LCD with VGA input... do they exist?

anomaly_va · 11-02-2008, 08:56 PM

Hi all, I run a taxicab service and have been using an older laptop (Dell Latitude C610) to play over 5000 MP3s through my Kenwood KRC-435 in-dash head unit for over a year. The customers love it, already have the reputation of the coolest cab in town (now if I can just get them to remember my cell number when they're drunk). Now I want to expand the capability to movies for long trips, hopefully that will keep me in the airport transportation arena -- less drunks. Already have ripped 100 of my DVDs to DivX in AVI format, works well other than USB 1.1 compatibility issues (PCMCIA card coming to fix this)

I believe my C610 has an option to toggle between an external VGA monitor output and the built-in LCD display. What I am looking for ideally is a 12"-14" roof mount that flips down and can handle a VGA signal from the laptop. The problem is, all the ones I am finding only have RCA inputs. I do have an S-Video out that I can convert to RCA, but I really don't like the way it looks. It makes it look like one of those bootleg movies that someone shoots with a digital camera in a movie theater.

I wouldn't mind having a 15"-19" display, but I am concerned about mounting hardware breaking under too much weight. I'm trying to avoid the headrest-replacement style because they are too small for my liking and being out in the open all the time is just an accident waiting to happen. I service a college town that is full of kids that I wonder how they even got into the college in the first place. Absolutely NO common sense or respect. One idiot threw a water bottle at the guy in the front seat one night and soaked my laptop...... Okay, guys, ride's over, you're walking....... I feel like if it can be tucked away into the headliner, out of sight, out of mind. If a larger screen can be accomodated safely, I don't mind it being close to me as long as it doesn't hinder my movement or view.

Any thoughts or advice? Feel free to email me at anomaly.va@gmail.com

CabrioBob · 11-03-2008, 02:24 AM

found this one :

http://www.cartft.com/catalog/il/24

bbalazs · 11-03-2008, 09:33 AM

I suggest to use a normal 15-19" LCD monitor that isn't has internal PS.
To use LCD monitors with internal PS are also simple, but you need a double PS: +5V (approx. 2A) and +12V (approx. 4A)

I show movies for my daughter in the back seat on a 17 LCD that built from scrap (at least four different LCD monitor donors

)
I simply used a cable to fix it on the back of the headrest. At 'my images' is an older version, with a 12" notebook LCD...
I also applied a plexiglass sheet on the display to avoid the injury of the face in an occasional accident (the glass splinters of the lcd are VERY-VERY sharp - in spite of the presence of that anti-glare plastic layer).

But larger the display, harder the shading you need...