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putting a laptop thru comand screen

Thmsshaun said:
Little PC?? Can you give me an example of such a machine and what is the upgradeability?
It would be a self-built machine.

check out this link: http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=11#vkmpk12

That's the kind of thing we're talking about, that bundle doesn't look very cheap, probably great stuff though!

I would install something like that in the boot, behind the lining somewhere, in the factory cd-changer location, underneath the parcel shelf or maybe in the cabin somewhere like under a seat.
 
I guess you need to write down exactly what you expect an in-car computer to do and weigh up the various prices, requirements, size limitations etc.

I only want one instead of a cd-changer to use for mp3s. A laptop would be capable of doing this but with laptops you pay a premium to have all the snacky ports, the screen, speakers, glidepads and other gadgetry which would be wasted as an mp3 player.

A decent small form-factor board with integrated everything, a small hardy case, slick power supply, lappie HDD and possibly a wireless card for remote updates would be enough for me.
 
Shude said:
It would be a self-built machine.

check out this link: http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=11#vkmpk12


Just found it on yahoo. Cheers.

Self builds arent a problem as I have always built my own just not really seen this format. I have phases where i get really up to dat then dont do anything and then get back into it again.
 
The little PC was made from the following components....

Travla C137 case & 120W PSU ( fits into CD changer position )
Mini ITX P4 Motherboard with PCI riser card (2 slot)
P4 celeron 2.4 ghz
1U CPU cooler ( needed a small one for DVD drive to fit )
512MB DDR RAM
40GB slim IDE HD
Buffalo PCI 54mb Wifi Card (external antenna connector)
Hauppuage Win TV/FM card ( for radio and TV )
DVD/CD-RW drive (laptop type with adaptor for IDE)
OPUS 150W DC-DC PSU

I have all of the above except for the OPUS available for sale as I no longer need them. If anyones interested in taking them off my hands.

Craig
 
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this company does an adaptor to "fake" the tv tuner:

http://www.audiocomp.biz/shop/de/dept_29.html

apparently, when you press the "TV" button it switches to the display you send to it via composite. it also doesnt switch off when you are driving.

So, then you would need a video card with composite output to link it to the comand screen, and in theory; hey presto!

only prob i can see is that the tiny screen will be hard to read text etc; might have to set the windows font sizes really high.

reckon this would work as i might buy one and try :)
 
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The small screen wouldn't be a problem with something like mediacar as the front end. Nice big buttons and you could an IR controller to drive it.

Craig
 
craigyb said:
The small screen wouldn't be a problem with something like mediacar as the front end. Nice big buttons and you could an IR controller to drive it.

Craig

my planned set up is as follows:

video adaptor:
videointerface.jpg

to get it displayed on Comand.....

a trackball in the top compartment of the centre console armrest:

e5_1_b.JPG


along with a mini keyboard in the glove box

keyb30u.jpg
 
You can get those adapters from places in the UK as well, I think it was about £170, search for the links :)
SilverSaloon said:
So, then you would need a video card with composite output to link it to the comand screen, and in theory; hey presto!
A lot of the small form-factor boards have tv-out type connectors on the integrated video card, check for that when buying and it's one less device to worry about :)
 
Shude said:
You can get those adapters from places in the UK as well, I think it was about £170, search for the links :)

A lot of the small form-factor boards have tv-out type connectors on the integrated video card, check for that when buying and it's one less device to worry about :)

got one from ebay for £123 :)

Now all i need to do is sort out the PC i plan to use - thats going to be the difficult part - its the power source i am not sure about. if i could just buy a psu and a case and fit it alltogether like i always do with my home pc it would be great :)
 
SilverSaloon said:
i dont have a cd changer either, but if the laptop was on a drawer system in the glovebox (may have to have a mini laptop for it to fit inside and close properly tho),

Please do tell what laptop you think will fit. The CLK's glovebox is microscopic!!!!
 
