Bugbyte's 2001 New Beetle -Mac Mini Install - Page 10

Bugbyte · 05-14-2007, 09:07 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by gunsandrosses

BugByte,
Have you had any problems or concerns with the mac mini moving while driving. From your design, it looks like the mini just fits snug between the two side walls and has nothing keeping it from bouncing up. I'm just concerned about having an unmounted computer without shock absorbers. Thanks.
-Ross

No concerns at all. It continues to perform without issues from vibration or shock.

You are correct about the way the Mini fits in the dock, although the back end of the dock has a top piece that guides the Mini into place. It fits snugly on the sides and top and doesn't bounce.

My car has a pretty smooth ride, of course. I don't know how it would work if you were in a lowered car or one with a really stiff suspension.

My general advice on vibration and shock is to ignore it. The drives are much tougher than you think and they don't cost very much to replace. I've never had a drive on my car PC fail but I have had one on my G4 tower that sits under the desk fail.

KryptonianJorel · 05-14-2007, 06:00 PM

Looks nice, but i have a quick question. By the look of the dock, it would seem that if you pull the mini out a lot, the sides would be scratched up quite a bit, is this the case?

Also, for the way you ghetto rigged the macpac power connector with the spring, how does that work? Is it when the spring makes contact with the metal on the mini that it completes the circuit or what?

Just wondering because I saw another install using a custom dock, and it looks like the person had installed a small power connector into the mini and a plug actually inserted into the mini from the dock, reminded me kind of a RCA connector but smaller. Anyway, i'm just trying to think of ways to build to put together a dock of my own.

Thanks!

Bugbyte · 05-15-2007, 08:51 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by KryptonianJorel

Looks nice, but i have a quick question. By the look of the dock, it would seem that if you pull the mini out a lot, the sides would be scratched up quite a bit, is this the case?

I don't think so. I just took a picture of it. There are a couple of tiny scratches at the back end but since I carry the thing around like a lunch pail, I can't say for sure that the scratches came from the dock. See attached. But even if it does, I wouldn't care. It sits in the dash for its main use.

Quote: Originally Posted by KryptonianJorel

Also, for the way you ghetto rigged the macpac power connector with the spring, how does that work? Is it when the spring makes contact with the metal on the mini that it completes the circuit or what?

Ghetto?! Ghetto!!?? That is *inspired* design! That's an elegant solution to a sticky problem! No extra connections to make or plugs to line up. Just put it in the dock and go. The only thing better would be some kind of magnetic induction circuit or something like that.

Umm...

...okay maybe I'm a little enthralled with my own engineering skills. The way it works is that the Mac Pac wires are soldered to the brass springs. The solder bubbles on the back of the Mini have the other half of the Mac Pac soldered to them. It's as if you hooked up the Mac Pac and then cut the wires halfway and connected one set to the solder bubbles and the other set to the springs.

When you push the Mini into the dock, the springs contact the bubbles and you have a complete circuit from the P1900 to the power switch on the Mini. That's it. It won't power on until you start the car and the P1900 sends the signal down the wires, through the springs and to the power switch.

KryptonianJorel · 05-15-2007, 07:37 PM

Didn't mean any disrespect, thats just how i describe the extraordinary. Very nice! I just ordered my mac mini, and cant wait to start chopping the thing up.

I hope when the time comes to make a dock I'll be able to shoot you a few questions.

keatonreckard · 06-09-2007, 04:08 AM

i just read through all ten pages straight through... took me about 2 hours, but it was totally worth it..thanks for the mologogo help too...

Der_Kafer · 06-10-2007, 03:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Bugbyte

I don't think so. I just took a picture of it. There are a couple of tiny scratches at the back end but since I carry the thing around like a lunch pail, I can't say for sure that the scratches came from the dock. See attached. But even if it does, I wouldn't care. It sits in the dash for its main use.

Ghetto?! Ghetto!!?? That is *inspired* design! That's an elegant solution to a sticky problem! No extra connections to make or plugs to line up. Just put it in the dock and go. The only thing better would be some kind of magnetic induction circuit or something like that.

Umm...

...okay maybe I'm a little enthralled with my own engineering skills. The way it works is that the Mac Pac wires are soldered to the brass springs. The solder bubbles on the back of the Mini have the other half of the Mac Pac soldered to them. It's as if you hooked up the Mac Pac and then cut the wires halfway and connected one set to the solder bubbles and the other set to the springs.

When you push the Mini into the dock, the springs contact the bubbles and you have a complete circuit from the P1900 to the power switch on the Mini. That's it. It won't power on until you start the car and the P1900 sends the signal down the wires, through the springs and to the power switch.

Hey man how can I run a power cord from the battery to the dock to connect an amp to my Volkswagen Beetle 2001??? PLease help me

hondamac · 08-17-2007, 12:29 AM

Wow...I just read all 10 pages myself. I have a honda civic and am trying to research where to put everything.

Bugbyte: Quick question, with the flip up screen, have you had any problems, motor breaking, the screen being wabbly. I'm thinking of a flip screen for mine that would come out of the dash, but i've heard of issues regarding wabbling and motor's breaking.

Bugbyte · 08-19-2007, 05:53 PM

This is a home-made screen mechanism. I've heard that the ones you can buy aren't super reliable and can be wobbly. Mine isn't especially wobbly, but I also don't press the screen very hard because I know it could break.

As for busting, it hasn't. It still works really well even after two years.

dmxl · 08-27-2007, 04:35 PM

hey bugbyte i don't know if you got this worked out or not but wouldn't it be easier to run a crossover cable btween the two pc's and assign them ip's in the same range. Which would then eliminate lag over a wireless connection and it would still work at you house for every other app's you would need, or am I not understanding this right?

Bugbyte · 08-27-2007, 05:01 PM

The problem was that when I created the dock, I didn't create an ethernet plug on the back of it! I should have, but figured that wireless would take care of all my needs or else I could undock the Mini and plug it up to a network. I hadn't really counted on talking between TWO computers in the same car.

Anyhow, this worked itself out. The caps on my Epia M10000 fried so that PC is out of the car now.

Bj · 04-09-2008, 09:59 AM

Very nice BugByte! It's good to see some mac action making in into the car

Well done

I just realized I haven't posted for 3 years! gee!

katwalk · 05-14-2008, 12:53 AM

Don't suppose you'd be willing to sell some copies of those fancy Bug docks?
You've done EXACTLY what I want to do to mine, only it took me until now to think "HEY macminis would probably fit where the radio is!"

Bugbyte · 05-15-2008, 05:31 PM

Sorry, I probably couldn't help you anyhow. It's a PPC Mini. The Intel is different on the back.

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