Thread: FS: 400MHz PC w/ 10.5" touchscreen with Win98 LOADED Special only for Mp3car members!

I received the unit today and tested it.

you have to get rid of the autorunned software (that waits forever) in order to gain control.
then you need to adjust the touchscreen sensitivity.
then you have a working puter. it even has tweak UI installed.
I took off the directional filter from the LCD and it is now much brighter.

I did like streetknight and took off the sidemetal bracket - it saves about one inch from side to side. I don't think I'll use that ethernet card in my car anyway, so I took it off.
It leaves the 2 PCMCIA cards free, plus the one USB.

I also took off the thinggy that passes from the main board to the jacks for mouse/keyboard. I don't think I'll use it, but I tested it and cannot plug the keyboard directly in the board's PS2 connection, it has to be splitted. Go figure.


Mainly, this is a laptop computer mounted in a metallic casing, with a smaller LCD and a touchscreen. It uses laptop memory and I believe it could be upgraded. It also uses laptop hard drive and it should be possible to change it also.

You even have a VGA connector inside, and the video parameters in the OS states you displays on "CRT and onboard LCD"... this might be a lead to a twin monitor setup.

the whole unit works mainly on something like 40W. I used the exac same converter then
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...&category=42167
which I had for my lappy and it works great once you wired it up.
It was powered from a 70W battery pack and I ran it for about 3-4 hours while it was already on medium/low. This unit doesn't use much power.

I think I'll do like streetknight and connect sounds directly to the mainboard.
In fact, I might get rid of the main mounting case: it is adding 2-3 inches in left/right directions, while it could be about the same size as the screen and fit more willingly in the vehicle. The board is not really larger then the screen, just placed weirdly.
anyway, I'll start by doing lots of size calculation, measure twice, and then cut... if needed.

This is interesting, but I have others projects on the go before this goes in the car... I think I'll do that this summer.

nevertheless, thanks civic for that great opportunities.

hey thats cool thanks guys.

I think i am going to solder longer wires on the lcd so I can mount the computer a little further away from the screen.

what if I format my computer. I will need drivers for the hardware and touch screen and stuff. Where can I get those drivers from? Or do you think windows xp or 98se will have it alread?

I also want to use media car and the d-link radio which requires a line in on the computer. Where is the line in on the computer. I don't think the cannon conector actually has a line in. When I took the thing apart, what is supposed to be the line in wire from the diagram, just goes from the cannon connector to the headphone jack. It does not ever hit the mother board. So i don't see how i can get sound from my d-link radio to the computer.

definately thanks civicdude
also u can upgrade it i ws going to do that today when i was in the comp store they had a few 256mb ram their. but i could not remember which one it was they have 2 rams 1 with the hole in the middle and another with it on the side. they where both cheap 40bucks.
i did get a bluetooth pcmcia card for it yet to install it. but i am hinking of making this a portib. comp that interfaces with my actuall car pc and my work and home pcs. for ****s and giggles.

Ok you gurus took this forum into a whole nother level, lol! Asking questions like that leave my head kinda fuzzy feeling. Im not a computer wizard, lol, so you guys might have to talk to each other with upgrading, and wiring. But ill do my best trying to help out. Im glad you guys like the pcs, please post pics as your projects progress.
-thanks

Civic: yep, we hijacked this into a servicing the device thread LOL
this said, thanks. its a great device, and the price makes it better.
I'll put pics as I do cool work on it.

NovaKane if you're to open the unit to solder the screen farther, I'd say try to locate the line in then... there should be something.

for the touchscreen - I think it would be relatively easy to find it, it seams to be standard. I'll try to get them as well, I want to change the laptop 6 gig drive to my laptop's 10 gig drive (no need for MP3s on the laptop) so if you have updates about that, I'm interested.


the next thing I want to know is weird: is there a way to rotate the whole screen 90 degrees in windows 98Se?

This screen's size is OK for my car, but the board is a little too big. It still would fit if I rotate the whole thing 90 degrees, and would make my life a lot easier.

is there a way to rotate the screen 90 degrees? some software or whatnot, that would be compatible with the device and its touchscreen??

thanks

Couldnt you just extend the screen/touchscreen wires and make new mounting holes and mount the screen/touchscreen onto the same board that it came with just rotate it 90 degrees?
I think that might actually work. I was looking at that as well for a in-wall custom mount.

I think that using pivot pro would make the 90 degrees rotation efficient.
(i used the and browsed tru unlimitted useless posts, but found that bit of info...)
Have to try it.


How are you guys planning on making the puter shuts down when powering down the car?

i also need the drivers for the touchscreen. i made a copy of the whole hard drive to a few cds. going to try to put xp later this week or so when i get a chance. i did try last night to swap my 20gb hd in their but it keeped staying at the screen after it reads the bios. then i went in to setup and it says it was a 8mg drive or something.

maybe the setup don't take hard drives that big?

I do hope to put my 10 Gb hdd in there...