My 2006 Scion xB (portable) Carputer setup! w/pics! - Page 2

silveralt · 02-01-2006, 10:32 PM

A few hundred isn't as easy to come by sometimes

breaker021 · 02-02-2006, 11:22 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by AWDNUT

You do realize that you're only a few hundred $$ from attaching a touch screen LCD and having a totally secure carpc?

regarding the lcd screen, i built a carputer (with xenarc 7" touchscreen) for my hummer h2 but never installed it and thank god i didnt! i was at a macys, and i came out and someone had broken into my hummer, opened the glove compartment and center console and threw everything around my car. ******* assholes. if i had the carputer in there, that **** would have been gone like the wind.

ps - This isn't a mod - more or less the pics and description of what im doing. i am not expecting a mod of the year award, so i know, this isn't a mod.

Uh Uh Uh, You didn't say the magic word !

scott_fx · 02-04-2006, 03:07 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by AWDNUT

Holey crap.. I was expecting a stream of like 50 people mocking this guy for such a non-mod.. You guys are so sweet.. Or the mods are totally in control! Hahaha!

i'm shocked too.

is that safe though? how do you control your front end?

i guess if i were you; constructive crit, i would just forget the idea of having a screen in your car until you have the money to do it correctly. for now if you get gridder and a text lcd display (they are like $15 on ebay) and way to control it (maybe griffen powermate?) you can have a functional car-computer that is clean and oem looking. if you absolutely need to have a screen (maybe for gps) you can get a used non touchscreen for dirt cheap.

partyharty · 04-10-2006, 12:38 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by scott_fx

is that safe though? how do you control your front end?

i guess if i were you; constructive crit, i would just forget the idea of having a screen in your car until you have the money to do it correctly.

I currently do the same thing (laptop in car with a built in stand). Safe, well its about as safe as having a touchscreen built into the car, I use a 10 key number pad to control my song list and what not (so its not necessary to actually look when I am changing songs.

As for cops hassling you about it, This is a very real possibility although if they were going to mess with you over this. they were going to mess with you about something else anyways. I have had several cops that have seen my setup and have not had any issues about it. Technically depending on the laws in your area its not illegal to have them in your car (wither its a laptop on a stand or built into the car) however they can always write a citation for "unsafe driving" (which is pretty much always at the officers descretion).

Basically what I am trying to say here is this works for this guy so why tell him he needs to forget about a screen until he has the money to do it "correctly" (by the way what is correct? and who decides it?). I have a similar setup and I had similar requirements for my carputer; I wanted the install to be removable (and reversible), and I did not want my dash screwed up. Also I didnt want to pay an extra few hundred dollars for a lcd (when I had a perfectly good one on the laptop that I dedicated to my carputer).

Remember there is a lot more than 1 way to put a computer in a car

and most of them are "correct", or mabey not I dunno.

c-ya
Chris

breaker021 · 04-10-2006, 10:28 AM

Thanks for the good words, Chris. Just an FYI - I switched to a tablet PC and have a new thread about that here:

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show-off-your-project/73500-06-scion-xb-tablet-box-post794222.html

I just updated that thread with night-shots that i took this weekend. They're not the best nightshots but, regardless, you can see why I'm grinning ear to ear. 12" screen (or bigger) by the driver = priceless!

About the cops - you're absolutely right - they're going to hassle you (or shoot you) about something else anyways. my thing is - if I am being pulled over, im going to hold the power button on my laptop and turn it off and tell the cop i only use it when im not driving. if the cops swears he saw something like a light, i'll tell him maybe it was a glare or something...

that's when you'll hear the shots being fired! lol - just kidding everyone@!
- sh00k

- sh00k

ku5165 · 10-29-2006, 01:49 PM

lol dude excellent way of doing a laptop (im thinking of doing the same thing, except ill put a 10" screen). By the way where did u buy ur laptop from cuz thats my dream latop (right now i have 3 in the house, a toshiba tablet, a acer (which might go into the car)). But i really like ur setup, plus i dont want my car getting jacked becuz of a laptop, but yeah dude pm me where u got ur laptop from (that is like u say under 600). Thanks

nfway · 01-03-2007, 05:13 PM

I recently (3 months ago) purchased a Scion xB and had similar issues with where to mount my laptop. I own my own company, and am constantly on the road (and in my car). My laptop is my lifeline.

