01 Metro + laptop install = most getto carputer

**cash_Money** · 12-08-2004, 07:39 PM

What happens when you drive a Metro have no money and a old laptop?

I mounted this ugly laptop in the passenger seat using a couple of 2x6's,wire ties and velcro.

The unit is powered by a 400w power inverter with power cables running from the battery.

The complete rig was very cheap and suprisingly functional. The mount is stable and I can remove the laptop from the platform when needed as it currently velcroed to the wodden platform.

The biggest goal of the project was to not modify the car as in replacing panels or the factor AM/FM radio installed. Audio is achieved through a cheap FM transciever.

I'm using it for FrodoPlayer and Streets and Trips and occasionly war driving. Although I'm not exactly proud of my workmanship on this project but I'm putting it up as an example what can be done with spare parts and not spending a lot of money.

Specs:

Sattalite 470CDT
Pentium 200mhz
12inch LCD
64mb
6gb storage
Orinoco Gold 802.11
Modified RandMcnally NMEA GPS

Software:
Windows 2000 sp4
FrodoPlayer 1.9
Netstumbler 4
Streets and Trips 04

**jcdillin** · 12-08-2004, 07:43 PM

i'm guessing you dont have many passengers?

**cash_Money** · 12-08-2004, 07:54 PM

I rarely had passengers before but now it actually works out pretty well.. Needless to say I don't have to carry people around now.. I just explain to them I've got a laptop mounted in the front and if they need a ride they can sit in the back. Sorry about the f'ed up pictures btw.

**jcdillin** · 12-08-2004, 08:44 PM

hey as long as it works, i've driven around with the guts of a computer sitting in my backseat just to have a computer in the car.

But great job for making something work with what you have.

**sheerdark** · 12-09-2004, 07:53 AM

yeah, I'm sure there are easier ways to get that done with some money...but it's a very cheap option for all the poor college kids like myself - so long as you already have the lappy, that is!

**Scouse Monkey** · 12-09-2004, 08:00 AM

I like it. it is just so simple yet functional and dirt cheap with no fannying around. One problem is though - that i also have with my thinkpad on the seat - that bloody little joystick is hard to control while driving.

**Cris** · 12-09-2004, 08:05 AM

And the carputer has an airbag too...

**darkhalo** · 12-09-2004, 08:11 AM

whats a metro?

**Cris** · 12-09-2004, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by darkhalo

whats a metro?

A car...

**RPI Geek** · 12-09-2004, 09:03 AM

This reminds me of my cousin's Tracker. After hearing me talk about my project he plans on installing a carputer too; the problem is that there's almost no room in that thing so he told me he'll probably end up with a fast-and-dirty install.
Huzzah for ghetto'd Geo carputers!