Calling the Computer nerds - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

bbjsw10 · 10-01-2008, 10:57 PM

I am one myself but have a question for others. My wife has a Compaq N800C laptop and am planning on near future upgrade. I have always wanted a in-car computer,......... So I was thinking load it with Linux and remove casing and build new casing in car, but I am wondering how could I not use the laptop screen and use like a 8 or 9" screen instead.

Anyone have any experience with this? I want it for my mp3's, gps?,Mpguino output, so forth, And to just have it always wanted one like this.

dremd · 10-01-2008, 11:30 PM

I've got LOTS of experience with this!

My advise. Don't do it, not because it isn't a cool, fun hobby, but because it is addictive and expensive in the end.

For some crack check out mp3car.com

First Car pc 1999 Pentium 120 underclocked to 100mhz with 32 gigs of ram and an 8 gig hard drive in a harbor freight case; game controller used to control song playback, Winamp as shell. Sproggy PSU

Car Pc #2
333 AMD 64 megs ram Same case, soon added added a 5.7" composite tft in dash and used a gyration mouse + the game pad. Sproggy burnt up, used an inverter.

Car Pc #3 Shuttle launched the sv/fv24 and I ordered one first day out. 1ghz. GREAT size; fit in the small harborfreight case with PSU, HDD, extra fans. Man was it cool, everybody quit calling me a geek, and just respected.
At the time there were not any good front ends yet, so it was windows 98 (then xp).

Car pc #4 Put me back in Geek; I mounted a 15" screen directly in front of the passenger; eventually added automatic brightness controls, built in touchpoint, small keyboard in glove box; head unit in glove box with face plate in sunroof pannel. Man was it great. All Got stolen, except for the screen, then I got stopped for having a screen in the view of the driver (never had an issue when it worked), and just scrapped the project.

Issues you will have are 1) ground loops 2) most sound cards don't sound that great, so you wil end up buying a decent USB one. Seriously budget 4* what you think, these things eat you alive, but man are they fun.

Edit: Answering your question DUH!

http://store.mp3car.com/New_7_Transf..._p/mon-052.htm is what you will end up with

But http://store.mp3car.com/2008_Lillipu..._p/mon-016.htm Works well if you are not in direct sun. ( I've installed a lilliput before and they are great; but not close to the daylight readable screen above) The Lilliput guys at SEMA are funny, very very bad english.

bbjsw10 · 10-01-2008, 11:53 PM

Hey Thanks man looks sweet. 1st is kinda pricey but second within reach, Maybe?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dremd

My advise. Don't do it, not because it isn't a cool, fun hobby, but because it is addictive and expensive in the end.

Was kinda thinking the same, but can never have too many hobbies.

dremd · 10-01-2008, 11:56 PM

You should be able to find a lilliput ~$225 used. A buddy of mine sold one 2 weeks ago for $250 moulded in to a 240 dash bezel.

Edit:
and the ever popular (but odd resolution) 619
http://store.mp3car.com/Lilliput_7_V..._p/mon-001.htm

bbjsw10 · 10-02-2008, 12:04 AM

Have you ever used RoadRunner or Linux Ice? I dl'ed RR tonight may play with in on old desktop I have laying here.

dremd · 10-02-2008, 12:15 AM

I have installed + used RoadRunner, but I have never had it in my vehicle; at the time it was a little finicky (but worked well once working), but I'd bet that would be ironed out by now.

I have never used Linux in a car; sorry.

There is also a company from around here; I can't remember the name right now they are from the Northshore. . . .

dremd · 10-02-2008, 12:24 AM

I have installed + used RoadRunner, but I have never had it in my vehicle; at the time it was a little finicky (but worked well once working), but I'd bet that would be ironed out by now.

I have never used Linux in a car; sorry.

There is also a company from around here; I can't remember the name right now they are from the Northshore. . . .

Coyote X · 10-02-2008, 01:11 AM

I have roadrunner running in my car right now using the lsxvoid skin. I used a 10 inch touchscreen I got from gooddeals18.com i think is the name of the place for ~$200. I built my computer from e-itx.com and newegg.com. It works pretty good but wasn't really that cheap

120gig hd that syncs up to my main computers mp3 folder every time i get home and get within range of my wireless. It works good and so far I am glad I built the computer into the dash. I don't know how much work you are planning to do to your dash but fitting a screen in there can be a real pain since the defroster controls are probably in the way and will have to be moved.

cfg83 · 10-02-2008, 01:11 AM

bbjsw10 -

Here's another Lilliput on ebay for $177 :

Lilliput 7" EBY701-NP/C/T LCD CAR PC VGA Touch screen - eBay (item 200257345373 end time Oct-04-08 20:26:48 PDT)

CarloSW2

Coyote X · 10-02-2008, 01:34 AM

this is the 8" version of the screen i have in my car

new 8 inch Desktop TFT LCD Monitor w Touch Screen + VGA

it is $160, But I say go for the 10 inch screen. They are huge in a metro dash

some_other_dave · 10-02-2008, 12:59 PM

Anyone given any thought to the Asus EEEpc? They're currently in the $400-$500 range (the smaller one is less, obviously) but will probably be dropping like all other computer stuff. The AC adaptor for them supplies 12V, so you may be able to hard-wire it more easily than one that requires 15V... Plus it's a little tiny thing!

-soD

cfg83 · 10-02-2008, 02:22 PM

some_other_dave -

Ab-so-moot-lee have thought about the Asus, but can't justify the coin. I would like to resurrect one of my old notebooks with a solid state hard drive and go from there.

CarloSW2

dremd · 10-02-2008, 04:09 PM

a note about things that run on 12volt bricks; they are designed to operate on regulated 12v NOT automotive 12v which fluctuates widley and typically contains alternator noise. Some things work well; others do not

some_other_dave · 10-02-2008, 09:37 PM

Granted, that. I figured you'd have a pretty stout filter on the power supply. I'm not familiar enough with the technology to know if that would be much more compact/cheaper/efficient than a DC/DC voltage step-up gizmo or not. I'm guessing that it would be, but it is just a guess.

-soD

americasfuture2k · 11-20-2008, 01:31 AM

i have a carputer in my aveo. its a great thing to have. ultimate computer nerdness

my 98 Blazer. traded it for the horribly geared Aveo5.
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...-b-eby701.html

system transplanted into the Aveo when i traded the Blazer.
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...ml#post1247808

that lilliput is a budget screen. never never never use the auto adjust button. you will burn out the resolution its set it. or maybe its the 800x600. thats what mine was set at and i lost it.

Christ · 11-20-2008, 01:40 AM

as far as having another monitor, most laptops have a secondary output... remove the primary monitor, after setting the computer up to display to an external monitor, then connect a VGABox (google: VGA BOX) to the computer, and you can use a standard RCA jack after that, which means that any in-car DVD player will accept the signal. It's basically converting the signal from computer-ese to NTSC (or PAL) that will be the hardest part.

BTW, if you only want in-car MP3, you can do it w/o a head unit.. you just need an amp and a equalizer...

americasfuture2k · 11-20-2008, 01:42 AM

i suggest looking at MP3Car.com - Powered by vBulletin for any questions you may have. best place to get every bit of info you need. like this forum.

achang1 · 11-20-2008, 03:08 PM

check out mini-itx.com - news

bbjsw10 · 11-20-2008, 06:49 PM

Dang, thanks guys! A lot of info and really love the install on the Blazer (great stuff is great stuff)

americasfuture2k · 11-20-2008, 07:38 PM

thanks