Downside to using a laptop as a carpc ?

**Bugbyte** · 10-23-2009, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by elmerfud

Turning a laptop off is not a problem. Software will do that. I wonder if laptops can be set to start up via their Ethernet interface ? One could always just do a "Suspend to Hard Drive" and keep it powered up even when the vehicle is off. It wouldn't draw that much current. Will USB wake up a sleeping laptop ?

Search on 'magic packet' for startup info. You can wake a sleeping laptop by simply connecting a router to it and having the router power up when the car starts.

There is also something called wake on link that some machines have but I'm not real clear ont the difference.

Check the specs on the screen for the laptop. Standard car PC screens are in the 400 nit range. If the laptop is similar, you'll have similar performance.

**elmerfud** · 10-23-2009, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by sargeants

12inch laptop installs are fun....ask me how I know.
for my install I had to extend 48 wires, though that was also including the active digitizer from the tablet.

It is possible, and can work out nicely if you've got the space for the 12"er in your car

How many of those wires were for the display and backlight alone ?

**hexxamillion** · 10-23-2009, 10:30 PM

I used an EEEPC for my CarPC. The only issue was the startup which I performed an internal mod for an external switch. I used an external VGA monitor. Other than that I can't say there is a downside because using a laptop also provides some ultimate mobility.

For example, this past summer I took a road trip listening to music with my EEEPC CarPC then when we got the hotel, the EEEPC was easily removed from the car to play movies (.avi) in the hotel. I connected it to the Hotel TV with a VGA to TV converter.

That's what's great about our CarPC projects because although they have similar goals, they are accomplished in many diverse and unique ways that fit each person's situation or environment. I can't really say laptops are no good for CarPC because you may have a different goal or situation than others.

**GizmoQ** · 10-24-2009, 12:57 AM

Originally Posted by hexxamillion

That's what's great about our CarPC projects because although they have similar goals, they are accomplished in many diverse and unique ways that fit each person's situation or environment. I can't really say laptops are no good for CarPC because you may have a different goal or situation than others.

Well said!

**sargeants** · 10-24-2009, 10:23 AM

I'll agree with that Hex. Everyone has different ideas and goals.

Elmerfud - my mistake, it was 15 wires for the screen, 7 for the inverter and another 8(or so) for the digitizer(didn't have this info in my spreadsheet, and some of those were doubled up as grounds)
I guess what I was remembering is 48 ends to connect together. Seemed like it took forever.

I like having the base of my laptop tucked behind the glovebox out of the way.

The trickiest part I found was the power, cause if you're going with a Dell or HP with those 'smart' adapters, you've got to use an auto adapter. At least with the HP if you don't the machine runs like a 286. It needs that smart pin signal to work properly. I'm using a CNX1900 to shoot 18v to the auto adapter (accepts 7-24vdc) which then gives me the 18.5 with the smart signal.

**HiJackZX1** · 10-24-2009, 10:42 AM

I think the only issue I see is start up, shut down (which can be resolved with a custom shut down start up controller), but the second would be upgrading. Once I laptop becomes obsolete, its obsolete. With a mini-itx, you simply swap out old and add new.