Hiding carputer from the wife - question?

**rcracerx** · 02-01-2007, 01:37 PM

Been lurking around for a while and have pretty much planned out my whole carputer setup. I was gonna use an 8 in screen and ditch the head unti in the truck. I made the mistake of mentioning it to the better half yesterday ..... Bad Move

She was not having any of that.

I am really bummed about it but I cant really complain because I usually get my way when I want new toys. Just recently I bought a 99 2500 burb and a 34ft Rockwood TT to camp in so I guess she has had it with me for now.

I do not give up that easy and somehow in the conversation I managed to get her approval to install a flip up DVD player instead of the carputer...ya know for the kids.

So my question is this:

I was thinking of buying a flip up DVD player head unit that supports AUX inputs and hiding the carputer somwhere in the truck.

I have plenty of room in the suburban to hide a small puter and run the wires up to the head unti. I would only have to worry about her hearing it or switching the inputs on the system and stumbling upon it. I dont think that will be a problem because she only drives in the truck when we tow our camper, it is actually our 3rd vehicle and not a daily driver.

I am worried that the screen on the head unit will not be able to display the windows correctly. I am looking at either the Dual XDVD8181 or the Jensen VM9311TS. Does anyone have any idea if the video input on either of those 2 systems would support the video and sound output of the carputer. Generally what type of A/V inputs are on the head unit? How would I get from my vga on the pc to the input on the head unit?

I realize I most likely would not be able to use the touch screen for a frt end but I can use a wireless mini mouse on my fold down console.

Thanks for any help or advice.

Rc

**RedGTiVR6** · 02-01-2007, 01:40 PM

no - you need a VGA screen, please see here:http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...19&postcount=6

**2k1Toaster** · 02-01-2007, 01:49 PM

Since those are huge truck things, you probably have a double din.

Get a 1din VGA touchscreen with at least 2 inputs. 1 RCA in and 1 VGA in. Get another 1 din dvd player. Hook the 1din dvd player into the lilliput, and then when you want the carPC, switch to VGA in.

**RedGTiVR6** · 02-01-2007, 01:58 PM

thing is, if he's trying to hide it from his wife, a single din VGA isn't an option.

**2k1Toaster** · 02-01-2007, 02:02 PM

Do you think she would know the difference of 2 units? Some of those people on eBay sell single din flipout screens, and then a seperate DVD player. Same thing except the screen they bundle is a RCA only not VGA.... I think it could work.

**jeffreyd_tx** · 02-01-2007, 02:41 PM

Marraige is based on love and trust. You need to sell her on it. You have failed on your first attempt as a salesman. Get back up to the mound and pitch it again. I had my wife so excited about the carputer and now she wants one in her car.

**RedGTiVR6** · 02-01-2007, 03:07 PM

I agree with what Jeffreyd says.

It took me a while to pitch my then boyfriend on the idea for my car.

Now we're married and he's completely sold on it and now I make a living trying to make PCs a solid, viable solution for the market.

Have you thought ahead to what it's going to be like when your wife realizes that there's a PC in the truck after she told you not to? Do you really think that she's that naieve as to not realize it?

**JimmyFitz** · 02-01-2007, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

I agree with what Jeffreyd says.

...Have you thought ahead to what it's going to be like when your wife realizes that there's a PC in the truck after she told you not to? Do you really think that she's that naieve as to not realize it?

I agree too. Makes you wonder what she hides from you???

**scott_fx** · 02-01-2007, 03:52 PM

take her to a computer meet and show her how versitile it is. show her how it'll give her gps (safety) show her the obd-ii stuff and sell her on how if anything goes wrong, it'll tell you without having to go to the mechanic. show her the hands free cell phone usage (safety). enlighten her on never having to have a crap load of cd's in the car (cleanliness), show her about gps car tracking and data loggin. (one person in a wrx found out how a dealer was abusing the car when he brought it in for servicing). let her know that if the dvd player she wants breaks that she'll have to replace the whole thing, if one part of the computer breaks you just have to replace that single part.

thats all i can think of for now

**durwood** · 02-01-2007, 03:55 PM

Ya I have to run my ideas past my future wife already, but I'm not willing to take no for an answer. You just have to agree to do something for her or explain how it benefits her too.

What happens when you want to use the carputer, but you can't because she is sitting right next to you? That will drive you nuts. Better get the approval...I mean talk her into it.