posted
Okay. Another hairbrained idea from me. But I think this one might have some merit. Some things similar to it have been done.
Instead of going with a computer/radio mix from Alpine, Clarion, Eclipse, etc., why not just build the dash to accomodate a laptop computer. The computer would then be connected from the sound card outs to the sound system through whatever processors you desire or straight to a crossover/amp.
CDs could be loaded in the CD/DVD-Rom drive and played, or one could load up the hard drive or a section of it with MP3s (one can now record MP3s off of a disk with RealJukeBox). The computer could also be programmed for whatever other systems you want it to run.
If you have a DVD-Rom drive, then you could watch movies on the 10-13" screen, play Doom, Quake, StarCraft, Mist, etc. while waiting, etc.
Just a thought, but figured it might work for my friends wedding to do the sound throught he computer into the bands PA. Then thought, well, why not in a car? Oh well, have fun shooting this one down too .
ub, insane in the membrane, insane in the brain
------------------ "Captain Budget" Never tick off a klingon!
Posts: 7155 | From: No. VA | Registered: May 1999
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posted
I have picked up an IBM thinkpad for my car but found out things like TV sound cards are not available for laptops and I couldn't find a DVD drive for anything but a desktop. I wonder if there is a way to use my two PCMCIA?? slots to provide more conventional desktop type slots.... Hmmmmmm Anyway, I wanted to get this thing tied into the car by USAC finals. I already have my entire photo album on it for Showmanship. It plays like a slide show.
posted
I am also working on this idea with a friend of mine... We are going to remove the stock instrument panel and replace it with a 6.5" LCD display... I haven't done much to it lately but it is slowly, very slowly, coming along...
------------------ Objects in mirror are more stable than they appear.
Posts: 186 | From: Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada | Registered: May 1999
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posted
got any idea how QUICK a PC's CD-Rom's gonna SKIP~~~ when you nudge the volume??? lol. it took a few years for the first car CD players to get steady in a mobile enviornment. (Alpine was the one to have)
posted
My Dell notebook supports Soundblaster etc. requirements and the model above offers DVD/cd rom. Are tv/sound cards any different? I have also heard the notebook hard drives are much tougher and would be suitable for auto customizing.
------------------ Trans Am Sam ............ Powered by Rockford Fosgate. Fueled by Kenwood.
[This message has been edited by T A Sam (edited 09-22-99).]
posted
Not sure if TV cards can be put on lap tops, be kinda cool
Even if one didn't put the computer in the system, could easily put a Rio in the system instead. If it can take the jolts from running, think it can take a car.
Most new lap tops are drop tested, frozen, heated, given to kids to play with for an hour or so , and other such torture tests, but they keep coming back for more. Could always go for one of those 10000 dollar Army laptops . "Able to withstand a nuclear blast....or Private Bob's sad attempts to hack into the hard drive"
my 3 cents on a 1/2 cent day.
ub
------------------ "Captain Budget" Never tick off a klingon!
Posts: 7155 | From: No. VA | Registered: May 1999
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posted
Back in 96 there was a Lexus with full PC capability. The PC was mounted in the trunk, it was like 175 mhz I believe. The mouse pad was mounted on the center console. The keyboard would slide under the seat so it could not be seen. The 6.5 screen was set into the dash. He had a PC RTA in the trunk, and a mic in the glovebox. He built his own horns, thats right and they sounded better than Images at the time. He had 2 15's mounted under the rear deck, yup thats right rear deck. He had a servo driven 18 firing into the back seat. He had 4 older ZR500's I beleive that was the model number. Correct me if I am wrong, they were kickers monster amp 1000 watts+. This car was unbeleivable. His name was Mike can't even remeber his last name out of Daytona Beach FL. He was a damn good techer too.
------------------ 1 10 going for 145+ 2 10's going for 150+ Wish me luck F.T.M.
[This message has been edited by MP21AUDIO (edited 09-23-99).]
Posts: 169 | From: Duluth, GA | Registered: May 1999
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Hmm ive put alot of thought into this. Heres what I plan to do once I get my system done. "So I have money :P" Get a old PC p200's are cheap now. Take it apart "motherboard and power supply off the metal case" then build a plywood box to mount it to. Make it where it will fit right under my driver seat. Install the video card and sound card. Move my cd-player from its current place "middle of dash to the right of steering wheel" and move it inbetween the dash the the shifter then put a LCD screen there. With the computer being close to the dash I can mount the cd-drom/dvd player right under or above the cd-player. As for a mouse I plan on getting one of them touch pads "like most laptops come with" and mounting it behind my shifter. There isnt much I can do with a keyboard besides getting a wireless one.