anarchy-inc said:
Please do tell what laptop you think will fit. The CLK's glovebox is microscopic!!!!

small SONY VAIO laptop would fit... but i've since had a different idea :)
 
SilverSaloon said:
small SONY VAIO laptop would fit... but i've since had a different idea :)
The sad thing is, if you remove the glovebox lining there is tons of space back there! Why all the space but a tiny glovebox :confused:
 
Shude said:
The sad thing is, if you remove the glovebox lining there is tons of space back there! Why all the space but a tiny glovebox :confused:

when i fitted my satnav aerial (i put it behind the glovebox) mine (a cabrio) had lots of thick metal pipes (assume these were the strenthening bars).....

i did think about removing the trim and fitting a laptop in but i'd much prefer to use the comand screen (even if it is so small) it would be a fantastic "toy" :)
 
SilverSaloon said:
when i fitted my satnav aerial (i put it behind the glovebox) mine (a cabrio) had lots of thick metal pipes (assume these were the strenthening bars)...
I think my w202 just has one big bar back there which is to keep the dashboard straight.
SilverSaloon said:
i'd much prefer to use the comand screen (even if it is so small) it would be a fantastic "toy" :)
I read an article where someone took a standard LCD screen apart and fitted a touch membrane to it. Worked perfectly afterwards, looked the same but had touch-screen interface. Someone brave could take comand apart and do the same thing... :)
 
the size of the comand screen limits it all tho.... i mean, imagine your 640x480 sized desktop - it would be tiny and very difficult to read with standard font sizes..... plus coming from a tv-out composite video card, will blur the image some what.

however i am banking on adjusting the font/desktop sizes (in accessability options) should make it better - and should be fine for dvd play, mp3 players etc etc
 

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I looked into getting a TS interface for the command, couldn't find one small enough. They add about 1mm to the thickness of the screen and they are USB or serial.

5.4" is smallest that I have been able to find and I think command is smaller than that.

If you could fit one it would be great for media car....

mediacar.jpg
 
from doing a little more research on this, i think a basic pc powerful enough to run dvd/mp3 could be build from around £250 (excluding the AV adaptor).... the power supply seems to be the main cost, the rest can be second hand parts from ebay which go for next to nothing as they are not ideal for main computer use anymore but more than adequate for an in-car pc. obviosuly the machine could be as powerful or as basic as you required.

i have made a list of the stuff i need to get when xmas is over, so i'd thought i'd list it here in case it helps anyone else interested in doing this.....

assuming you have comand installed for the screen....

video adaptor from HERE

in-car power supply from HERE

ultra thin mini case from HERE

micro atx motherboard something like THIS

cpu something like THIS

videocard supporting TV out: HERE

if the videocard only supports svideo ouput get a converter HERE

laptop hard drive (and IDE to laptop converter lead) HERE

tiny keyboard to fit in glove compartment HERE

USB hub to go in glove compartment HERE

+ trackball, 512meg ram, dvd drive, floppy drive, tv tuner card + software + wires

PC will reside in the space in the boot where the CD changer goes, linked straight to the battery. With ignition wire, on/off switch, usb extension lead (to usb hub), video cable going from the boot to the front dashboard where it will be linked to comand & keyboard etc.

PC could run windows XP with all the usual software installed (autoroute, media car, winamp, windvd, tv tuner software, tv out software (locked on out), office, games etc etc.

any further ideas please let me know. i plan to start shopping for all this stuff after xmas is over.
 
You will need 5 Meter cables, they run from the boot to the glove compartment perfectly on the CLK.

I ran the following cables.

1x high quality stereo pair
1x VGA extension (not need if your doing composite)
2x USB-2 5m extensions cbales
2x PS-2 extension cables
1x 7way signalling cable
2x 4way shielded for anything else I could think of.

You may need at add a serial/USB GPS receiver if you plan to use autoroute.

Craig
 

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