Laptop to Mini?

OverrRyde · 05-05-2006, 08:21 PM

Hey guys, ive been thinking for a while of doing this mod of a "carputer" but didnt really have the funds to do so because aldulthood is a mean lady... But i do have a laptop and i am now considering using the parts to do it.

My question is, is it possible? Will it demand lots of modding for casing or will a normal itx case do the work?

Any input is cool!

PS: MP3CAR.COM rocks!

pancakeboy · 05-05-2006, 08:27 PM

I've seen a lot of people use docks, so you wouldnt have to rip up your laptop at all. It should have everything you need; line out, usb inputs, vga out, cd or dvd rom (or burner

) You shouldn't have to hack anything....

OverrRyde · 05-05-2006, 08:29 PM

What types of docks are these? Im a newb since im posting here so i have no clue! And what do you mean by not ripping out the laptop?

thanks!

OverrRyde · 05-05-2006, 08:31 PM

never mind, just got what you meant! I supose you mean just using a dock to put the latop on right? hence the "not ripping the laptop" part! lol

Thing is, i want to go with the carputer look, with maybe a touch screen or try to customise the current lcd screen somehow

pancakeboy · 05-05-2006, 08:45 PM

You can hook a touchscreen up to your laptop via vga-out and usb from you laptop. The dock is used for power...Check out the "show off project forum" and search laptop to look at others installs to get an idea of what i mean..

OverrRyde · 05-05-2006, 10:19 PM

Cool! I did get some ideas there now that i checked, and i think my idea is more clearer now, but i cant seem to figure it in my head. What do you suggest?

What i want, is to have the whole system hidden to the eyes, but still have the capability of using the dvd drive and PCMCIA slots. Im also maybe thinking if i cant get a decent touchscreen, using the LCD screen and tuck it underneath the glovebox and somehow build a slider to slide it out and up and putting the keyboard on the sunvisor.

In my head seems like a lot of wiring there. Is it even possible?

Thanks!

2k1Toaster · 05-05-2006, 11:36 PM

If you are willing to void your warranty on the laptop, then I would open it up. It probably just uses T6/T8 or phillips screws to hold everything in. Unscrew it all. That way if you decide against whatever, you can always put it back in like nothing happened. For the screen, depending on how much you like the screen, you could get a USB touchscreen overlay for it. Then mold a screen mount into your dash, so you just screw on the screen. The drive you can get a JAE50 to IDE/USB adaptor and use it anywhere within 5 meters i think. For the rest with the mobo and all, depending on size of laptop and room in car you might be a ble to just hide it all in the dash, or unmount it more and compact it more into a cube.

How big is the laptop, screen size, age?
What kind of car/SUV?

OverrRyde · 05-05-2006, 11:44 PM

Ok!

Its a Presario 2100 and a 98 Civic coupe. As far as the warranty goes, its already expired, so that is not really much of a problem. The touchsceen adapter sounds like a nifty idea, i didnt know that existed. For the screen though, if i were to use the lcd from the laptop, i dont want to mount it onto the dash, for the simple reason of theft. I was thinking more of a slide/drawer type under the govebox that would slide out and up facing the passenger.

2k1Toaster · 05-06-2006, 12:05 AM

I wouldn't do a slide out thing. I think it would get really annoying. And if you have a passenger, you won't be able to use it. Also think about having to lean over everytime! I wouldn't.

If you are worried about theft, then I would go for a flip out monitor because it looks simple and then flips out. If you are doing that, then I would leave the laptop all together, and slide it under a seat to a dock and then take it out when you leave. No theft possibility.