is it possible to run a carputer off a laptop, by having a user that is dedicated for the car pc, using a touch screen, and a cigarette adaptor for the power, and having it wired up so you can plug in the power, plug in headphone jack for sound to back of head unit, and plug in the usb for the touchscreen and then throw it under the passenger seat or in the glovebox with the intention of being able to simply unplug it all again and take it back inside to use on the other user as an everyday computer?

as far as i can tell it should work, as long as i would be to keep my headunit the way it is so ive still got radio and cd when the laptop isnt it the car, i just thought itd be cool to have a carputer that doesnt sacrafice a computer to do it.

ive got the same idea planned for a ps2 aswell where i plug it into a ciggy light adapter and the av cable and have it so its all removable, as long as i still have radio and cd when theyre not in the car the only negative is i will have a blank screen/s which isnt an issue at all

any thoughts comments please?

You will have no problems using a laptop as a carpc - and you'll find that there are a lot of people on www.mp3car.com who use laptops for their carPC setup.

One thing to sort out though is how to start/shutdown the laptop if it is stuck under the seat... You could always turn it on before putting it under the seat.

Does your headunit have a line-in? If not, then there is no way to connect audio from laptop to headunit..

As for touchscreen, most connect via USB and VGA for the video... You have looked at the screen I have for sale... There are 2 types of screens, DIN motorised (fold out type) and fixed mount (like the one I have for sale - which comes with a sticky ball mount which has a quick release for removal.

If you have any other questions let me know, I have been setting up my carPC and researching on the net for about 6 months now...

firestorms was the inspiration, looks awesome, was thinkin if i could fit a 7" touchscreen and do the same, possibly place the head unit at the bottom if i could, and then yeah, use ciggy light adaptor for power, for sound was thinkin fm modulator with 3.5mm to rca cable to plug laptop into it cos my headunit doesnt have line in, usb for touchscreen, and s-video or VGA for video
as for turnin the laptop on i'll have it easily accessable,

this is just an idea at the moment cos i dont really have the money for it but i like the idea of a car pc for my movies and mp3's and would like to make use of what i got already

Firestorm ?? (Is that a user on a forum somewhere - not here or on MP3car)


You can get auto/air power adapters for laptops (Kensington - I think) make them...

You will need to make sure that your ciggy socket can supply enough current (usually they are fused to 10-15A)...

FM modulators are not very good SQ wise, but if your system isn't full on hardcore you probably won't notice.

yeah for the moment i think itd be more for playin movies and that just for the wank factor, plus it would be good on trips. the system would be mainly run off the head unit, thats the main reason id be using my laptop so i could take it out and not need it to still listen to music etc.

just make sure you get an external sound card and you will be set!

the stocko laptop one probably sounds like ****

Yeah the main thing i found when doing mine is to get the startup and shutdown times to like 5-10seconds. Otherwise its only good for long trips. Also look at hardwiring your cigarette adapter so it doesnt hang out of your dash :)

If your wondering about remote poweron .. most laptops support wake on lan and you might be able to rig something up that way.

The idea of taking it in and out of the car will fade .. look at getting something permanent with removable storage. I use a laptop 80gb HD via usb .. that way my music goes with me and the pc stays.

just my 2c worth :P

Firestorm ?? (Is that a user on a forum somewhere - not here or on MP3car)

Ummmmmmmmmmm..... Hi! :D

lol

Would be awesome if you could fit the 7" in there mate... i couldnt find any with a frame small enough though (dimensions were too big) and unfortunately they dont make anything in between a 6" and a 7" for a reasonable price, so i had to go with the 6".

My original thoughts were actually get a 7" touchscreen and put a carPC in... but it wasnt really a practical plan because i do lots of short car trips, the pc would forever be turning on and off... and i cbf waitin half a minute for it to boot up just to hear music :P; and also the 7" wouldnt fit (with a bit of fabrication it 'might'... but i dont have the patience lol).

The only factors to look at with this setup is the poor quality laptop sound card, having it removable and concealing cabling with ease, having to reach under your seat to turn it on/off and the cig connection.. I would definitely hardwire it with your own fuse.

If you have the money I would go for the permanent setup.

I have a 7" motorised touchscreen and the laptop under the seat with a 100gb 2.5" HD that is removable. It works pretty well, I jut put it into standby and then it starts up in about 20 seconds.

Hi firestorm, didn't find you in the members list because of the _x_....


I have a VIA EPIA SP13000 (Mini-ITX) main board in a Mini-ITX case which will either be fixed under passenger seat or in the boot...

Windows XP (cut down TinyXP version) is installed on a 1Gb Compact Flash from which the OS boots in about 30 secs. I have a removable HDD also for music/media.. This means that I can remove the Compact Flash for OS/Software/GPS Map updates and also remove the music/media drive..

Everything is setup and running now on the test bench, I am now in the process of installing amp, splits, dynamat.

I was going to fabricate the 7" Touch screen into my TL double din opening like Bigs did on his TJ VRX, but I have put the screen up for sale and plan on something a little different for the screen.

well for now it was just an idea to see if it could be done, but the thing is itd be mainly just for the wank factor, as i couldnt really afford a whole new computer and all the associated gear to set it up properly, basically i'll use my head unit on all short trips but when i go home (2.5 hours) or up the coast(1 hr) or somewhere like that its just be cool to throw the laptop in and have movies etc available to watch, id start off like that anyway because all i need is a screen, power cable and a fm modulator, which i'll wire in best as i can so its really easy to throw in and unplug, and that should be nice and cheap, also then if have the option of throwing the playstation in and having that running for a while, while also having a nice looking screen fabricated into the dash to modern things up a bit.

saying that on my current wage at subway :doubt: it wont be done for a long while, im just sussing out my options, thanks for the input anyway

mmm - subway....

I worked there for about 6 years after high school and though uni.. Back in the days of the U-Gouge.

arhh back in the day, i remember my carpc, i bloody miss it too.
Let me just tell you something, you can do anything you want if you set your mind to it.

Do you want to see what a few back yard shed tools can do?
This is a picture of my old setup.
7" touchscreen perfect fit into the magna dash
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=26311&stc=1&d=1163733987
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=26312&stc=1&d=1163733987

Those switches controlled the computer that I had setup in the boot.
Got boot time down to around 6 seconds with windows xp.

Mind you that was with an old computer I put together from parts lying around the house and that screen cost me like 300 bucks second hand.
So it can be done cheaply.

And to think people pay thousands of dollars for those in built alpine units, what a waste of money.

looks awesome dude, seems to be a good fit,pity bout the tape tho, would look nice all fabricated in, im keen on doin that and if possible movin my head unit down to where the electric mirrors are, then movin the mirrors to just behind the gearstick, should be awesome if it will work, will be a ***** of a job to do tho, will be definately headin to wreckers for a 2nd console

im keen on doin that and if possible movin my head unit down to where the electric mirrors are, then movin the mirrors to just behind the gearstick,

Good Idea, just watch the angle of the deck though. Some cd players have a heart attack if they are sitting on huge angles. How are you planning to control the mouse etc?

planning on using a touchscreen, should cover everything