Thread: 1996 Ford Thunderbird simple CarPC

No, im Serbian...ive got it from our importer...they import PC hardware by thermaltake...it doesnt matter where from if its original and unpacked, ive bot it only coz that one is THE ONLY VGA TOUCHSCREEN less then 15" available here? it was expensive tho for twice less ive got 6x better screen but i had to wait few weeks to get it from abroad...

Originally Posted by Fierryo

I am working on a better solution for the screen. I will be moving the heater controls to the bottom slot, so i'll have 2 din slots for a new screen. I already have a spare dash console to work with and experiment. The thermaltake is a crappy screen but it works for now

They have never really made good motorized screens for us Car PC people, but this screen is literally the only one available. I have been using there VM70, which is the headrest version without the motor, and i actually love them. I am replacing all my rear Lilliputs with the VM70. Might I ask what you payed to have the Thermaltake version? From Short-Circuit, they go for $255.00 with free shipping.

Originally Posted by Pervitizm

Fierryo,

Other than the screen resolution are there any other issue with that screen? I'm looking at that same screen (VMI70) minus the ThermalTake nameplate and want some reviews of it. I'm trying to avoid having to relocate dash controls in order to fit both a in-dash stereo and a vga screen.

What type of car do you have? If you can redo the dash, then I would go that route. I tried the motorized screen solution, but it did not look OEM. I went with a EBY701 for the main screen because it looks like a Dodge head unit. In my case, I need 2 motorized screens for the top of my dash, so I am going with these.

Originally Posted by Fierryo

I think you better move on to a better screen. This one is not a quality product. The screen makes a lot of noise coming out of the dash. And if you press the screen ( pretty common for a touchscreen) the screen will move back. It will not come out completely now and then and lately i'm seeing green and red pixels around the edges. This thing will not last very long i guess.

Yea, motorized screens are not know for being quiet. Even my brothers DUAL screen makes a noise I don't like. Have you thought of maybe having a small like piece that sticks out the dash to support the back of the screen? So that when it opens and you push on it, it has no room to fall back. When I read the reviews, that issue was the number one problem. I am designing my dash so that when it opens, a part of the dash enclosure supports the back of the screen so it can not fall back.

Originally Posted by CweLe

Yes, PLEASE Dont buy this or similar screen really sux i tried really hard as ive said...3 new ones made problems outta box... waste of money time and nerves

Can you be specific? What issues did you have? I know the display and touchscreen are fairly good, I would say on par with the EBY701. Now when you say problems, does this have to do with the motor aspect? I know that the screen has alot of useless wiring that confuses people. It should only have 3 wires, but this has 4. Two are grounds, then one is constant 12V and the other is the ACC power. If they are all not connected then the screen will not work correctly.

PS: I love the install... I have always liked the dash of the Thunderbird and the Lincoln counterpart. A Double Din screen would look hot in that car.

Originally Posted by ZX1Cruizer

What type of car do you have? If you can redo the dash, then I would go that route. I tried the motorized screen solution, but it did not look OEM. I went with a EBY701 for the main screen because it looks like a Dodge head unit. In my case, I need 2 motorized screens for the top of my dash, so I am going with these.



.

If you look at my sig you'll see that I have a 2007 Chevy Suburban. I'm also currently running a Pioneer AVH 5700 DVD unit which is a motorized flip out monitor, so I'm already acustom to the noises and issue with those type of units. I'm trying not to do too much modification to my dash just yet cause I still have a lot of other issue to work out with my truck's stereo in general that I just don't have the time right now to try and tackle a full on custom dash project. The VMI70 seem to be a good solution for my needs if I want to do a carputer right now. But if it's just an overall bad monitor or the webstore is a bad company to deal with then I'll more than likely will have no choice but to go with a fixed screen and come up with a placement ideal.

@ZX1Cruizer you can read my earlier posts ive had problems with retracing and USB touch was turning on/off (i never bothered to plug 3rd monitor into USB coz it had retracing problems outta box) i tried every monitor on my PC 1st btw in car i wired both wires to + coz i dont use ACC i like my units having power without acc anywayz since it made problems on my pc with standard wiring that was not an issue...in serbia it costs 230eur which is around $310 but everything is more expensive here than for instance in USA coz we have less money in general

Originally Posted by Pervitizm

If you look at my sig you'll see that I have a 2007 Chevy Suburban. I'm also currently running a Pioneer AVH 5700 DVD unit which is a motorized flip out monitor, so I'm already acustom to the noises and issue with those type of units. I'm trying not to do too much modification to my dash just yet cause I still have a lot of other issue to work out with my truck's stereo in general that I just don't have the time right now to try and tackle a full on custom dash project. The VMI70 seem to be a good solution for my needs if I want to do a carputer right now. But if it's just an overall bad monitor or the webstore is a bad company to deal with then I'll more than likely will have no choice but to go with a fixed screen and come up with a placement ideal.

Short-Circuit is actually a really good company, customer service wise. If I email them, they answer within 20 minutes to about 2 hours. They answered all my questions and seemed to know about the screen. Infact I think they were the ones that mentioned the screen falling back when you push on it. Email them with questions and concerns and they will get back to you.

Originally Posted by CweLe

@ZX1Cruizer you can read my earlier posts ive had problems with retracing and USB touch was turning on/off (i never bothered to plug 3rd monitor into USB coz it had retracing problems outta box) i tried every monitor on my PC 1st btw in car i wired both wires to + coz i dont use ACC i like my units having power without acc anywayz since it made problems on my pc with standard wiring that was not an issue...in serbia it costs 230eur which is around $310 but everything is more expensive here than for instance in USA coz we have less money in general

So its basically the open and close system that is cr@p. It sounds like after use, or even bad building of the unit, that the connections on the inside wear out. That explains why the touch screen stop working. As for the motors, is it that the motor stops, or do you still hear the motor moving and the screen just doesnt move. That means they are using cheap gears or a cheap motor. Well I have no choice but to get the screens. All other solutions for me are to difficult.

I was in same situation (no other solution at that moment) motors were fine but screen would tilt on half and u would hear gear wearing noise :0 first one i gave back and they fixed it after few weeks and actually it smelled oily and retracing worked but USB would stop from time to time BTW usb touch is using only usb power so u can disconnect screen and connect usb and use its touch i even opened 2nd screen which tilted to see if i can oil it or smt but it had factory greace (blue) and gears were in fine condition but it has a bit too much gears IMO so, if yours is not making problems than its fine i would use mine if it wasnt for usb diconnecting (id retract manually from half to the end but still it would make me nervous :P) ofc i tried 3 of them i tried different usb cables and PC's