Just got a strange Japanese subnotebook. Panasonic Let’s Note CF-C33EJ8C
Posted by iapplerefresh@reddit | retrobattlestations | View on Reddit | 61 comments
I imported it from Japan. It has a dead hard drive and boots to bios. I don’t know how to take it out. Does anyone have a repair manual or restore CD? There’s nothing on internet archive.
Lukeno94@reddit
So I saw this and being another person who is addicted to collecting quirky old laptops, tracked down a couple for myself. From one of them, I have been able to archive the drivers and the desktop backgrounds that came with it - you can find them here. Crucially, that also means archives of the drivers for the camera module (VECC33) and the bizarre VEFC33 module, which as far as I can tell from the pictures, allowed you to directly attach a mobile phone of some kind to use as a cellular modem!
These should actually make fairly decent DOS or early Win9x (2D only) gaming platforms, as they have proper Yamaha OPL3-SAx sound chips in them.
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
That’s looks good, thanks for letting me know! However, I can’t see it on the link you posted.
Lukeno94@reddit
Well, I have no idea what happened there - somehow I ended up with a copied link of my original pre-upload check, and the files I uploaded have gone walkies and it doesn't want to reupload - will have to try again tomorrow, I think!
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
Ok let me know!
Lukeno94@reddit
Ended up putting the drivers on Google Drive for now, because Archive.org keeps deleting them for some reason - the desktop backgrounds are at least on there.
LuckyLongShot12@reddit
I have A couple of these but I haven’t had time to work on them. They just look so cool though! I’ve got the little webcam that goes in the gap, but I think it looks better without
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
They totally do! Would you mind sharing some detailed pictures of the webcam unit?. There are barely any photos online.
LuckyLongShot12@reddit
Sure! I just took these
https://freeimage.host/i/3JWhXJ1
https://freeimage.host/i/3JWhVUP
https://freeimage.host/i/3JWhh5F
Sieglinde__@reddit
For the life of me, I haven't been able to find these for sale anywhere. Might you be able to point me in the right direction? I'm in love with that half hinge design
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
Your best bet is to import it from Japan. That’s how I got mine. I use a website called sendico and the process is easy and shipping is not too expensive. There’s two working ones listed right now, here are the links: https://sendico.com/shop/ayahoo/catalog/b1174441439 https://sendico.com/shop/ayahoo/catalog/s1173826845
Sieglinde__@reddit
Oh wow! That's way cheaper than I was thinking. I have a mild addiction to these strange and weird laptops. Thank you so much!
Fearless_Election_75@reddit
I am surprised, that hinge looks so fragile
bladeproto@reddit
Never seen anything like that before, it’s a miracle the hinge hasn’t obliterated itself… neat
604_@reddit
Very curious looking…hard for me not to wonder what the advantage of that hinge situation is.
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
It seems there was a special unit with camera and more port that would fill it in
604_@reddit
Ah thank you!
johncate73@reddit
In 1998, that would have been an absolutely killer laptop. And from the way you describe it, it sounds like the case plastics are still in good condition, which is rare for something that old. I've seen videos of people opening NOS laptops from the 1990s and they're deteriorating out of the box.
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
It actually seems to be made out of some form of metal! Likely why it’s in such good shape. I own a couple old Toshibas so I’ve definitely witnessed plastic degradation firsthand lol
discatte@reddit
I have the restore cd for these, when I dig it out ill let ya know.
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
Omg perfect! Please do
RealTrueGrit@reddit
Could be a single screw underneath that holds the keyboard down which actually covers all the screws.
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
That was the case. There also were a couple under the rubber feet
RealTrueGrit@reddit
Oh wow I'm actually surprised. Complete shot in the dark based on old dell latitude laptops.
Vewy_nice@reddit
I have a super compact Vaio laptop that I wanted to replace the dying clicking HDD with an SSD...
There was similarly no info on the internet about disassembly, and no driver disk available so I REALLY wanted to take an image of the drive before it fully died.
It was an absolute nightmare to take apart, it definitely wasn't designed to be user serviceable like some other models of the era...
Just be careful about ribbon cables, little wires going random places, and take lots of pictures as you go. Organize the screws on a piece of paper and write where they came from next to them.
I did get the drive out and imaged, and now it works great!
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
There’s only one visible screw on the hinge. None anywhere else. Where do you think I should start with the opening process?
Vewy_nice@reddit
Check under rubber feet and stickers/labels on the bottom. Is there a removable battery, or any other cover on the bottom?
The keyboard on my Vaio had 2 little tabs that pressed in at the top and allowed the whole keyboard to lift off, and that was where I had to start.
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
https://postimg.cc/gallery/KMvDHhs I have more photos. There is a screw that is missing on the back. There is a battery door on the side but I can’t open it more than is shown in the picture and I’m scared I’m gonna break it.
Vewy_nice@reddit
Hm, yeah, that's tough without looking at it in person... It is looking suspiciously like that whole bottom piece might un-clip.
Did you check under the little rubber feet? The 2 in the front probably don't have screws because of the PCMCIA slot and the battery, but the back 2 might.
