Hi all and thanks for this Laptop forum,
I have a VGA screen installed in my dash and tried the setup with a friend's laptop, it works great
Now, to but a laptop…
I have an unsolved dilemma in regards to my Laptop – Carputer.
I would like this laptop to serve me at home, out and about and as a carputer (dock and roll).
With my setup the Laptop will be mounted almost vertically behind the passenger seat.
I am debating between a $200-400 X series
IBM Thinkpad (i.e X-31)
(As another option I was thinking of a used
Toughbook CF28, as they are build to be kicked around.) And a $600-800
brand new Acer / Toshiba (or equivalent)
Now, obviously money is an issue or else I wouldn't be here and just bought a BN Toughbook CF19 from the store LOL…
These are some of the pros/cons from my limited knowledge,
Please feel free to contribute your opinions / experience to help solve this enormous dilemma LOL
Used Thinkpad / Toughbook:
Pros:
- Good known reliable Thinkpad (I like them)
- Corporate laptop quality
- Cradle/ docking stations (for car mount) available and cheap
- The X series are 12" ultra portable (small, light)
- More rugged build
- Immediate cost is lower (about $400)
- Serial port for ECM scanning
Cons:
- Lower performance (Intel M/Centrino 1-1.3Ghz / 512M RAM)
- Old technology (Video card, wifi, Optical drive etc.)
- Less modern software support (Games, GPS, etc.)
- Limited or NO warranty (could be a total loss of $$)
- Battery is mostly gone or holds 1 hour
- Win XP only
Modern Laptop:
Pros:
- Higher performance (Intel Duo 1.6/2Ghz / 1G RAM)
- Modern technology (Video card, wifi, Optical drive etc.)
- 1-3 year warranty (Can get best buy extensive warranty and repair every issue caused buy carputer usage)
- New Battery
- The "new feel"
- Win Vista support (good or bad?)
Cons:
- No docking stations available to consumer models
- Construction is less rugged
- Immediate high cost (about $800 with taxes and maybe warranty)
- Carputer potential damage
- No Serial port
There are more and more pros/cons but let's get this thread rolling
Thanks.