What's the best choice for a laptop carputer?

**skywise** · 09-29-2007, 09:03 AM

I'm thinking of going Ebay diving for an old laptop with a broken screen that I can use for my carputer.

What's everyone had the best luck with for a carputer?
No great amount of CPU power is needed, I think RAM is much more important. (around 1Ghz seems ok)
I'm thinking these are the priorities:
1. MUST have USB (USB 2 if possible)
2. has to go above 384 Meg RAM (1gig would be nice)
3. should have one serial port native
4. native power would be nice (but been a long while since I've seen a laptop want 12-13V)
5. line-in would be nice
6. being able to do a 7" screen's native res would be a bonus

Anyone have a laptop that fit most of these?

Sky

**DarquePervert** · 09-29-2007, 09:20 AM

There are lots of laptops that meet that criteria.

What do you mean by "native power"?

**skywise** · 09-29-2007, 10:52 AM

Car native power

12-13 volts DC.
I had a nice IBM unit that did that, but it seems they need more like 20 volts these days.

SKy

**DarquePervert** · 09-30-2007, 07:03 AM

So get a Carnetix.

**MitchellO** · 09-30-2007, 08:08 AM

Many laptops these days have car adapters available, and there are 3rd party models available too.

For a serial port can't you use a USB to serial adapter? I'm sure you can pick one up on eBay.

Look for something less than 3 years and it should meet you criteria.

**skywise** · 10-03-2007, 09:59 PM

I'd prefer a real serial port, always had better luck with them. (except for having to remember to disable the serial mouse detect with XP)

So noone's had any problems with any laptops a few years old?
(esp trying to do 800x480 video?)

**turbocad6** · 10-04-2007, 12:16 AM

800X480 is tricky & hit or miss, especially on an older laptop built in video. if that's important then try to search for a sucessful laptop install at that resolution & try to get the same one, cause more than likely, I wouldn't count on it running 800x480 without adding like a villagetronics video card or something. 800X600 doesn't look too bad as reasonable comprimise I guess ...

**MitchellO** · 10-04-2007, 01:07 AM

Look for success with a particular graphics card, as if someone has had success with 800x480 on another laptop with the same graphics card it is very likely the same will be true with others.