How many here are using a laptop instead of.... - Page 2

wei2cool · 05-01-2007, 03:53 PM

this topic has been discussed many times already. Each side has its own valid arguments. I can speak from my personal experience.

I finished my initial experimental carputer install 2 years ago. 2 years later i have no regards and see no reason to convert. sure it's a shame that i can't drop a 500 gig HD in it, which is the only downside for me. however, the portability of the laptop easily overcomes this minor flaw. it takes me less than 5 seconds to undock the laptop. i can plug it in to my home network and transfer all the new media content i want, and another 10 seconds to dock it back to the car. since i'm constantly d/ling new contents, the ability to easily transfer to my carputer is my top priority.

here are some of the features that i like about my laptop install
1. stand by mode -- can't beat the 3 seconds startup to music
2. a laptop for the road trips -- i used it in hotels to get on internet and view digital images we took along the way
3. easy to maintain on or off the road
4. save time -- the best part about the laptop install, just plug it in. No custom case to build and no heating problem to worry. It's all ready to go.

i see some people planning to get a core 2 duo laptop as their carputer, which is a big mistake IMO. Ask yourself what's the most CPU intensive task your carputer is ever going to do? Playing DVD? Save yourself some money and invest it in other aspect of the project.

ViriiGuy · 05-05-2007, 04:41 PM

I personally am getting ready to use an old old Fujitsu Stylistic 2300 for a carputer. I have also set up some for others in the past using various laptops. I can find no reason not to.

If you want a really sleek looking install, again you can do it with a laptop as well. All it takes is time and imagination.

ironfinger · 05-05-2007, 05:03 PM

I have a 1.5ghz mini atx and its weak and its loud. I should have done a laptop. the Firewire and USB on a laptop is what you want if you go the audophile software tuning route, so don't worry about not having onboard PCI sound options with a laptop. Also many atx onboard graphics cards don't support 800x480 either.

Shemdaph · 05-10-2007, 01:44 AM

Do you all always leave the Laptop in stand by mode?

skuller · 05-10-2007, 09:23 AM

hibernate here

TruckinMP3 · 05-10-2007, 10:26 AM

It all depends on your need. No one can answer what your needs are.

I use a small desktop board, it does what I want and fits where I wanted it to.

Alchemium · 05-10-2007, 08:52 PM

I am currently planing a carputor install in my 2003 Accord that has terrible issues with touchscreen location. Regardless, I think that mini ITX mobos are way overpriced. Right now I am split 50/50 between using my HP zv5000 laptop as a dedicated carputor or buying a miniATX board http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138262
for $50 bucks and putting in a dedicated PCI sound card. Also laptop can be installed under the drivers sit; so no need to run wires to the trunk of the car. I think it is a big plus in terms of time saving.

Shai-Hulud · 05-11-2007, 07:57 PM

Or you could buy an old P3 or early P4 laptop for little of nothing. Maybe find one with a dead screen for almost nothing. Nothing more satisfying than putting life back into a system that would otherwise be trashed.

heitjer · 05-13-2007, 07:20 PM

my carputer blog

I went the laptop route as I liked the flexible approach; main reasons

+ designed for low power consumption
+ low noise emission
+ battery (for delayed shut down if needed)
+ small ‘real estate’
+ direct - unconverted power

I tugged it away in the center console (see pics in the blog) and interface with it only through the touchscreen when its docked in the car. So far its been a good experience.

The only issue I have right now is the sound. I hear the high pitch 'reving' of the engine as I think I have different grounds. The laptop soundcard is not really pretty anyway so I am looking right now into an USB soundcard solution. Any recommendations here?

I beleive that every problem is unique and you need to come to terms with your problems and then decide whats right for you.

Nola111 · 05-16-2007, 05:12 PM

Another vote for laptop here.

And I had a mini-itx carpc in my car first, and then went laptop. I couldn't be happier. I think Thefdog's post was great in laying out the real considerations too. Only thing is, you don't have to solder your power switch if you get a Carnetix P2140 to power the laptop, and you use Standby instead of Hibernation. The P2140 with the latest firmware will wake and put your pc to sleep via a USB cable. Easy as can be. The software that comes with it is great too. As with other regulators, it has a "deadman timer" that kills power to the laptop if your car hasn't been started within a user-specified amount of time. Very nice to keep from getting a dead battery if using Standby (which I highly recommend... 3 seconds max to having your pc ready to go... just like having a real HU!)

And there are a significant amount more USB soundcards available now then there were a couple years ago, so I don't see the fact that you have to use a USB soundcard as a shortcoming. But be sure to consider that you DO need a usb soundcard. Laptop onboard won't cut it unless you truly could care less about sound quality.

Justintoxicated · 05-18-2007, 07:13 PM

I'm considering using Micro ATX for my install Since I have alot of space under my seat, could probably even cram some liquid cooling into it. Should be cheaper than a laptop and alot more flexable?

Thinking about something like this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowIm...upply+-+Retail

If it goes under my seat does it really matter?

xxBarneyxx · 05-21-2007, 09:15 AM

Personally I used a laptop because I had an IBM thinkpad to hand and I wanted to be able to take as much of the expensive stuff out of my car as possible. It worked well and as has already been mentioned you can get some very good external USB sound cards now which do a nice job. The other advantage was that if I wanted to do anything major on it I didn't have to sit out in the car or use a wi-fi connection with remote desktop. I could just unplug it and bring it inside.

There is something to be said for a fully integrated mini-ITX build though. It just feels more "complete" even though there is actually very little difference at the end. It is also nice to just be able to get into the car and turn it on rather then plugging a whole load of stuff in every time.

I have just recently scraped the whole idea in my car and gone for the easy option of ipod+head unit with ipod connection. This was mainly for the re-moveability issue and also because I only ever used the laptop for MP3's anyway so it was just easier for me to do it this way.

chaotic · 07-01-2007, 11:24 AM

I also went with a laptop i'm using a Compaq NC6000 with a docking station which i got for nothing. Its awesome, docking and undocking is a snap, battery so that i can run it while the car is off for up to 45 mins before i have it hibernate. As for being upgradeable there are so many devices out there you can get USB wise, USB audio cards have great quality, My current issue is add a night vision camera to the front of my truck so i'm looking for a usb video capture device. Good luck looking.

brad1011a · 07-01-2007, 11:42 AM

I'm starting with a lappy (it was barely used anyway), but may change later. It'll be hidden inside a ventilated side panel of a minivan with an access door.

I've noticed that sound cards and USB audio generally have low outputs, requiring a powerful amp.

But I'm going to try an external processor with 9V pre-out to overcome that. It mounts in the dash and has multiple inputs and a volume control.

DodgeCummins · 07-12-2007, 08:17 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ViriiGuy

I personally am getting ready to use an old old Fujitsu Stylistic 2300 for a carputer. I have also set up some for others in the past using various laptops. I can find no reason not to.

If you want a really sleek looking install, again you can do it with a laptop as well. All it takes is time and imagination.

I was at a decision point on whether to upgrade my Stylistic 1200 to the 2300...or jump up to something more powerful.

Here were the advantages. Power problem was solved. In fact, uses very little power (i.e. more efficient). Even has backup battery power. Already a compact size.

Disadvantage was the ability to upgrade...and sometimes driver issues, depending on the OS and age of the machine.

I used my 120mhz machine for 5 years.