Scion xB '06, in-dash Atom 330, Lilliput 889GL; details, pictures, links. Index: pg 1

**rdholtz** · 02-24-2009, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by GizmoQ

Hey don't bring me into this theoretical discussion . . .

. . . Maybe Netbooks will have a different marketing strategy, but I doubt it. Only time will tell.

I don't regret bringing you into this at all. You're a good resource, and you provide information we can use. Maybe netbook manufacturers will see the potential in this market. We're niche customers, but it can happen.

When I saw the little monitors that Mimo brought out, I immediately hoped they'd expand their line, but that only takes care of the monitor portion. We still need the PC part.

It doesn't seem to be too much of a stretch to think Asus, with its wide and still-expanding line of EeePCs, would see that a single change in their tablet -- to a daylight readable touchscreen -- would bring an entire market to their door. They seem unafraid to reach into new markets, and we have one waiting for them. If they add that daylight readable touchscreen, they may as well call it the EeeCarPC -- or the EeeBeachPC.

I'm willing to accept a lower-brightness screen right now, because I have tinted windows and rarely get sun on the part of the dashboard where my system sits. That means I can try any of several screens, including the Shark or the Mimo.

Actually, the EeePC's screen has been just fine in almost every setting, just as it came out of the box. Yes, I'd like it brighter in bright sunlight, but it's as good as the Toyota navigation systems. The EeePC costs far less, and it provides a bigger screen and vastly more capability.

Originally Posted by GizmoQ

P.S. You forgot to mention the HP Touchsmart desktops that came out last year. Very powerful systems, but even the "first adopters" didn't know what to do with them to maximize their potential. I installed RR on one and was impressed with the possibilities, but the system architecture would be clumsy for CarPC use.

You know, I did forget the Touchmart systems, but I never really considered them for the car. I looked at the prices when they came out -- in the realm of $2500, as I remember -- and saw that they were too expensive and too big to do much in a vehicle.

Even the EeeTop models are pretty big, at 15.6 inches, but at least the price isn't so high -- they're expected to come down to a far more reasonable range, maybe $500 or less.

No one has come out with The Answer, and that's probably because there is no single answer. But I look at the size of the low-power-use Atom boards. Why can't one of those live in the back of a Lilliput or Xenarc screen with LED backlighting? Add some USB ports, a laptop hard drive or SSDs, and you have a carPC in a tiny package. If the developers at Lilliput and Xenarc aren't looking at that, they're missing out.

**rdholtz** · 02-24-2009, 04:04 PM

At least one of the MiMo monitors is going into a carPC system -- RBasil's.

Originally Posted by RBasil

I already have a MiMo UM-740 on the way as well for an additional screen.

I'll be really interested in your impressions when you get the MiMo UM-740. Did they ship it yet, or are you on backorder 'til March?

**HiJackZX1** · 02-24-2009, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by rdholtz

At least one of the MiMo monitors is going into a carPC system -- RBasil's.

I'll be really interested in your impressions when you get the MiMo UM-740. Did they ship it yet, or are you on backorder 'til March?

I am interested also, especially when playing video. i would think the USB screen would be slower and have lag. I guess though it really all comes down to the bandwith on your USB setup on the PC.

**RBasil** · 02-24-2009, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by rdholtz

At least one of the MiMo monitors is going into a carPC system -- RBasil's.

I'll be really interested in your impressions when you get the MiMo UM-740. Did they ship it yet, or are you on backorder 'til March?

I'm on back-order. My plan is to use it as a secondary display for the GPS. My main display will take care of everything else. If it works good I plan on getting a second one and have it replace my instrument cluster with OBD-II.

**rdholtz** · 02-25-2009, 07:10 AM

A Second Screen?

Originally Posted by RBasil

I'm on back-order. My plan is to use it as a secondary display for the GPS. My main display will take care of everything else. If it works good I plan on getting a second one and have it replace my instrument cluster with OBD-II.

That's good thinking. I hadn't considered a secondary display until now, but one of these might sit on the xB's dash directly in front of the driver. Here's the stock dash:

Click image to enlarge.

The screen would be right along the line of sight, and wouldn't obstruct the windshield. An alternate location would be down lower, mounted onto the curved portion of the dash, so it would be closer to the driver. Either is still a bit too noticeable to thieves, but it would sure be handy.

This could solve a problem: one of my prime complaints about nav software is that it's too simple onscreen, as if every nav package was designed for display on a 4.3-inch GPS screen instead of a computer display with much higher resolution. Mapping software does a much better job of giving a broader overview of alternate routes if we get stuck in traffic.

If this secondary screen is the nav display, I could still run a mapping program on the main screen. Oh, I like this idea.

