Computer + Laptop [TECHNICAL]

[bourbon]

ok peeps, im gona be puttin a computer into my car, now i want to run a laptop screen off of it, anyone no how i will be able to do this?
second question is i want to use the laptops touchpad and possibly the keyboard as well how can i go about wiring that up?

i wont be using the actuall laptop in the car (its ****, gettin a better system)


cheers

[CHiMPY]

connecting a laptop monitor to a PC is more trouble than it is worth.

Just get a decent sized touch screen LCD and use that instead of the laptop gear.

[bourbon]

im after puttin laptop screen in (cheap, got it for free), descent size, gettin a LCD touch screen this size will cost a fair bit.

[Cosmo Dude]

Laotop stuff is a pain, you will need the video card part from the laptop to interface to the screen. This is usualy built onto the MPB.
Drivers arn't a problem as you can normaly download these for free.
I believe that you will be paying more to adapt the free screen than buying a screen.

[bourbon]

got everythin here from the laptop. would that be helping?

[Ian]

Its nigh on impossible to physically hook a laptop LCD up to a desktop PC, however you could sort something out along the lines of slaving the laptop to the PC (Virtual desktop, run a head to head network between the PC and laptop, so long as your not playing games on it the difference shouldnt be noticeable over such a fast and lag-free network.) You shouldnt need any additional software as windows comes with the facilities to use remote desktop, however you could try using VNC or something similiar.

In theroy you could take the laptop appart and even the touchpad off and extend the wires that connect them to the laptops motherboard, however I wouldnt vouch for the reliability of it. I dont know anyone who has actually tried to do something like this. It would be much faster and easier to buy the hardware designed to do this, however I believe it can be done in the way I just described.

Another thing to consider is the PC's health. PC Hard Drives/other components arent designed to move around, going over bumps or just being in a car, espically a lowered one or one with stiffer suspension, could cause data errors on your hard disk if it was writing at the time. For this reason, you are much better off using a laptop (the way I would do it is setup a docking station somewhere out of sight, run a monitor up the front/wherever and running the standard cables between them) as the hardware is designed to be mobile and is much more resistant to shock etc. You could then use your laptop as a standard laptop with the ability to remove it from your car and replace it at will with very little fuss.

My 2c

[CHiMPY]

no. the problem is connecting the screen to the PC.
It is not easy and usually you pay through the nose to do it.

either buy a new laptop and install that or get 15" LCD and pull it out of its shell.

[bourbon]

guys have been runnin 3.5" hard drives for 4years with out any issues...also mounting hard drive vertically could help so the head doesnt bounce anywhere its not sposed to be. this is gonna be a perm unit, runnin out of car wont be able to run 2 computers...

[Ian]

Your best off with a newer laptop then, or prehaps a refurbished one. Depends on what your going to be using it for. Media center only or games as well?

[skitz]

good luck man looks like u will definanly have ur work cut out for u if i was u i would buy a apple mini and a 15" touch screen and throw that in ur car it would be insain!!!!

[chipa]

A laptop screen usually uses an interface that you will almost only find on industrial motherboards. Only about 5% max of the ITX motherboards I've come across have it. Plus you need to identify the correct wires and usually connect them into the currect plug type. Unless you are really looking for a challenge it just isn't worth it. You really would be better of getting a 7" lilliput or xenarc. With a little work it will fit in the doubledin area and look fairly good. The touchpad should be easy enough with a little luck and experimentation, they are usually just PS2 driven on old laptops and you can buy plugs to suit at Jaycar. The keyboard I've never played with, but I would suggest spending a small amount of money and getting a small usb keyboard, there are plenty to be found if you look around.

[Cosmo Dude]

If it were for shows then any crapy laptop could repeat flashy graphics ad-nauseam.
You would really be better spending the money on home theatre you could share with friends.

[bourbon]

chipa ill be runnin 2 screens, 1 straight from the computer (to run stuff like roadrunner, GPS, dvds, games and music) then the 2nd screen is double din inwhere stereo goes will run (choice of computer screen and also what is on the dvd player in that spot). main reason for the 2nd screen is so i can have a GPS system goin and instead of using a referdex i can just look across at the screen while head units doin its stuff.

[chipa]

too much work for me... but out of interest where would you be mounting the 1st screen?

[bourbon]

double din slot where stereo goes.

[chipa]

ummm ok, and where will the 2nd screen go?

