~Toughbooktalk~

I admit it, I got spoiled by my CF-30 with a second battery and being able to go almost all day without charging. A year after swapping over to the CF-52, I prefer it in almost every way- except I still miss that longer battery life and I am looking for some better options. I would prefer a 2nd media bay battery, but as I understand there is not one available for the i5 models with discrete ATI graphics? If they are available, does anyone have a part number? Second best option would be a longer life battery than the CF-VZSU29A. Panasonic shows the CF-VZSU71U fits when I pull up CF-52 accessories, but everywhere I look to order one shows it is only for the CF-53. First of all does it fit and second is it any better?

No media bay battery for any cf52.....I have a media bay battery from a cf51 / cf73 and it will not work..
The long life battery cf-vzsu46 works in a cf52 and cf30....8.55Ah

My CF-52(SLGDD1M) has a CF-VZSU71U battery, same as my CF-53 .

The ..CF-VZSU71U is 6.75Ah

Has anyone tried the CF-30 media battery pack with the CF-52? I know it would take some modding.

The problem is that Panasonic designed the connector so that the cf51 / cf73 battery won't even fit in the drive bay.

I have a post on NBR about this....Hold on.......
I can't find my post, but from what I remember, when I tried the cf30 media battery, the cf52 would not even boot.
I know I tried every combination that I have and nothing worked.

So far, it sounds like the CF-VZSU46 is my best bet. Unless someone can confirm something better...?

And Blair, since you have a very similar model to mine AND a CF-53, how would you compare them for performance? I got the ATI discrete graphics model specifically so I could run some mild games and still have a more rugged laptop for military use. Honestly, it did so well that I got rid of my desktop entirely. But I have been looking at the CF-53 (yes, Toughbook addiction in action) and trying to decide if it could do well enough on gaming even without the discrete graphics and gain the emissive keyboard and wide aspect touchscreen. Also, are you getting anywhere near the 11 hours Panasonic claims on battery? Or at least better than the 4 they claim for the CF-52 (which is more like 1.5 for me)?

The VZSU71 battery is recommended for the CF52 mk4 and later..
Why not a mk1 mk2 or mk3?
My first guess would be the voltage /power curve and the earlier mks are not setup to run off the lower specs...Guessing..

I briefly tried a VZSU71 in and earlier mk and it did not seem to last long...

My two problems with CF-53.

1. It's like a CF-19 and a half. Wide aspect but short in height. Makes me feel like I'm hunkering down to use it.

2. The red led's on the CF-52 GUN blow the back-lit keyboards away. I like what I'm used to. Of course it's a CF-30 size screen.

Good part on Mr. 53 is the battery life. I've seen 11 hours on the gauge but not sure I ever got that....oh yeah the ssd screams (linux Mint 17) It's my choice for quick on and off use. That may be partly why the battery seems to last so long. 12 to 15 seconds from bios splash screen closing to password in Linux.

So my problems are personal problems. The 53 is excellent.

Sadlmkr wrote:... Wide aspect but short in height. ......

sound like many.......people I know.

I have never actually had my CF53 screen able to light. So I am going by a dark screen.
It does seem small compared to the CF52. I don't know if I could get used to it or not.
It does boot crazy fast. I suppose not having to illuminate the screen speeds things up.

I will eventually get a motherboard for the thing....Now it's in a closed drawer so I don't have to look at it....Just looking at the failed project tends to "irritate" me....