. I also have a cf-30 that has been banged around a lot. You can drop them and throw them in the dirt and mud with not much issue. My cf-29 fell 6 stories into a dumpster by aid of a construction crew worker. The lid closed and all was intact. I was very surprised and a have been a very loyal customer since.

I have used in my truck for quite some time. I purchased a cheaper mount. Added a GPS sensor and touch screen and a Mifi. Even setup the bluetooth to stream to my car's audio input. I take full advantage of the touchscreen as well.

As you are planning on doing prints, I would suggest looking at all the Toughbook models. You may find some tradeoffs in price and specifics between the semi and fully rugged models. For instance the cf-54 meets the same Mil Std with lower IP rating. If you don't intend on dropping the laptop 2 stories or dropping it in a puddle of water, you may find a cf-52,53, or 54 more affordable and durable enough. If Graphics and a larger screen resolution are very important, you may also look at their semi rugged series. The 52,53,54 can't take the exact beating a cf-30 would, but they offer a better screen resolution than 1024x768 of the Cf-30. Having worked blueprints on my cf-29 and cf-30, my one complaint was always more screen.

Hope that helps.

[tdewitt]

Thanks fellas! I am specifically looking at the CF-30, the unit has built in GPS, WIFI, and bluetooth. I think I will pull the trigger this morning and see how things go.

[tvliquidator1]

lenovo is the best option to use in your truck as mounted computers