Since the day I purchased the Scion, I knew the little compartment in the center console was the key, so I decided to sit down and design a system that would allow me to take advantage of this compartment, and solve my problem.

Well, to make a long story short, the end result was very pleasing. I have been using the "xTray" for about a month now, and have never been more comfortable in my little xB.

The design of the tray came out so well that I decided to create a website around it to not only promote it, but also promote my company. The site just went up, so the only product on it is the "xTray".

If you are interested in seeing it, you can go to my website, lasermystuff.com, or just view the attached pics. There are several other pics on the website as well.

I hope this helps all those out there that have a similar problem. I know it has made my life a lot easier. The "xTray" has truly converted this great little commuter car into the ultimate portable office.

BarryWoods · 01-03-2007, 10:44 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by nfway

I recently (3 months ago) purchased a Scion xB and had similar issues with where to mount my laptop. I own my own company, and am constantly on the road (and in my car). My laptop is my lifeline.

Since the day I purchased the Scion, I knew the little compartment in the center console was the key, so I decided to sit down and design a system that would allow me to take advantage of this compartment, and solve my problem.

Well, to make a long story short, the end result was very pleasing. I have been using the "xTray" for about a month now, and have never been more comfortable in my little xB.

The design of the tray came out so well that I decided to create a website around it to not only promote it, but also promote my company. The site just went up, so the only product on it is the "xTray".

If you are interested in seeing it, you can go to my website, lasermystuff.com, or just view the attached pics. There are several other pics on the website as well.

I hope this helps all those out there that have a similar problem. I know it has made my life a lot easier. The "xTray" has truly converted this great little commuter car into the ultimate portable office.

Damn dude, that's freaking cool.

nfway · 01-03-2007, 11:52 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by BarryWoods

Damn dude, that's freaking cool.

Thanks, I really apreciate the kind words. I just saw a problem, and did my best to solve it.

I hope this helps anyone with the same problem.

My company can create pretty much anything that can be made from a "laserable" material, so if you guys have any ideas, just send them my way, and I will take a look.

david69leonard · 01-05-2007, 09:15 AM

Imagine all the time saved if we all just bolted our laptops to the dashes in our rides... damn i wish i would have thought of that first before i installed mine... very original idea!!!

breaker021 · 01-05-2007, 10:18 AM

David,
I'm surprised you're giving this idea props. I've noticed that, generally, members of this board feel that a laptop in a car - mounted ingeniously - does not constitute a "carputer." Sure, it ain't put into the dash, maybe you have to (god forbid) power it on manually, it still does all the functions of a regular mini itx/shuttle/etc setup.

Laptops were built for tough environments and a car environment is pretty tough. hi/low temps, vibrations, etc are many things laptops are made to withstand - so it's only natural that people put them inside their cars.

Plus, having a $300 laptop kick the *** of a $3,000 factory in-dash navi setup is a gr8 feeling. it's 1/10th of the price yet holds 100x the functionality.

I particularly wanted a nice and easily mountable/removable solution. I didn't want to make any visibly noticable mods to my dash/interior so I went with the route that made the best sense for me.

I had originally spent a little over a grand on a mini itx setup with a 7" touch screen but I sold that a couple of months later - even before installing it in the car - due to bad performance. I spent $1,000 on something that a $300 laptop could do - and do much better. That's why I went the tablet laptop route.

Whether it's a carputer or not, I frankly don't give a flying ****. It is a great tool for me in the car and a good idea doesn't necessarily need a name to be good.

ps - this thread is old. check out my updated one ----- http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show-off-your-project/73500-06-scion-xb-tablet-box.html
- sh00k

breaker021 · 01-05-2007, 10:34 AM

Ps - Dear Mods - Lock This Thread! I Have Another One Going That Is More Up To Date! This Is My Old Setup!

Thank You, Moder-alis.....

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