Is An Old Honeywell Tablet Useful For Anything? 

"Purposefully" is the right word. It's to be used as in "purpose is usually mechanical strength, waterproofing, compliance to standards, acid resistivity, etc". It's not to be used as in "fuck with customer on purpose cause they evil and muahahaahahaa".

I worked for a company that equipped forklifts with this unit back in 2010. Back then, the unit were leased. It would cost about $350 to replace one of those. I have never known anybody that has paid $3000+ for a single unit. *edit I really don’t know why you would need a custom CF, if any updates can be done over the wifi connection. I never had any issues installing updates. I really like the Thor.

What companies use those THOR tablets? That way Gabe can donate the DOOM version to one of their forklift operators.

@@processagent5095Freight handling companies. It is posible to install apps, the easiest way to do it is OVA through the wifi connection, but you still need the admin password.

@@processagent5095 mostly freight, shipping companies. You would need an admin password to install anything on it though.

Do you know if the USB hardware supported UHCI? If so you can likely just load a DOS driver and get some keyboard or mouse action going.

Back in the LONG ago days, I used to hookup the computer order displays to various POS system - Micros being one of them. Back in the day when you had to actually solder a DB9 to a particular serial pinout for the POS system. I miss those days.

Slot machines still use the CF cards

Heavy and super clunky? Yeah actually you're right. It does fit the worn feel of alien and similar sci-fi

this has the power of a 200 dollar netbook from back in the day and cost 3 grand when new. I understand the need for lockable connectors, but I can't see just the case and the connectors development warranting and extra 2 grand markup.

@@firenado4295 It's not only connectors and enclosure design though. First of all, it's processing power is jsut what it needs for the task. The software is done in low level so it would be realtime. Remember that some 30 years ago CPUs ware measured in MHz not GHz and mostly did same shit that previous gen multicore GHz CPUs can't handle now because of shit programming practices. I'm not talking about streaming in 4k, but working with typical office and R&D tasks. Shaded shiny looks over the efficiency and gigabye of 3rd party libs over hiring expert coders. Next - try to put a netbook in a tractor. You think it's only vibration? No, it's moisture and corrosive environment. Fertilizer contains high levels of Ammonia. Have you seen what happens to fertalizer tractors after 3 years on field? They look like they are at it for at least 15 years. Every smallest scratch in paint gets instant corrosion. If it's not stainless, it's rusted. If it is - it's rusted a bit later. Each - designing, prototyping, testing, certificating and manufacturing those enclosures is pain in it's own right. But then you have next fun part - The darn thing can not have a fan. Fan = holes = sucking in the acidic air. So now you have closed volume with energy going in and heat being produced. Check waht laws of thermodynamics say about that.. Now you need to figure out how to make the heat transfer from your chips and coils to enclosure and make the enclosure radiate more heat off of itself than it's getting from the internal electronics. And it has to happen in hot summer day with sun shining on it. No, aircon will help just a little, as the sun beams are not canceled by it. Now we are talking about whole different component base - it can't be just your laptop parts that are 0 to 55 Celsius rated. You need industrial -40 to 85 or better extended / automotive -55 to 125 Celsius rated components. For commercial grade parts, -off the chip fab after capping (welding wires to and putting crystal in epoxy) they are tested for main parameters 10 per batch of 100k or so. Industrial and extended grade often asks for full batch test for most parameters. That increases chip production time greatly. Thus these chips are now 2 times more expensive and harder to get just by this fact alone. Now you need to design it. You have your analog engineer, digital engineer, software guy, mechanic guy - all with top salaries, cause there is no place for mistakes and retries. That's bare minimum or you can get a unicorn that does it all, but asks 4 times the salary and has a pissy attitude because he can. You don't ship industril design off to India or China. Well, you can try, I want to see someone do that for lols tbh. And remember, you don't design only the computer, you design the connectivity to peripherals and software support. It's not PC mouse that goes attached - it's sensors and actuators for tractor tool leveling, combine harvester operation, etc.. You need to follow the standards and test it in real field. You need to buy a fucking combine to test it on. Then you design debugging tools, service apps.. You know, the dealer tool set.. You have to make that too. You design also manufacturing tools - injection molding / die casting forms for the enclosure elements, buttons, internal brackets - each metal or plastic bob has some mold. Or you can machine those parts. That's even more expensive, but if you build like 10k units per year, it might be cheaper than molds. Now certifications - that's a whole another can of worms. And now the amounts of production. Your typical laptop board is made in batches of 100k. Your typical industrial thing - 1k. We are talking about completely different component and work costs here. And I did not even mention software components for different machinery, licensing for special components and standards, project management, sourcing, logistics, prototyping steps and costs and fact that design cycle of such product is about 2 years from first meeting to actual launch party .. You can make it cheaper and stretch the design by getting shitty engineers.. Takes longer. Costs same in end. You can also pay extra for better and more engineers. But because of how the whole process flow goes, you won't beat those 2 years by much anyway. That's 2 years of highly trained specialist salaries. Now the sales of [OMG, it's 3000k netbook that won't even run muh Crysis, what a shit] has to cover all these costs mentioned. And they won't sell more than 10k a year as it covers a very specific need. My point is if you think they are so overpriced, why not making you own and selling it for half the price? You will become instantly rich. Every farmer will want one that's 2x cheaper. Not even joking.

