Laptop + wireless mouse + LCD monitor = CarPC?

[soonenough]

I have a relatively new (~2 years old) HP laptop that I'm not using that much anymore, and I'm thinking about using it to run GPS and nav software in my truck. I'd like to simply mount the laptop somewhere out of sight, connect a USB GPS puck and a wireless trackball mouse to it, and then have it output to a small LCD monitor mounted near the dash. It seems really simple, but I'm not sure I've seen anyone doing this. My goal here is to have something simple, cheap, and easily removable since I'd only be using it every once in a while. Is this do-able?

If so, can I just use any run-of-the-mill LCD monitor with a VGA input (like the ones they use for headrest screens)? Or if I don't need touchscreen capabilities do I only need RCA inputs from the laptop? I've been browsing around www.mp3car.com, but everything there seems to be geared toward touchscreen, which would be nice, but the monitors are really expensive. Plus the installations I see there are way overkill for what I need. I'd probably just use some generic RAM Mount components (a base and a small arm) to mount the LCD screen, connect a USB puck to the laptop, and run OziExplorer / MS Streets&Trips, etc.

I have a new HP Mini netbook, and I thought about buying a RAM Mount to mount it to the passenger seat, but they seem kind bulky, not to mention expensive. Plus I don't really want to mess up a brand new laptop with dust, grease, scratches, etc. It just seems a lot less intrusive to have a 7" or 8" screen mounted to the side of the console.

Has anyone done this or seen it done with any success?

 

[Strizzo]

sounds like it would work, how hard could it be? lol

 

[Ruffin' It]

I used to run a lap top with an external touch pad mouse that I bought off ebay for something like $25 and it worked pretty well. The mouse took up almost no room and people didn't even know it was there unless I pointed it out. It worked really well. I should have also added a small, flexible keyboard as some key function would have been nice. I didn't run an external screen, but was planning on it. Maybe I will give it another shot in a few months. I liked the set-up though. MP3car.com is a good resource, but spend sometime on google looking up stuff. I found a lot of good resources - that I have scince lost track of.

Hope this helps at least a little

 

[pcampbell]

This might work...

http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/bfa3/?cpg=101H

 

[tdesanto]

... It just seems a lot less intrusive to have a 7" or 8" screen mounted to the side of the console.

Has anyone done this or seen it done with any success?

I think you're right about this. I think this should work and might be a better setup. I run a 12.1" tablet on a laptop mount and it's bulky and always in the way.

You just need to make sure that you can find a good, secure place to mount your laptop. Also, make sure that it gets decent ventilation.

You can get creative with 12v PC fans if you need to circulate cool air into wherever you mount the laptop.

If you can get a docking station for the laptop, you might even be able to mount it under a seat?

 

[soonenough]

This might work...

http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/bfa3/?cpg=101H

Thanks for that link! That's a pretty cool little gadget, especially for $130 in a non-touchscreen version. It would be nice to not have to mess with VGA, RCA, etc.

You just need to make sure that you can find a good, secure place to mount your laptop. Also, make sure that it gets decent ventilation.[/FONT][/COLOR]

You can get creative with 12v PC fans if you need to circulate cool air into wherever you mount the laptop.

If you can get a docking station for the laptop, you might even be able to mount it under a seat?

Yea I was thinking about mounting the laptop, USB hub, and possibly the inverter in the cubby storage area behind the rear seats in my Tacoma, but there wouldn't be any ventilation back there. I could probably do something with a fan for circulation, but the problem is that there isn't really any place to draw fresh air from without a) leaving the seatback down/open, or b) cutting a hole somewhere, which I don't really want to do.

What would be the benefit of using a docking station? Just so that I could leave all of the connections and wiring in the car, and remove only the laptop when I'm not using it?

 

[pcampbell]

Thanks for that link! That's a pretty cool little gadget, especially for $130 in a non-touchscreen version. It would be nice to not have to mess with VGA, RCA, etc.

It looked interesting but I don't know if it can serve as a primary monitor or not...or if you can just drag apps over there for viewing.

Also, consider that most laptops go to sleep when they are closed. If you mounted it somewhere, you'd probably want to defeat the button that senses the top being closed.

 

[762X39]

Also, consider that most laptops go to sleep when they are closed. QUOTE]
I think you can specify what the laptop does when the lid is closed in the setup software.I have my Panasonic Toughbook set up to do nothing when the lid is closed.

 

[tdesanto]

What would be the benefit of using a docking station? Just so that I could leave all of the connections and wiring in the car, and remove only the laptop when I'm not using it?

Exactly. Not sure if it would work for you, but it was just a thought.

As for managing airflow, heat will need to be dealt with regardless. If you're running Vista, at least you could configure the laptop to run on low power (slower though) and that helps somewhat with heat.

 

[soonenough]

It looked interesting but I don't know if it can serve as a primary monitor or not...or if you can just drag apps over there for viewing.

Just checked MimoMonitors.com, and you cannot use those monitors for a primary display, you can simply move things from the primary display over to them.

EDIT: Wait, wouldn't that inherently not apply to a laptop because a laptop always has a primary display built in? Couldn't you start an application from the laptop using the laptop's screen, then slide it over to the secondary monitor, and it would work fine? You just wouldn't be able to start other applications or do anything that requires the start menu functions. I guess you'd just open up every application you thought you might need and move them all over to the secondary monitor before you tucked the laptop away. I'm not the most computer-saavy in case you hadn't noticed...

