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Old 07-20-2006, 09:03 AM   #22
pip
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Parker, CO
Vehicle: 2000 Suburban & 2002 Corvette
Posts: 794
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I just bought the SP7 from MP3car to put in the Corvette. I currently have a lilliput 619 in the truck. This screen is way better than the lilliput. The touch screen works and is accurate (the lilliput never has been). The display is every bit as good. The connectors are much better (though I understand the lilliputs has changed too). It comes with a nice big stylus, a remote, a good stand, an L bracket for mounting and a headrest mount. The latter will be very useful when I mount the next one in the truck..I'll glue the headrest mount in the dash/console and have it look permanently installed and removable for safety.

Oh, and its cheaper!

Quote: Originally Posted by parksgm
Touchscreen: touchscreen responsiveness is good and there is good calibration software included. Touchscreen is MORE responsive to a smaller input...your fingernail works better than the the flat pad of your finger...so included stylus > fingernail > finger, but all are acceptable.

Brightness: Screen brightness is good enough for me on sunny days so far. I have a 1998 Mustang GT, and the screen is mounted fairly low in the dash, just above the gearshift, and recessed a bit. I imagine that this position both shields it from direct sun and prevents most objects outside the car from directly reflecting on the screen. I was pleasantly surprised by the brightness/readability of the screen in sunlight...although after reading the endless forum comments pronouncing NO screen readable, maybe I expected to be disappointed. For reference, I had tried to use an XOVision 8" LCD screen with composite (RCA) input previous to the SP7, and had been disappointed both by sharpness (obviously) and brightness/sunlight readability.

Image Quality: I run the screen at 800x600, and standard Windows 98 text on screen is very readable, if a bit small (I mean that the text itself is small, but sharp on close inspection). Contrast seems to be high enough that the display is not washed out at normal brightness levels. Colors are well saturated. The touchscreen blurs the image a bit...but this is not noticable during normal use from a reasonable distance, and is well worth the touch capabilities. The screen does have 2 dead pixels...both in the upper left quadrant of the screen. They don't bother me enough at this point to return the screen...but MP3Car.com's dead pixel/return policy is perhaps something to check into if you are planning to buy this screen.

Build quality: While I haven't owned another touchscreen, I can say that I agree with those above who noted that the rubberized finish seems durable and scuff-resistant and that the buttons and connectors seems well made. Buttons depress smoothly, detent and rebound responsively. The screen is mounted securely in the case and does not move at all within the case even under heavy pressure from a finger. In fact, it is difficult to make the LCD pixels "dialate" even by exerting excessive pressure (2-4 times more difficult than your average laptop screen). The cables exit the bottom left side of the casing, and extend approximately 6". Headrest shroud is included. The mounting bracket is very adjustable, allowing the user to slide the display vertically on the bracket the entire height of the display. In addition, the display and neck of the mounting bracket can be swiveled and locked within a range very similar to that of a tank turret.

Price/ordering experience: Ordered and received my screen in December 2005. Paid $250 at MP3Car.com store + $20 for UPS 2nd Day air to Texas. No tax. Received the screen on time. Before ordering, I looked for info on the forums, but was unable to determine if the SP7 from the MP3Car.com store was in fact the exact same screen as the LinITX Plus 7" screen. I can tell you that it is in fact the same screen as of this writing.

Overall: Great screen! I can't imagine the Xenarc being $100 better, although I haven't personally seen the Xenarc...

Hope this helps someone!

Gregory

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