Problems that I havent solved yet : Getting a stable DC-AC converter "ya right" and figuring out how to not jake the HD up "maybe dynamate the hell out of the enclosure for it" Also how to get the sound from the sound card to the cd-player without using inputs "cause my cd-player doesnt have inputs :P" "cough tech could use ya"cough"
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also forgot about this idea "just a expensive idea : P" maybe get a projector that works off your computer. we use one in networking class all the time. Shine it on any wall and it will play whats on your computer screen. "can we say moving theater!!!!!!!"
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I almost have the HD problem solved, I am working on a shock resistance mount using heavy mineral oil... It is similar to those used to stablize some CD playes... I also planned a large RAM drive using about 80 MB of ram as a permanent drive for the mosty common programs... The Mother board can be left on all the time because it uses very little power, or its also not difficult to have it load from the HD upon vehicle startup... Some of the problems are easier to solve than you might think...
------------------ Objects in mirror are more stable than they appear.
Posts: 186 | From: Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada | Registered: May 1999
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posted
The car was loud yes, but he had it setup for SQ, but that servo sub was amazing. When I sat in it and played 20 hz notes it was like a winf tunnel. Kinda like the Mmats sub booth. Whatever happened to that?
------------------ 1 10 going for 145+ 2 10's going for 150+ Wish me luck F.T.M.
Posts: 169 | From: Duluth, GA | Registered: May 1999
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posted
Hmmm thats wrong. Tech and all else who are looking for the video out for laptops, I will get a answer for you tommorrow. Networking teacher works as a apple rep. In the department for presentations so if there is a way to do it he will know. And I know you can do it because he uses one everyday in class!!
posted
ok, here we go. couple easy ways to do a HD in a car: 1) take apart a cd changer and mount the HD inside it (on the sled for the laser...) 2) notebook HD. They're MADE to take the kind of shock present in a car. give it rubber grommets on the mounting screws and you're set then: don't use a laptop, waay too much money for waay too little computer. use like say, a slow(er) celeron or AMD K6-2 (350-400 is my definition of slower) it'll be cheaper to get a board and processor that way than if you try and find a pentium MMX 200 unless you get lucky. Power supply, build your own, lot better than running a power inverter and a regular PC power supply. I have some plans for such a power supply that i've heard work. CD-ROM: *BAD* Idea. big HD's are cheap. store everything on the HD and use a serial or network connection to transfer stuff from your home PC. As for video... if i didn't loose you in the power supply section... go to http://www.eio.com/colorlcd.htm problem solved.
posted
Computer geek to the rescue. Laptop sound cards are not going to give you really good output. You are going to need to use a real desktop with a real sound card. No soundblasters, or anything of that type. Your going to need one made for the studio. Your going to be spending about 2000.00 plus to get a really good sound card. To the hard drive questions, use a laptop hard drive, mounted on a suspension system made from 3 springs and 3 shocks from the R/C car world, and you shouldn't have problems with abuse. A completely mouse driven system is what you'd want in this system, beings a keyboard is pretty much impossible while driving. Anyway, your going to have to create a power supply (no problem really, mother boards use all dc). I think by the time you get it all up and running, you'd have been better served buying a real head unit. Not to mention it's not going to be easy to operate.
------------------ STILL waiting to hear a GOOD pair of HLCD's!!
If it dont fit, force it... if it breaks, it needed to be replaced anyway...
posted
for tv out you can use the presocard or the tview gold card from focus.... go to www.tview.com I own the presocard and have this hooked up to my Eclipse 7001 with my Sony/Etak GPS and it worked perfectly.... I'm still trying to find a good place to mount one of my laptops in the car.... I have an wireless RF keyboard as well, so I can mount it anywhere in the car.... call me crazy if you want to (I already have a N64 in the car)
btw: if anyone is interested in see the N64 http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Street/1937/
the stereo is once again under going major changes, so the pictures of the trunk look like sh*t
if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me ------------------
[This message has been edited by namdlo (edited 09-27-99).]
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