 

[pcampbell]

If it were me, and I were set on a carpc, I would just use one of the inexpensive lilliput monitors. They are kinda quirky (lots of info on mp3car.com) but the cheapest solution for a decent touch screen. I guess I'm not sure how "cheap" you are looking for so that may be out of your budget.

The kicker is you can get a netbook so cheap and it's so much more versatile, I'd have a hard time not going that route.

Since you already have an HP mini, why not just put a keyboard cover on it to keep the dust out and cover it in invisihield (zagg.com) or similar?

 

[soonenough]

If it were me, and I were set on a carpc, I would just use one of the inexpensive lilliput monitors. They are kinda quirky (lots of info on mp3car.com) but the cheapest solution for a decent touch screen. I guess I'm not sure how "cheap" you are looking for so that may be out of your budget.

Can I ask why you would go with the Lilliput monitor over something like this small USB monitor? Especially if the Lilliputs are known to be quirky. I checked prices on Amazon, and the Lilliputs seem to be roughly equivalent to the Mimo in terms of price. I'd like to keep the cost of the screen to >$200.

Since you already have an HP mini, why not just put a keyboard cover on it to keep the dust out and cover it in invisihield (zagg.com) or similar?

The main reason is that I don't want to have a bulky computer taking up space in the front of the cab. Although it's a small computer, I just see the netbook plus the Ram Mount being a PITA. Not to mention I can get a screen for cheaper than I can get a Ram Mount, and the screen can be used with any computer I ever own.

Also, removing (and then re-installing) a small screen and its mount should be pretty easy, considering all you're removing is the screen and a small mounting arm. For a netbook, you're having to mess with the netbook and the entire Ram Mount (I've never used one, so it might be easier than I think).

Lastly, if the laptop is mounted out of sight, it can be left in the car the majority of the time, and the little screen and it's mount can be stored in the console, glove box, etc when not in use. But for a Ram Mount and a netbook, they'd probably have to be stored somewhere else when not in use (house, garage, etc) to prevent attracting thieves.

 

[pcampbell]

Can I ask why you would go with the Lilliput monitor over something like this small USB monitor? Especially if the Lilliputs are known to be quirky. I checked prices on Amazon, and the Lilliputs seem to be roughly equivalent to the Mimo in terms of price. I'd like to keep the cost of the screen to >$200.

Lilliput at mp3car: http://store.mp3car.com/Lilliput_7_VGA_Touchscreen_619GL_70NP_p/mon-001.htm

If the Mimo could not serve as a primary monitor and let you have full control of the computer (or laptop) it would get pretty old having to always go back and mess with the main screen directly. I'd prefer to have full functionality at the screen up next to me and mount the computer/laptop somewhere out of sight.

The main reason is that I don't want to have a bulky computer taking up space in the front of the cab. Although it's a small computer, I just see the netbook plus the Ram Mount being a PITA. Not to mention I can get a screen for cheaper than I can get a Ram Mount, and the screen can be used with any computer I ever own.

Also, removing (and then re-installing) a small screen and its mount should be pretty easy, considering all you're removing is the screen and a small mounting arm. For a netbook, you're having to mess with the netbook and the entire Ram Mount (I've never used one, so it might be easier than I think).

Lastly, if the laptop is mounted out of sight, it can be left in the car the majority of the time, and the little screen and it's mount can be stored in the console, glove box, etc when not in use. But for a Ram Mount and a netbook, they'd probably have to be stored somewhere else when not in use (house, garage, etc) to prevent attracting thieves.

All very good points. If you only want to run a specific set of apps with the setup and that app is relatively easy to function, ideally with a touchscreen, then I'd go for the screen only approach too. Have a keyboard and mouse handy for other stuff if necessary.

With a laptop as your "backend" computer, and a screen on the dash, you can still remove the laptop at camp and do some stuff. So, I guess you get the best of both worlds.

 

[soonenough]

If the Mimo could not serve as a primary monitor and let you have full control of the computer (or laptop) it would get pretty old having to always go back and mess with the main screen directly. I'd prefer to have full functionality at the screen up next to me and mount the computer/laptop somewhere out of sight.

All very good points. If you only want to run a specific set of apps with the setup and that app is relatively easy to function, ideally with a touchscreen, then I'd go for the screen only approach too. Have a keyboard and mouse handy for other stuff if necessary.

Well, after looking around online, I found a review of the USB monitor where the guy says that it defaults to mirroring the primary display, but can be changed to be an extension of the primary display using the included software. The more I look at these, the more I think it would be nice to have a touchscreen and use a stylus if necessary for fine input control (i.e. small buttons on nav apps, etc). You could also run a female USB to the front of the truck, so if you ever needed to connect a device (keyboard, thumb drive, etc), you just plug it into the USB outlet that's already there. That way, you wouldn't have to mess with the computer itself unless you needed to put in a CD.

Another benefit of this setup is that all you'd be dealing with (as far as cord management) is one USB cord. With a netbook on a mounting platform, you're dealing with a power cord, the cord from the GPS, etc.

 

[pcampbell]

That is very cool info you found. The screen looks very clear too. I like your idea. Gives all the benefits of a laptop that you can remove at your destination and the utility of a small touch screen when in the vehicle. I might have to give this a a shot myself. I've got an Lenovo X301 with a solid state drive that would work really good like this. Hmmmm...now how and where to mount it....