So, let's see: could I devise a mount for this that would let it pivot at the base, and simply fold down onto the dash when not in use, so it would be less noticeable when closed? And what if I disguised the back so -- when closed -- it looked like a box of tissues?

This has my creative juices pumping . . .

**RBasil** · 02-25-2009, 11:10 AM

I plan on going a little crazier...

I am re-fabbing the dash. My Dell Mini9 will sit flush where my stereo currently is and take care of movies, and music, I then will build two areas for the two extra UM-740 screens into the new dash. One for the nav display and one for the ODB-II to replace my instrument cluster.

The new dash will be made out of sheet-metal and look more like a stock-car dash. Yes, it's going to be a long project.

**HiJackZX1** · 02-25-2009, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by RBasil

I plan on going a little crazier...

I am re-fabbing the dash. My Dell Mini9 will sit flush where my stereo currently is and take care of movies, and music, I then will build two areas for the two extra UM-740 screens into the new dash. One for the nav display and one for the ODB-II to replace my instrument cluster.

The new dash will be made out of sheet-metal and look more like a stock-car dash. Yes, it's going to be a long project.

WOW, thats similar to my install. Yes it is sooooooooooooo timely. My dash top screens are to flip up, but making the hinge system is a nightmare. Im curious to see your project.

**rdholtz** · 02-26-2009, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by RBasil

I plan on going a little crazier...

I am re-fabbing the dash. My Dell Mini9 will sit flush where my stereo currently is and take care of movies, and music, I then will build two areas for the two extra UM-740 screens into the new dash. One for the nav display and one for the ODB-II to replace my instrument cluster.

The new dash will be made out of sheet-metal and look more like a stock-car dash. Yes, it's going to be a long project.

I've been looking at my system and thinking two screens would be great, and you've gone far beyond that with one netbook screen, two 7-inch MiMo screens, and an iPhone screen. At some point, I'll add a phone screen, too.

At night, these Scions are going to have some very brightly-lit cabins. HiJack, you're going to have seven screens, as I remember -- we'll need sunglasses to sit in your Durango, eh?

**HiJackZX1** · 02-26-2009, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by rdholtz

I've been looking at my system and thinking two screens would be great, and you've gone far beyond that with one netbook screen, two 7-inch MiMo screens, and an iPhone screen. At some point, I'll add a phone screen, too.

At night, these Scions are going to have some very brightly-lit cabins. HiJack, you're going to have seven screens, as I remember -- we'll need sunglasses to sit in your Durango, eh?

LOL, it will be bright, but I'm only at 6 screens, if you count the PPC then yea, its 7. Only 5 are connected to the PC though, the 6th is for the dedicated screen for the rear and side camera system. Yea I went crazy with my install, it just took a major step back though, due to me not paying attention. The VGA Splitter I bought for the rear screens is only AC/AC. Only way to run it is with a inverter, which is sending surges into my PC and destroying the RAM. It cost me $60.00 dollars, now I have had to replace it with a new one that has the option to run on 9V or 5V DC. I am going to run it on 5V since I have a OPUS DC-DC 15W power supply on the way, it can now power the 7 port USB hub, and the VGA splitter. I have to say, I see why you were looking into using the iPhone as a alternative. Alot of issues can crop up with a carpc.

**rdholtz** · 02-26-2009, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

I have to say, I see why you were looking into using the iPhone as a alternative. A lot of issues can crop up with a carpc.

I suspect a lot of issues crop up no matter what we do. That's the part of the "fun" of being out on the bleeding edge of technology. Getting all this stuff to work together is like battling Medusa -- cut one head off, and more grow in its place. Adding the phone into the mix adds yet another source of problems, but solving problems is what this sport is all about.

In the long run, I'd like to use carPC and phone concurrently. I want the systems to cooperate. Each has good features and specific best uses, and I'd like to take advantage of both of them. The carPC will be there to link all the car-specific stuff (screens, OBDII, sound system), and the phone will bring portability, navigation input, and the 3G connection.

When I'm traveling, I like the idea of running mapping software -- Google Maps, or Streets and Trips, or Yahoo Maps -- on the PC's larger display, and running point-to-point nav software on the phone's smaller display. The nav software presents a much-less detailed view, so a smaller screen is fine.

For me, the ideal would be a dock I can plug my phone into, and then I'd let Centrafuse control both carPC and phone. I'd especially like it if Centrafuse would take the nav input from the phone, but I guess I can run the phone's nav software, and let Centrafuse run mapping software on the PC, even though I have the Nav edition of Centrafuse. It might be very interesting to let them both run their nav software and see how they compare.