PS: and of course there is a fucking markup. How would the companies be able to afford the science and research for next product otherwise? And even if some of it went to CEO's new yacht, it's a fraction of what research and scientific work costs.

@@hatterfoil didn't need to go on about how RND costs money, I know. It is the same for all products of this type. You missed my point entirely when I compared these to a netbook. I was implying they used cheep low power hardware even for the time. I see how the added ruggedness these units have would warrant some kind of premium but back when these were made you could still buy a Panasonic toughbook with all this and twice the power for over a grand less. These have less hardware and cost alot more. 1k extra isn't just a markup it is a ripoff, and that is only one unit, buying these in bulk and the situation is made so much worse. I don't see why me saying that has caused you so have some kind of tantrum writing and entire lecture on how companies function. Its not like this isn't well known information. But oh well. Also you mention about people trying to find cheaper alternatives to business grade things, they already do and always have done. That is why units like these are always so rare, because they where junk when they where new and only companies with money to through in the bin got them.

@@firenado4295 I'm trying to explain the difference between high volume and low volume production as well as between commercial, industrial and automotive design. I do it because the way your opinion goes is the same as you may hear in any 3rd party vehicle service from a typical wrench monkey. "They made this hose connections here so it's harder for unofficial services to work on cars". "They put the bracket here with this shape because they are too stupid to make it that shape and put it there". Like engineers don't have reason to put a thing in that shape there exactly. It's same when you or anyone says that connectors are like that just to sell overpriced dongles. Also, I am not sure which Panasonic are we talking about? I feel it's before CF-19-mk1? I don't have all the paperwork available for these machines quickly, and I don't remember the specs, but I would think toughbook was not really 1k cheaper back then as well as it likely did not have same spec. Thor has industrial spec CPU, right? I would think it's -40 to +60 operating temp. at least.. I don't thing you could get a standard x86 CPU with industrial temp back then. They ware very special and they ware few gens late. In fact I don't think you can get up-to-date industrial spec x86 CPU today. Sure, you can prove me wrong there, as I'm using ARM in my designs not x86 and not going to look up the production dates and manuals or spec sheets to get exact numbers. I'm talking form how it generally is and even with ARM, you are not getting the latest cores in industrial versions. Also Thoughbook is bad comparison as they are not automotive and they are sold in much larger volumes. Also have less custom software. So I still think you are factually wrong. Give me numbers if you want to convince me.

I tried some things like that without any luck. Big companies hate standards 😢

@@saveitforparts USB keyboard?

​@@Peter_S_ That's what I came here to say😅

@@Peter_S_ USB support is part of the OS. You also need the device drivers.

@@michaelterrell You can't adjust BIOS settings on a PC with a USB keyboard? Really? Lol.

I have a Pt2 but it still wasn't super useful... might have to wait until pt3 :-P

I remember trying TinyCore on an early 2000s laptop with 128MB of RAM and being amazed at how fast it was and how it installed on the first try.

EOL support is often determined by components becoming NLA, Some of out products were through multiple redesigns as component families went obsolete. From thru hole, then multiple generations of Surface mount components. Third party support isn't always a great idea. Shoddy companies doing it can destroy the OEM's reputation. I went through that back in the '80s, when I maintained Cable TV headends and other electronics. Two third party companies really screwd us so bad that we opened an in house service center. One was using unapproved power transformers in Cable TV converters. Instead of having a thernal fuse open, on failure the converters were bursting into flames.

I just spent half an hour trying to find this comment!

That sounds awesome!

@@saveitforparts you mentioned mounting it on it a boat so it was your idea :-)

I tried some alt codes but it didn't do anything :-(

Or as Kingston put it. SD-compatible devices are compatible only with SD standard cards. To put it more simply, hardware devices that support newer standards are backward compatible with older standard cards, but newer standard cards can't be used in hardware devices that only support older standards.

I thought they worked with limited capcity, like the first 2 or 4 gb could be accessed

Wayne used them for a bit before going USB-crazy. 😂

Nice! I actually sent one off to someone in that Reddit thread, hoping they could get Linux on it. I also got a CF image from someone which will be in a Pt2 video on Friday. I kind of got CE working but it's still kind of useless :-P

Tried some alt codes without luck :-(

Tried that but apparently it has to be enabled with a driver :-(

Pretty sure I tried that one and it got stuck in a boot loop.

Or maybe try ascii codes using the alt key + numbers

There's a blue button that's supposed to enable special characters, but doesn't work with DOS since it's not a standard key. I think it has to be in Windows with the right drivers loaded before it will work.

I have a real fondness for portable devices with physical keyboards! RIP Blackberry 😢

There are, Zebra makes a rugged tab running Android for the same environment this was originally made of. Not nearly as unique or interesting as this unit though.

@@buenogoodlive Didn't know that! But looking at them now, they definitely don't have that 'utilitarian charm' these older tablets had.

@dillis2188 Agreed haha

Couldn't get alt codes to work, tried a few and nothing happened.

Yep, tried those without luck.

Sometimes, if I have no other use for it or I'm about to throw it away!

I actually sent one to someone already! They said they could get Linux on it, so we'll see what happens.

Very cool, I look forward to seeing what can be done with this interesting lil cherub

Tried that, doesn't work :-(

@@saveitforparts - works on regular keyboard. Was worth a try.