Thread: Production Double-Din VGA Touchscreen in the making!

I dont think you need dust covers on the Front USB port. The inside of my car is as clean, or cleaner than my office!

Also, i would be happy to buy a unit with a MINI USB port on the front, and use an adapter to plug my thumb drive into it. This is because 95% of the time i wouldnt have anything plugged in the front, and that space can be better utilised.

Great work, i dont know weather to buy a LCD to finish my carputer project, or wait till June!

The main purpose of the dust cover idea was aesthetics. USB ports are ugly. We might end up going the Mini-USB route simply because there is not enough room for a full sized type A port, unless we removed a button.

- Brett

Originally Posted by Mrbmw99

The main purpose of the dust cover idea was aesthetics. USB ports are ugly. We might end up going the Mini-USB route simply because there is not enough room for a full sized type A port, unless we removed a button.

- Brett

Awesome idea Brett.
I've seen 2 or 3 car CD-players with a USB port. I think one had a slider cover, but the other two were not covered. I dont think they are too ugly.

I've taken the time today to read all 10 pages in this thread, very interesting. What background do you have, to be developing this hardware? Are you a business, or is this a personal project? When you sell your first release of products, how many do you think you'll make? I ask these questions, because I WANT ONE! Keep up the good work, Trav from Australia.

I agree with the miniport idea above. If you need, you can purchase an adapter for a few bucks. But many cel phones and other devices are already mini sized.

EDIT: You can always take a pocket knife and a hunk of rubber to cover it. This thing will already be expensive...

Originally Posted by travb81

Awesome idea Brett.
I've seen 2 or 3 car CD-players with a USB port. I think one had a slider cover, but the other two were not covered. I dont think they are too ugly.

I've taken the time today to read all 10 pages in this thread, very interesting. What background do you have, to be developing this hardware? Are you a business, or is this a personal project? When you sell your first release of products, how many do you think you'll make? I ask these questions, because I WANT ONE! Keep up the good work, Trav from Australia.

Yes, we are a business (google Panda Innovations). Our first batch will likely be relatively small so we can be sure there are no problems with the design. We will do a second production run after that.

Originally Posted by galvitron

I agree with the miniport idea above. If you need, you can purchase an adapter for a few bucks. But many cel phones and other devices are already mini sized.

EDIT: You can always take a pocket knife and a hunk of rubber to cover it. This thing will already be expensive...

This was one option, however, I have not been able to find any of the correct adapters anywhere online (mini-male to A female).

- Brett

Hi Brett,
Been following this thread for some time now and very interested in the project.
It is the ideal solution for my project!!
With regard to you difficulty in finding an adapter for mini USB Male to Female....
I simply visited google and 10 seconds later ... Voila!!

Offspring Technologies
and
USB Gender Changers
and
Belkin USB B TO MINI-B ADAPTER USB-B F/MINI5P-B M: Compare Prices, View Price History and Read Reviews at NexTag

Must be more out there too but like I said its a quick look.
Hope these help in some way

Great find! I know the adapters exist, but I only saw the '5 adapter multi-packs'. I couldn't find a place to buy them individually.

Looks like the L16BT is the right one.

Thanks!

- Brett

Mini-USB sounds like an excellent idea. How are things coming along Brett?

so in regards to one of your original questions - about whether we'd like to go with the 6.5" screen vs. a 7" - I would totally prefer the 6.5 if it means it will it into a standard double din opening. I had to shave .25 inches or more (top to bottom) from my 2001 tacoma radio bezel, and that was for a screen with the buttons on the side. If it had the buttons on the bottom it would have been worse. I would be happy to trade .5" of diagonal screen size if the return is a drop-in installation of the screen. Much less important is my personal opinion that the 6.5" is a wider widescreen, which fits better for the aspect ratios we generally use (like 840x480).

Basically, since I'm lookin to replace all my components after my car got broken into and all, I'd be happy to buy the version you don't sell anymore just for the convenience of the install. it's totally worth the extra $ IMO