[bourbon]

ontop of dash above the glovebox (facing towards drivers seat), gonna make it fold up and down (like a laptop)

might be easier to save for a touch screen (but i want about a 12" so it will be bout $500-$700) FUN! hahaha

[chipa]

Making more sense now.... Fair bit of work tho.... Tis why I'm just going the headunit under the ashtray and 7" xenarc in the doubledin spot..

[bourbon]

yeah no it will be a bit of work, im also goin for something different sort of sick of seeing the same stereo setups all over the show... also with the monitor on the dash, when i get a aftermarket ecu ill be able to put all the program on to that so i can see everythin i need to on the screen, saves gettin a whole heap of guages.

[bourbon]

just been lookin on eBay, some cheaper ones than i thought they would be (but only a 10.4" which is bout 26cm) link below. was lookin at ones not on ebay last night and for a 10" they were bout $500-$600, this one is bout $300.

will be alot easier???
gettin power to it will be the most issue i think? looks like i just need a power invertor or something?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/10-4-TFT-LCD-Touch-Screen-Monitor-for-Car-PC-POS-A5_W0QQitemZ280017224345QQihZ018QQcategoryZ3698QQt cZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

[LordWorm]

Dude your best bet for know how on how to pull off things like this is http://forums.overclockers.com.au

head to their modding and electronics forums and you'll see they've put laptop LCDs on just about everything.

Ian: if its nigh on impossible to do it, howcome people have made picture frame PCs doing it, installed them on the side of their computer cases and so on. - also on the subject on the health of the pc.... things are not as fragile as they once were.. Any circuit board should have no trouble... hard drive and dvd drive would be the only thing you would be worried about, so just use laptop componants with adapters (pick up laptop to IDE and laptop to SATA adapters on ebay i'm pretty sure...)

Key is to work out the interface... I havnt dont it and honestly wouldnt know where to start.... but i know its been done before, and its *relativly* easy if you know what you are on about.

[bourbon]

desktop hard drives arent an issue (guys have had them in there carpcs for over 4years with out any issues)

but thanx for that link wormy, ill check it out.

[LordWorm]

desktop hard drives arent an issue (guys have had them in there carpcs for over 4years with out any issues)

but thanx for that link wormy, ill check it out.
oh yeah, desktop hard drives should be fine..but they would be the only componant at risk of falling over....laptop gear on the other hand is designed to operate more rough environments (some of the new ones have gyroscopes that park the heads if there is sudden movement towards the ground....protecting the data if you drop your laptop....)

other things to consider: UPS.... so if you get some sort of power failure, you have time to shut the carpc down....I also had an idea once of having wireless in a car PC... park your car in the garage, car PC runs off ups, synchronising with your latest movies and music... that'd be something worth hooking up :)

[bourbon]

wireless internet will be last stage (cause of price), but nah wont use a UPS, whats the worst thatcould happen to the comp if the power fails :p its only gonna be an olderish computer, somethin like a P3 1.3-1.5ghz

[LordWorm]

wireless internet will be last stage (cause of price), but nah wont use a UPS, whats the worst thatcould happen to the comp if the power fails :p its only gonna be an olderish computer, somethin like a P3 1.3-1.5ghz
Wireless doesnt need to be expensive dude..

Some USB adapters, setup in an Adhoc network shouldnt set you back too much... hell i got some old wireless ethernet gear laying around (only 10mbps so useless for streaming, but more then enough to synchronise your main PC to your in car PC) - if you are keen make me an offer via pm... Failing that bluetooth if you park close enough to your computer to do it.

Also, I believe there are/were some issues with regards to computers not shutting down when ignition is disconnected..

the nasty way of doing it is to just cut the power but thats not pretty. I seem to recall a piece of software which drove a custom built PCB connected to the PC via serial to kindly tell windows the car was switched off... not sure where i saw that....but yeh, look into it!...I might have seen it on car audio australia forums?

Good luck with it... just think it through heaps before you rush into it...otherwise it'll just be "pc in a car"... when realy the ultimate goal should be to intergrate as much of your cars functions into the computer... audio, video, tv tuner, radio reciever (usb one will do the job), hell you could even have a wireless internet video phone built into it ;)

If i can lend a hand in anyway give me a shout

[bourbon]

ive been lookin on caraudioaustralia and they have systems there that tells the computer to turn on automatically when the ignition has turned on and when ignition has been turned off it shuts it down automatically.

[Beau]

i have looked into this before too.. it seems damn near impossible. the laptops video card will need to be installed real close to the screen, as there is almost no chance of extending the ribbon cable which normally connects the two.

The only thing that stopped me was getting the two interfaced... work that out and ur set :D

good luck with it tho!! hope all goes for the best!! let me know how u go!!