What is better for a carputer, a Laptop or Miini-itx pc?

**abmw** · 04-13-2004, 02:29 AM

I am thinking of installing a carputer into my car but I am debating whether to just build a mini-itx pc from scratch or buy a lower end/used laptop. Many people on the board seem to build their own computers but doesnt it seem easier to use a laptop? What are the pros and cons?

(Btw, i have built several computers myself so that wouldnt be a problem)

Thanks

**gospeed.racer** · 04-13-2004, 03:04 AM

yes, in a way the laptop would be easier, but wouldnt it always be? Think about what clutter I could get rid of by getting rid of my huge tower and the 19" monitor and such at home, and swap it all for a laptop. But there again, (you know where im going now

) it wont have near the same power or usability as a tower either. Laptops are a great comprimise, but for carpc, unless you have one already I would say build the ITX. If you have a laptop, just get a dock and your 75% done.

**Namirrem** · 04-13-2004, 10:06 AM

Quick question.....what if my spare laptop (Gateway solo 1150) did not ever have a docking station available for it? What other means can I use to power the unit? Is there anything that I can get that will not use the cigarette lighter (besides the Opus)? Could I possibly wire this: http://www.laptopparts.com/laptop-au...uery=Solo+1150 into the car so that it will not be so ugly? Thanks in advance!!!!

**Ricky327** · 04-13-2004, 10:48 AM

Laptop is a good and cheap solution for car PC ONLY if you can get hold of them cheap.

Such as buying a small laptop with a broken screen from ebay. Get one without FDD or CDROM onboard like the Compaq evo N400C. Most likely you will want the CDROM on the dashboard, the FDD you will hardly use anyway.

It will save you money on OPUS, laptop will survive a crank easy...all you need is a small car-laptop adaptor as "Namirrem" posted above and a shutdown contoller.

Remove the broken screen together with the top cover, remove the keyboard, touchpad, speaker and anything you dont need really. Then just cover it with aluminium sheet and paint it to match colour...you now have the base for car PC

Up to you if you wanna go all into that trouble but less the laptop screen make your PC even thinner. You can be saved if you plan to place it under the pasenger seat.

Just add the VGA screen, mouse and keyboard and you are basically complete.

**Ricky327** · 04-13-2004, 11:02 AM

Quick question.....what if my spare laptop (Gateway solo 1150) did not ever have a docking station available for it? What other means can I use to power the unit?

Docking station is too bulky just to power up a laptop anyway. Check if your laptop can be powered up through wake-on-modem or wake-on-lan. Do a search, it has been mentioned before. If your laptop doesnt support them then you can just solder 2 wires directly to the on/off button inside the laptop.

Yes you can use those CAR-LAPTOP adaptor. Just cut the wire and connect it behind the dashboard if you dont like those cigarette plug.

**Ricky327** · 04-13-2004, 11:07 AM

gospeed.racer,

Do you really have a tower? a full tower even

**gospeed.racer** · 04-13-2004, 11:09 AM

Docking station is too bulky just to power up a laptop anyway.

I dont recommend the dock for that reason. The reason I like to recommend it is so that you arent making the laptop permenant and it can be taken in the house to download and update stuff. It will also provide the ps2 ports where the laptop usually has only one. All around, the dock is not by any means necessary, but definately tidys things up and makes plugging in the hardware nice. You just undock instead of removing all the individual connections.

**Ricky327** · 04-13-2004, 11:13 AM

Yes docking is good for a new laptop and its being used with its own screen.

My idea was to get a broken laptop and mount everything permanent.

Sorry I miss read I though you said you got a tower on your car

**god_of_cpu** · 04-13-2004, 11:43 AM

I like my regular computer in my car much better then the laptop I use to use. It's much faster, much more upgradeable, and much easier and cheaper to fix when things break. The only time I would use a laptop is if you had one laying around.

**gospeed.racer** · 04-13-2004, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Ricky327

Yes docking is good for a new laptop and its being used with its own screen.

My idea was to get a broken laptop and mount everything permanent.

Sorry I miss read I though you said you got a tower on your car

No, no tower in or on my car....the stang is a little cramped. ITX all the way baby

! But if I had a beter laptop than my 600e, I would probably go that way just to keep it simple.