bluethunderhorse

I've been toying around with the idea for a while, but I think I finally got the motivation to start. I'm going to be using my old laptop for conveniance, space, and for the simple fact I don't have a lot to spend. So far I've got the laptop stripped down to nothing, taking my time so I don't crack the board. The biggest road block I've come to so far is the tiny ribbon cables. The box that the hardware will be in is going to be in the trunk and I have to lengthen all of those tiny cables, and I'm not sure they can be cut and soldered. The main one I'm worried about is the power button because it's going to be put where the ash tray is now. For a keyboard and mouse I can either get a touch screen monitor, or use a regular monitor and have a USB keyboard and touchpad. I'll post pics of what I have so far after I charge the batteries for the camera

lowblustang00

Interesting.....Waiting to see more.

bluethunderhorse

Now I wasn't kidding when I said I had it stripped

System board


Hard Drive


DVD Drive


Touch Pad


Mouse Buttons


Key Board


Power Button


Cooling Fan


Battery


One of the tiny ribbon cables


Mounting plate

1999Pony

Thats very cool. I to am very interested in seeing the end product.

cntchds

It's going to be in the dash? Or where?

bluethunderhorse

If it would fit in the dash I'd put it there but due to the size of the board and lack of air flow it'll go in the trunk. Things like this is why we need a mod section

cntchds

Agreed.

tamatt27

Awesome!

cntchds

This may be a stupid question, but why? I've seen that in a few cars, and I guess if you had one of those satellite internet cards then it would be pretty sweet, but what would you use it for?

Definitely not cutting you down, cause I think it's pretty sweet. Just wondering what the motivation is for it.

bluethunderhorse

Don't have to carry around any more CDs WiFi GPS DVD basically just an all in one car entertainment system with navigation and a bunch more stuff

cntchds

Huh, that's neat. I never thought about that...

bluethunderhorse

Here's the basic idea for the enclosure that will hold the hardware The inside of the box will be lit up with a couple of neon tubes

houtex

This is grand! I think the laptop is perfect. Small footprint. Heat is your only issue. Dunno what to do to help you with that, but I'm sure you'll figure it out.

I have an idea for your power button, though: http://www.the12volt.com/relays/page5.asp

First diagram should cover that. The circuit will 'tap' the power button for 1/2 second, enough to do what you would do with your finger, when the +12V is 'seen' from the Key On.

The output of that circuit you'd just solder right on to the power switch itself on that circuit board. Then you plug the power board into the main board, and you're done. No need to use the switch to turn it on, let the car do it for ya.

You will, of course, be using an inverter, and keeping the battery, right? It's important for the 'off' bit, which should be done orderly for OS's sake. If it's got a car charger for it, or you use an inverter, and having it switched as well, then when it goes off, the laptop can 'see' that. And since you set your 'if A/C goes off, turn off' it'll just turn off. Or hibernate. Whichever. I'm thinkin' you can get Windows to do a 1 minute hibernate... although that assumes you're using Windows, which I don't really know if you are or not. Are you?

What size screen you gonna run in the car? I'm guessin' a 7" like a Nav... Found this at Amazon... I'm sure there are others...
http://www.amazon.com/lilliput-COMPU...3933921&sr=8-1

It's got the touch screen and heck, for the price of that and a few cables... this is rather exciting. And you can use this:
http://www.lakefolks.org/cnt/

To replace the keyboard. So... at the end of the day, the only ribbon you needed was the power one, right? Everything else is replaced in some way...

Pics and 'trip report' as you go!

/Edit: I see you did use an inverter. Perfect!

bluethunderhorse

I"ll be using an 8" touch screen the power button from the laptop has a tiny ribbon cable and I need to lengthen it about 15 feet or find a longer cable Good thing is it already has some short cut keys on it

bluethunderhorse

I'm also gonna have a USB touchpad and a wireless mini key board that I'll stow away in the console. As far as that keyboard link you posted windows XP already has one under accessbility options. I'm also going to have a gps reciever under the carpet on the package tray and a Bluetooth adapter for my phone. I may even put a web cam in one of the sun visors and possibly a backup camera. I even thought about making a docking station for my iPod touch.







Oh the possibilities

bluethunderhorse

found me a keyboard With touchpad and mouse buttons built in

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-Small-RF-Wi...d=p3286.c0.m14

lowblustang00

Have you thought about adding something like this to the mix?

bluethunderhorse

Yeah but I can always get the Verizon usb dongle for internet anywhere where I live they have better service than AT&T or sprint

Deric

If you plan on attaching it to a phone you don't need a wifi adapter. I used a bluetooth dongle (one of those $2 ones) and Internet connection sharing over bluetooth. The speed is really decent and I didn't have to add a $30 adapter to the mix. Also I would use a slot load DVD versus the tray load. Just my $0.02.

Here's one in a 2000

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/work...-carputer.html