Anyone seen Toughbook MDWD wireless display

sxott · 04-05-2007, 11:41 AM

Ok Here are some part numbers
CF-VDW07CRFM <-- I think this is the transflective one
CF-VDW07CHM

I am having a hard time figuring which has the transflective, the transmissive, etc...

http://www.computeronline.com/toughbookmdwd.html

It says

Quote:

# DURABILITY FEATURES

* Designed using MIL-STD-810F test procedures
* Magnesium alloy case
* Moisture- and dust-resistant LCD
* Sealed port and connector covers

# DISPLAY: 8.4" 800 x 600 (SVGA) resolution, high bright transmissive indoor or transflective, daylight-readable TFT Active Matrix Color LCD with Touchscreen
# POWER SUPPLY

* Lithium Ion battery pack (1800mAH/7.4V)
* Battery operation: up to 4.0 hours (Backlight OFF), up to 2.0 hours (Backlight ON, Low), up to 1.5 hours (Backlight ON, High)
* Battery charging time: approximately 2.0 hours (Backlight OFF), 5.0 hours (Backlight ON)

And it is too expensive there I grant you at 1400 for the transflective model but it is pretty spiffy. Wireless display might be really handy for some folks. (Unplug and take screen with you when you exit vehicle for example).

I just thought it was a very worthwhile item for the folks here. It is even tempting at the current price for me. The idea of picking up your screen and bringing it with you seems pretty cool.

Another Link
Looked around some more and you can get it refurbished for $1000.00 elsewhere with transflective if my part number is right.

EDIT: added questions

shotgunefx · 04-05-2007, 03:51 PM

Funny, was looking at those last night.

On ebay, a seller has a bunch of them for under $700

auction

sxott · 04-05-2007, 04:55 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by shotgunefx

Funny, was looking at those last night.

On ebay, a seller has a bunch of them for under $700

auction

That isn't transflective however it is transmissive. I really think these items have great promise. Do you have to use the stylus or can you use your finger?

shotgunefx · 04-05-2007, 05:34 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by sxott

That isn't transflective however it is transmissive. I really think these items have great promise. Do you have to use the stylus or can you use your finger?

I thought your fingers but not sure. Either way, 1000 nits high quality screen about the same price as the upgraded lilli's sounds promising.

RickS · 04-06-2007, 08:40 AM

I tried to buy the transflective one a couple of months ago but it fell through...looked like it would have been great. It doesn't appear that Panasonic is selling many (any?) really.

sxott · 04-06-2007, 09:27 AM

Is there any issue with the wireless though?

It is 691.2Mb/s required to display a 800*600 signal. That seems to exceed the capability of wireless card? Is there something I am missing thinking about this? I still think that this is an amazing idea, but want to figure out the pitfalls before plunking down the cash.

videonerd · 04-12-2007, 02:13 AM

What they don't tell you is that it's 800x600 at 256 colours for the MDWD.

Theres other ones out there like the Motorola MW520 which is another 800x600 256c display on a P2-class processor, and the new (and current) Motorola MW800 which has 800x600 or 1024x768 at 16 or 32bit colour, 8 wire resisitive pad and all that jazz. Of course, everything is proprietary, the connectors are proprietary (eg. there's one trunk cable that goes from the CPU to the monitor, which THEN breaks out into USB 1.1 for the keyboard). Most large-city public safety agencies would be using either a Toughbook or MW800. And the MW800 screen is incredible. I just can't re-mortgage the house to buy it.

In short, for what I'd assume most carpc enthusiasts can afford, none of the Motorola/Toughbook options are affordable nor can they be customized the way some would want. None of them are even Core2Duo, let alone CoreDuo... they're either Pentium-M or Pentium-4M.

shotgunefx · 04-12-2007, 03:19 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by videonerd

What they don't tell you is that it's 800x600 at 256 colours for the MDWD.

Theres other ones out there like the Motorola MW520 which is another 800x600 256c display on a P2-class processor, and the new (and current) Motorola MW800 which has 800x600 or 1024x768 at 16 or 32bit colour, 8 wire resisitive pad and all that jazz. Of course, everything is proprietary, the connectors are proprietary (eg. there's one trunk cable that goes from the CPU to the monitor, which THEN breaks out into USB 1.1 for the keyboard). Most large-city public safety agencies would be using either a Toughbook or MW800. And the MW800 screen is incredible. I just can't re-mortgage the house to buy it.

In short, for what I'd assume most carpc enthusiasts can afford, none of the Motorola/Toughbook options are affordable nor can they be customized the way some would want. None of them are even Core2Duo, let alone CoreDuo... they're either Pentium-M or Pentium-4M.

If a controller is available for the lcd, couldn't you just snatch the lcd out of an older toughbook?

sxott · 04-12-2007, 08:08 AM

Yeah I found it was 256 color and that explains how the data can be transmitted wirelessly.

Videonerd what you are overlooking is that I was not saying to use it as a carputer. I was saying to use it as a monitor. Even if you keep it wireless and do no modifications whatsoever it should make a swell monitor for a car pc. Even if it is at 256 color. I would far rather see the screen with no glare than have 32bit color. And as was suggested I am wondering if the LCD can be taken out of the setup and used by itself. I checked into it a bit and you can buy the transflective LCD panel with CCFL but no touchscreen for $447.03 from a place called Heartland services part # DL3DE9082AAA

You can also buy the touchscreen part, but I don't know if it is a regular touchscreen or some weird proprietary thing as you suggest. I still am looking into this and will let you guys know if I come to any further conclusions. Of course I will end up back here asking for help in the matter I am sure.