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

Intel or NVidia?

While I figure out how to mount the Lilliput 89GL, I still have to determine which computer will drive it: the EeePC, or an Atom-based motherboard. Interestingly, if I go with a component build, Intel's Atom board isn't the only candidate I could consider. I could wait for NVidia to bring out its Ion boards that are smaller (micro-ITX) and much faster than the Intel mini-ITX boards. The Ion boards are based on Atom processors, but add huge video-processing capacity; they're due out in the next few months. No prices have been announced; my bet is that they'll be at a premium -- because of their speed -- but will still be reasonable. There's no word on when a barebones system might be available.

The Ion boards outperform the Intel Atom 270 board in every category, and will even play all but the most advanced games. There's a good comparison available at Tom's Hardware.

The Ion boards are not just micro-ITX, they're low-rise, as well. They're so small, in fact, that one of them could almost be built into a slightly thicker Lilliput, producing a one-piece PC-in-a-display. Add wireless keyboard and mouse for a complete system.

There's one major problem with these boards: they're not out, yet. And there's not much clear information on how long we'll have to wait for them, so it's pretty hard to design a system around them. All this NVidia conjecture assumes that Intel will sell its Atom processors without a graphics chip, and that's not necessarily guaranteed. The Atom has been a real hit for Intel -- most netbooks are Atom-powered -- so we'll have to wait and see how much Intel is willing to play ball with NVidia -- and let someone eat into its success with the Atom. Intel could simply come out with a very fast graphics chip of its own to pair with the Atom, and refuse to sell the Atom without a graphics chip; that would effectively kill the market for competitors, who would start with a price disadvantage, and it probably would still be within bounds from a legal standpoint.

No matter which way Intel takes this, the future of Atom looks fast. We just have to wait -- impatiently -- for the higher speed.

Laying Out a PC Chassis

I plan to mount the new Lilliput directly in front of the double-DIN spot previously occupied by the head unit, and I want a cooling fan for it. That cooling fan needs a support system, and my M2-ATX PSU needs a home. Since I already have the stock mounts for a double-DIN chassis, that's what I'll use to handle those chores.

For almost any kind of a double-DIN installation, I think one of the best chassis designs I've seen is the kit from blk02si (worklogs on the chassis systems are here and here). It's a pretty simple design, but it has a lot of flexibility, and is a great combination of quality, price, and immediate gratification. I'd order one right now, but for this: I like to build my own parts, and I want to try building my own chassis.

I was out back at the company's recycle pile a few weeks ago, and we were scrapping an old HP 2700-series server. One of the chassis parts being recycled was an aluminized steel panel about 0.040-inch thick. It's basically perforated steel riveted to a support frame. The panel is big enough to get all the chassis pieces I need -- bottom and sides plus a top and a shelf. I saved the panel, and I think I'd like to cut it up and take it to the bender. I want to see if I can form something similar to the unit blk02si provides, but in perforated steel.

Later on, to add to the fun, we scrapped some other panels that had perforated sections in them. I added those panels to my growing pile of interesting scrap with "potential".

Building my own chassis is definitely the more difficult route. I'd probably be far better off to buy blk02si's beautiful epoxy-coated all-aluminum system. But the craftsman in me thinks it might be fun to make my case of perforated steel because it would be cool -- literally cool, since it's very open to airflow.

NOTE: I discovered I'm not the first person to think of a perforated steel case. In rijk's thread, post #2, he shows he's already made a case of perforated metal. There's the proof of concept, already done. In the end, rijk chose to go with a closed case because he ended up mounting his PC in the engine compartment.

Time for a cardboard mockup.

The Micro Bluetooth Keyboard Came In

I ordered the Mini Wireless 83-Key Bluetooth Keyboard I mentioned in post 461:

It came in a week or so ago, and I finally got a chance to test it. Boy, I really like its look and feel, and I like the key feel. It's great except for one thing: I can't figure out how to get it to pair with another Bluetooth device, so, for now, it just doesn't work.

