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2006 Scion xB Carputer - UPDATED W/PICS!
I am working on a carPC for my 2006 xB... I have an IBM x41 laptop which I plan to mount to the dash. The unit will be open about 150-180 degrees and the screen will cover the head unit and the keyboard will be over the temp controls. the laptop only weighs 2.7 lbs (WITHOUT battery) so mounting it will be easy as hell. well, easier than say - an 8 pound unit. =D
with what i have in mind, it's an all in all easy and complete setup. I will have a mount (working on it as we speak) located under the temp controls that will allow me to mount and dismount the laptop within minutes. best part - within 30 seconds, i can go from carPC mounted to dash to STOCK dash. it is a removable solution.
The only wires that are going to be connected to the laptop are: laptop power, head-phone jack to auxillary input on the head unit and a usb GPS device. that's it! no hacking, nothing else required! I would say the majority of the work lies in 2 areas: building the mount - which is simple (willl do a write up) and running the gps + power + audio cables so they're "hidden" or retractable when im not in the car.
I plan to use the laptop for wireless internet (built-into the unit), gps (thank you microsoft streets and trips 2006), mp3s (winamp), and movies - dvd rips, mpgs, avis, etc.
It is a "cheap" solution because it saves you a lot of time. plus, you can simply take the laptop with you when you drive to school/work....
Another thing i had in mind - getting a USB web/quick camera as a backup camera =) ... I can mount this to the back of the car, and then just run the cable to the front. if i go this route, that'll only be 4 cables attached to the laptop - still a simple simple setup...
I hope this gives some of you guys ideas. I'm all for hacking and modding, but time and money are limited resources, no matter who you are. ;]
- sh00k
PS - waiting for a laptop to shut down usually takes some time (if you are running a lot of apps.) I have put a batch file on the desktop called "turn off.bat" ... The contents of this file are the following:
---8<-----
@echo off
shutdown -s -f -t 1
---8<-----
This will initiate the shutdown of the laptop within 1 second and force ALL applications to close immediately. I ran about 9 applications, and then ran this file, and the shutdown (from all the apps closing automatically to the laptop power turning off) took an entire 10 seconds. ;]
Use this for your setups. ;] it's ghetto but it works! dont laugh, please! =P
Last edited by breaker021; 01-31-2006 at 09:55 AM.
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