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
There were 2 screws below the rubber feet. There were on opposite corners. There was also one when I took the battery out. Using a guide someone else commented, I removed the piece of plastic above the trackpad and removed a screw to lift the keyboard. There were more screws under that, and after I was able to separate the housing and get access to the hard drive. It is a standard 2.5” drive, albeit a bit thinner than normal. I plugged it in outside the computer and it sounded like it was having trouble spinning up. I gave it a couple hits and it spun up. I put it back in and the computer was able to boot. I have it reassembled now, but since it’s likely gonna fail again, I’ll replace it with a cf card when that makes its way over from China. I have a few photos of the process and inside: https://postimg.cc/gallery/yDj45Sy
Vewy_nice@reddit
Awesome!
I'd recommend getting a USB to PATA adapter and imaging that drive immediately with like Macrium Reflect or something so you can keep all the drivers and the OS install exactly as it is now, just burn the image onto your CF card and away you go.
I use this one and it works fine. https://www.amazon.com/LinaLife-Drive-Adapter-Converter-External/dp/B0B8N82VL1
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
Yes, that’s exactly what I plan doing! I actually already have one of those adapters and am familiar with the process.
LIS1CHKA@reddit
definitely throw the disk image up on the internet archive, some of these drivers/utilities are pretty much unobtanium now
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
Totally will once I open it back up
Environmental-Eye874@reddit
daydrunk_@reddit
Can you show a picture of the ports. Sometimes that can give a hint. And occasionally there’s a screw on one of the sides.
spoonsoldier@reddit
Documenting the dissasembly is key
Vewy_nice@reddit
Hell, post a photo album here, I'm sure we'd all get a kick out of it, and some person 5 years from now could find it searching google for similar information and figure their own device out!
I have some posts from a couple years back about some very specific niche old tech that shows up as like the 2nd or 3rd google result if you search the model number, and I get PM's at least monthly with people asking questions, and I love helping people out.
DiplomaticGoose@reddit
I tore a ribbon cable on my Vaio C1 when taking it apart and am not hunting for replacements. Thankfully it seems to be standard part.
LIS1CHKA@reddit
God it perpetually saddens me how much the internet has just rotted away, both the quality of google/the ability to search it, and just like... actual knowledge about things like this. I guarantee you there was some *exhaustive* blog post out there on this machine at some point, or forum post, or on someones personal website. I'm talking about sites and posts like this
I've taken apart probably close to a thousand laptops over the years. I started all the way back with the era of machine someone else mentioned here with that very early *505 type of sony, in the very early 2000s. I've probably worked on 10\~ let's notes at this point, with the earliest being in the core duo-ish era.
I would absolutely reference that blog for hints, as a lot of their design choices carried all the way from the 90s until, essentially, the sandy bridge era. You definitely want to remove those feet. I'm suspicious that screw on the back may not actually have been "missing", and may have helped secure that battery/camera module when it was installed. I would examine under that flap shown in your first and sixth photo of the gallery you linked(under the space where the battery would sit), but i am suspicious that this might just be super straight forward, and literally be held on by four screws under those feet.
Although some are a bear to figure out how to open(the CF-R series once they got wifi... ugh) a lot of post 2011\~ panasonics come apart exactly that way, just super simple. so do some of the other older ones ive seen.
Beautiful machine, wish i could dig up more info on it. i'll reply to this comment if i do
CaptainPotassium@reddit
This is the most bizarre laptop I've ever seen
AutomaticDoor75@reddit
I can just imagine the contemporary reviews: “Let’s Not”
apogeeman2@reddit
Very cool.
It’s missing the camera module that goes on the other “half” of the hinge.
PerhapsAnEmoINTJ@reddit
You could fit a tiny notepad in that gap
Or Pockys or whatever :p
luis-mercado@reddit
Marvelous industrial design
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
I know!!
bukeyolacan@reddit
Where is the other half of display hinge 😂
TxM_2404@reddit
Looking at photos from the internet it seems like there is an add on with a battery(?) and a webcam that is supposed to go there.
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
Whoa, I didn’t find that! Can you post a link to the photo?
TPetrichor@reddit
Damm this thing looks sick.
hobonox@reddit
First off, that is a fantastic looking machine, I would have taken a chance on it too. Taking a pic of the bottom and showing the thread would be helpful. As other have said there can be screws hidden all over the place, like under external batteries, under stickers and labels under rubber feet, etc. Another place to look for screws may be between the keys. Look to see where the seams are, some come apart at the palm rest, others come apart from the bottom. If it comes apart from the palm rest, be mindful of ribbon cables connecting the keyboard and touchpad.
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
https://postimg.cc/gallery/KMvDHhs I have more photos here.
hobonox@reddit
I'd be very surprised if there isn't screws under those rubber feet.
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
There was 2 lol.
EmersonLucero@reddit
Looks like the person is left handed who designed it. Looks like the right hand best holds the unit by placing your thumb inside.
Distinct-Question-16@reddit
Breathtaking 😍
FTFreddyYT@reddit
Ok. This is it. THIS, is the weirdest hinge design i have seen to date.
Third-Good-Cookie@reddit
https://panasonic.jp/manualdl/p-db/2006/c33ej8_j_za.pdf Here's a manual with pictures, there was something relevant towards the end at least (around page 100)
iapplerefresh@reddit (OP)
Thanks!
glee60@reddit
Meanwhile the American manufacturers couldn’t design a mechanically sound full width hinge. 😂
gedai@reddit
I love seeing gimmick designs that ended up not working out. Similar to the Kyocera Echo(?).
What a time for electronics. The frutiger aero designs followed a similar path - experimental logos and looks eventually simplified for necessity.
ak66666@reddit
Ha, I've first read it as "a standard Japanese subnotebook" and scratched my head for what was standard in it.