I've tried codes of 0000, 1234, and 1111, but none of them work. My Blackberry sees the device, and asks for a code, but, when I type a code in on the Blackberry, I get no response. I even tried entering the code on the micro keyboard, but he Blackberry doesn't see any input from it.

I'll email the vendor and see if there's something I'm missing.

The Lilliput Has Landed!

UPS got the package to me today, and I now have a new Lilliput 889GL-80NP/C/T. The late arrival is my fault, not the vendor's. After a couple of failed home deliveries -- I wasn't there to sign for the package -- I screwed up the new ship-to address trying to get it delivered at work, and then UPS screwed it up, and we kept waiting for each other. I had to wait 'til today for delivery, though it actually got to my front door the first time over a week ago.

I popped the package open right away. So far, it's a really slick little monitor, and it some has features I like:

• There's a cigarette plug included, and it has a built-in filter and fuse box; that's just a detail, but it's an added touch that tells me Lilliput is listening to its customers.
• The VGA attachment is custom, so the head going into the side of the monitor is smaller, and is embedded into the case. The cable splits about 6 inches from the monitor, so the entire system can be pulled out without much fuss.
• The mount is very nicely done, and I think it will make my installation easier.
• There are two video inputs and a sound input.
• There's a small remote in case I decide to bury the controls.

Good stuff. Now I can figure out how the Lilliput will go into the bezel -- or not -- and begin to design around what I find.

Originally Posted by rdholtz

The Lilliput Has Landed!

UPS got the package to me today, and I now have a new Lilliput 889GL-80NP/C/T. The late arrival is my fault, not the vendor's. After a couple of failed home deliveries -- I wasn't there to sign for the package -- I screwed up the new ship-to address trying to get it delivered at work, and then UPS screwed it up, and we kept waiting for each other. I had to wait 'til today for delivery, though it actually got to my front door the first time over a week ago.

I popped the package open right away. So far, it's a really slick little monitor, and it some has features I like:

• There's a cigarette plug included, and it has a built-in filter and fuse box; that's just a detail, but it's an added touch that tells me Lilliput is listening to its customers.
• The VGA attachment is custom, so the head going into the side of the monitor is smaller, and is embedded into the case. The cable splits about 6 inches from the monitor, so the entire system can be pulled out without much fuss.
• The mount is very nicely done, and I think it will make my installation easier.
• There are two video inputs and a sound input.
• There's a small remote in case I decide to bury the controls.

Good stuff. Now I can figure out how the Lilliput will go into the bezel -- or not -- and begin to design around what I find.

Lilliput is awesome.... They also give you good quality parts. The cig plug, egg, and wiring are all top notch. They don't feel cheapy at all.

I loveeeeeeeeeee the mounting arm. Even if you don't use it, the parts come in handy for other things. I used parts from mine to make the mounting system for my front dash screen.



I intend to also use them on the new screens I am installing.

The remote is also needed for the secret programming menus. Without the remote you cant get to them. keep the remote were you will always find it.

Congrats on your screen and hope you enjoy it.

Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

Lilliput is awesome.... They also give you good quality parts. The cig plug, egg, and wiring are all top notch. They don't feel cheapy at all.

I loveeeeeeeeeee the mounting arm. Even if you don't use it, the parts come in handy for other things. I used parts from mine to make the mounting system for my front dash screen. I intend to also use them on the new screens I am installing.

The remote is also needed for the secret programming menus. Without the remote you cant get to them. keep the remote were you will always find it.

Congrats on your screen and hope you enjoy it.

Thanks, Jack. I like everything about this screen, so far. The image is clear, the touchscreen works well, and the plugs all feel nice and tight. The quality seems excellent.

I did a little work on the bezel last night, and that first work indicates there's a good fit. It appears that installing the whole panel, case and all, is possible. It will work best if the panel is installed upside down; I can accommodate that by rotating the image 180 degrees, or doing a vertical image flip plus a horizontal image flip.

