Toughbook - Question for the monkey house

Discussion in 'General Survival and Preparedness' started by Jeff Brackett, Aug 7, 2012.


  1. Jeff Brackett

    Jeff Brackett Monkey+++

    I was just able to acquire a Panasonic Toughbook as part of a trade. It basically cost me nothing, and it seems to work just fine. Looks like it has some bloatware, and likely malware on it, but I work on computers for a living, so that's not a big concern for me. I figure I'll just wipe it and load a fresh OS and apps.

    So my question is, what do you all suggest I use this thing for? It's a model CF-52, semi-rugged (not one of the military grade ruggedized models), but is still rated for some decent abuse. My first thought is to load it with prepper docs (recipes, how-to's, podcasts, etc.), and load scans of important docs such as passports, insurance papers, etc.) and put it in the closet with the BOBs. It's too heavy to actually be part of a BOB, but if the situation calls for loading up in the BOV, it's easy to add it to the load.

    It seems like I should be able to do more with it, but I can't think of anything else. You guys have any suggestions?
     
  2. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    That is precisely what I would do with it, tho' loading ballistic software and taking it to the range with a chrony I don't yet have also has appeal.
     
  3. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Rather than load the Hard-drive up with Data, I would keep the Data on a series of 32Gb, or 64 Gb, ThumbDrives and keep the HD for Apps and Systems.... ThumbDrives are small and cheap these days, and that way if you have a HD crash, you only lose the OS and Apps, and NOT the Data, and they can be used on ANY computer you happen to come across, should you want to transfer the info to a friend, or fellow Monkey..... You can always use the Home Computer to refresh the ThumbDrives, or replace them if lost. They can live in the same carrying case as the ToughBook. Just think'en out loud......
     
    TailorMadeHell and Jeff Brackett like this.
  4. TailorMadeHell

    TailorMadeHell Lurking Shadow Creature

    The "man from the sky" stated exactly what I would do. I am sitting here typing on my laptop which resembles a spider with many legs. My laptop has 500gb of memory and that is fine, though I keep externals for all my files. And might I add in that my externals are the USB powered type. I had a terrabyte powered external and got to thinking that if power went out, I could use a trickle charger to charge my laptop, though a powered HD would drain it fast. The USB ones don't require that much juice to run. One day I'm hoping to get a toughbook, military style, though they are a bit pricey at my current budget. My buddy has one that he acquired and he will have to clean it out and update a lot of stuff. They are pretty handy. And another recommendation that I would offer is maybe invest in a external DVD drive. You can repair them, though parts may be limited. If the drive on it goes out, external drive would be good if parts weren't available. Just my two cents.
     
  5. Jeff Brackett

    Jeff Brackett Monkey+++

    That occurred to me, but I can't think of apps (other than maybe a copy of Streets) to load. I actually have a few 64GB Corsair Survivor jump drives that I have a lot of docs on now. I'm a writer, so I keep writing projects on them. They're shock resistant and waterproof - ideal for shtf situations.

    What kind of apps were you thinking?
     
  6. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    I was thinking..... MonkeyNet Apps, Skype or equivalent, a good File Encryption Program, as Ghrit said, a Ballistics Program, a very good Math Calculator Program, a very good Units Conversion Program, A good CADD Program, Adobe Reader, A good Browser that is NOT Chrome or anything that uses a .Cloud Memory system, the best WiFi Sniffer Program I could find, that included BlueTooth.
    That would be a good place to start.... This would give you Good SECURE Comms, assuming the Internet is still functioning, or the ability to deal with MonkeyNet encrypted messages. It also would allow you to see who else is around in the local AoO. No cloud based external entanglements, to worry about. Allow you to pass Design Information to others, and do computations, and Unit Conversions, that go along with those Designs. That is just off the top of my Pointy Head.... YMMV...
     
    Jeff Brackett likes this.
  7. CraftyMofo

    CraftyMofo Monkey+++

    Slide it in the ballistic plate holder on your body armor?
     
  8. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    Mr Brackett is no terrorist
     
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