I'd like to find a way to extend the remote eye -- which would be on the upper left corner, now -- without tearing open the case, since the current plan would leave it buried between 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch back from the front of the bezel. I could simply drill a hole so it can see out, but this would provide a relatively narrow visual cone for the remote to work in. Still, if that's the worst problem I encounter, I'll be pretty happy.

I'll get pix of the test installation this weekend.

Originally Posted by rdholtz

Thanks, Jack. I like everything about this screen, so far. The image is clear, the touchscreen works well, and the plugs all feel nice and tight. The quality seems excellent.

I did a little work on the bezel last night, and that first work indicates there's a good fit. It appears that installing the whole panel, case and all, is possible. It will work best if the panel is installed upside down; I can accommodate that by rotating the image 180 degrees, or doing a vertical image flip plus a horizontal image flip.

I'd like to find a way to extend the remote eye -- which would be on the upper left corner, now -- without tearing open the case, since the current plan would leave it buried between 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch back from the front of the bezel. I could simply drill a hole so it can see out, but this would provide a relatively narrow visual cone for the remote to work in. Stil, if that's the worst problem I encounter, I'll be pretty happy.

I'll get pix of the test installation this weekend.

I feel you on the I/R relocation. My 2 top dash screens had to have all the buttons and I/R removed because I couldnt find a ribbon cable to extend it. I did thankfully find one for the video ribbon. So before I removed the buttons, I had to program the auto power on feature and what not.

Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

I feel you on the I/R relocation. My 2 top dash screens had to have all the buttons and I/R removed because I couldnt find a ribbon cable to extend it. I did thankfully find one for the video ribbon. So before I removed the buttons, I had to program the auto power on feature and what not.

If there's any way to do it, I want to keep the Lilliput intact -- not even crack the case open; I just want to install it complete. If that means I need to leave a hole in the dash for the IR eye, or form a little tunnel to it, I'm okay with it. I might just make two holes -- I'd probably add a matching dummy one on the other side. They'd just look like attachment holes then, and be effectively unnoticeable. Luckily, they're in the black part of the bezel, so they won't grab attention.

The fitting I've done so far hasn't been in the car; it's just been with the chunk of bezel that goes around the original head unit. I'll do some more fitting in the car to see if this approach looks workable.

My first impression of the bezel fit as I have it now is that it's only okay; while it will look very OEM if I finish it well, it's going to present some operational challenges, both because it's upside down and because the buttons are hidden. I think there has to be a better way to put it in there. I'd rather go with ease of operation and a little less OEM-like appearance. It's my daily driver, not a show car. While I want it to look very good, it's more important to me that it be easy to live with.

My real preference is to have the monitor intact and upright, and if that means producing almost the whole section of bezel instead of modifying the part I have, that will be okay.

I get the feeling that, no matter which way I go, I'll be doing a lot of cutting and making a lot of smoke from the plastic welder.

Originally Posted by rdholtz

The Micro Bluetooth Keyboard Came In

I ordered the Mini Wireless 83-Key Bluetooth Keyboard I mentioned in post 461:

It came in a week or so ago, and I finally got a chance to test it. Boy, I really like its look and feel, and I like the key feel. It's great except for one thing: I can't figure out how to get it to pair with another Bluetooth device, so, for now, it just doesn't work.

I've tried codes of 0000, 1234, and 1111, but none of them work. My Blackberry sees the device, and asks for a code, but, when I type a code in on the Blackberry, I get no response. I even tried entering the code on the micro keyboard, but he Blackberry doesn't see any input from it.

I'll email the vendor and see if there's something I'm missing.

How'd you go with the keyboard? I'm seriously considering this keyboard for my setup. It looks quite simple and neat, and it might just fit in the storage compartment underneath my airconditioning controls which makes it very convenient for me. It's very well priced too.