View Full Version : Anyone have a laptop setup in the car?


legendracer
12-28-2008, 11:07 PM
Similar to what police has in theirs? Ive always wanted to set it up in my old car, since i had a aux input, and can have the car stereo linked to the laptop

Right now i have eyed a 8'' laptop, but not sure if i can find those laptop stands for cars. I have looked on ebay, not sure how those would fit/work in the rx8


Anyone have done something similar or have suggestions please post!

Cheers!

alz0rz
12-29-2008, 12:33 AM
Go all the way, carpc ftmfw.

Having a laptop on a stand in your rx8 is going to look a bit cheesy to onlookers.

05rex8
12-29-2008, 12:35 AM
I agree with al.

search for some of the different car pc setups out there....or click on al's sig link for carpc ;)

kersh4w
12-29-2008, 12:52 AM
but how you can shut a carpc when it warns you:

DANGER TO THE MANIFOLD!~

legendracer
12-29-2008, 02:31 AM
Carpc of course is cool...and obviously alot cleaner

but for people with no doe = in car laptop

unless you can get a car pc set up for under 400?

MazdaManiac
12-29-2008, 02:55 AM
Having a laptop on a stand in your rx8 is going to look a bit cheesy to onlookers.

Plus, its illegal in most places.

ILoveFI
12-29-2008, 07:01 AM
Plus, its illegal in most places.


really? why is that?

robrecht
12-29-2008, 08:16 AM
Similar to what police has in theirs? Ive always wanted to set it up in my old car, since i had a aux input, and can have the car stereo linked to the laptop

Right now i have eyed a 8'' laptop, but not sure if i can find those laptop stands for cars. I have looked on ebay, not sure how those would fit/work in the rx8


Anyone have done something similar or have suggestions please post!

Cheers!For such a small netbook, I wouldn't get a full laptop stand. They make smaller units for netbooks but I don't know how well they work, here's a quick google for a 10" screen that I have:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SAMSUNG-NC-10-NETBOOK-LAPTOP-UMPC-CAR-KIT-MOUNT-HOLDER_W0QQitemZ160302970689QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ2 0081206?IMSfp=TL081206129001r13719

DeViLbOi
12-29-2008, 09:10 AM
really? why is that?

For the same reason it is illegal to play a DVD while a car is in motion.

Carpc of course is cool...and obviously alot cleaner

but for people with no doe = in car laptop

unless you can get a car pc set up for under 400?

Unless you take that 400 laptop and make a car pc out of it.

Marklar
12-29-2008, 11:48 AM
Make sure to roll your window down when you park, so the glass doesn't get broken.

MazdaManiac
12-29-2008, 12:05 PM
Make sure to roll your window down when you park, so the glass doesn't get broken.

That is sage advice, despite its sarcasm.

I always tell Ms.Maniac to keep the doors of her Miata unlocked.
There is no point in adding a knifed roof to the list of things damaged when someone decides they want what she has in the car.

Anything you install into a car that retains its look of "portability" is an invitation.

learycd
12-29-2008, 12:10 PM
but how you can shut a carpc when it warns you:

DANGER TO THE MANIFOLD!~

SHUT UPPPPPPP!!! :nawwwz:

haha

legendracer
12-29-2008, 02:07 PM
Make sure to roll your window down when you park, so the glass doesn't get broken.

obviously if i had the laptop stand set up, id remove my laptop from view when i park.... -.-

and that laptop window mount thing is a no no... my friend has those GPS things with the window mount and it always falls off, i dont think a laptop will handle that much

04RX8man
12-29-2008, 06:35 PM
I would also vote for carpc but don't know how much they will run u

robrecht
12-29-2008, 06:38 PM
Unless you take that 400 laptop and make a car pc out of it.Well, you'd still have to add a CD/DVD drive, GPS, a radio (unless you just listen to Internet radio, which would require some kind of Internet connection), etc. What else am I forgetting?

legendracer
12-29-2008, 06:49 PM
therefore the simple and economical solution is a laptop stand in the car :D

DeViLbOi
12-29-2008, 07:10 PM
robrecht - nothing more than what he has already...

CD/DVD (Free) - Most laptops have these already built in.
GPS ($100) - Which he wouldn't have anyway with his laptop config.
Radio (Free) - My car came with one of these puppies already...Im sure his did too.
Internet Radio - Why would you want this if you have a laptop full of mp3s?
Power Supply ($50 - $150) - DC Adapters are cheap for laptops compared to desktops.
Screen (???) - You would have to add a screen. If you go with a Gyro mouse it doesn't even have to be touchscreen. And you would need somewhere to mount it. I was looking at the manual flip up dash kit though which keeps the stealthy look so someone doesn't jack your shite.

robrecht
12-29-2008, 07:20 PM
robrecht - nothing more than what he has already...

CD/DVD (Free) - Most laptops have these already built in.
GPS ($100) - Which he wouldn't have anyway with his laptop config.
Radio (Free) - My car came with one of these puppies already...Im sure his did too.
Internet Radio - Why would you want this if you have a laptop full of mp3s?
Power Supply ($50 - $150) - DC Adapters are cheap for laptops compared to desktops.
Screen (???) - You would have to add a screen. If you go with a Gyro mouse it doesn't even have to be touchscreen. And you would need somewhere to mount it. I was looking at the manual flip up dash kit though which keeps the stealthy look so someone doesn't jack your shite.
Thanks for the info, but note that none of those 7"-10" netbooks come with a CD/DVD drive. Even some of the newer 12.1" netbooks will not have a CD/DVD drive. You can usually add a touch screen to a netbook for about $100.

I'm just starting to look into the advantages (and some disadvantages) of a CarPC as opposed to replacing my radio with something like the Alpine IVA-W505. I don't want to keep my stock radio because its not HD.

alz0rz
12-29-2008, 07:26 PM
Make sure to roll your window down when you park, so the glass doesn't get broken.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

DeViLbOi
12-29-2008, 07:34 PM
Thanks for the info, but note that none of those 7"-10" netbooks come with a CD/DVD drive. Even some of the newer 12.1" netbooks will not have a CD/DVD drive. You can usually add a touch screen to a netbook for about $100.

I'm just starting to look into the advantages (and some disadvantages) of a CarPC as opposed to replacing my radio with something like the Alpine IVA-W505. I don't want to keep my stock radio because its not HD.

Well I guess I got lucky because the 8" that I'm on now has an external CD/DVD that came with it.

And not to get too far off topic. But what makes HD Radio so cool that you have to have it? I mean other than knowing what song is playing and some compression I don't see the point. The signal is just as good as FM...and you still have limited selections to choose from. A CarPC or even an iPod win big over HD Radio at least for me.

Renesis07
12-29-2008, 07:36 PM
Just a question, why not just pay a tad more for a carpc or similar?

I used to think having a laptop in my car would be tight but NOW it seems a bit *danger to the manifold** **NAWZ** **Ay yo, check out my lapptopz yo** IMHO.

I think the carpc is so much cleaner.

But to each their own.

robrecht
12-29-2008, 07:59 PM
Well I guess I got lucky because the 8" that I'm on now has an external CD/DVD that came with it.

And not to get too far off topic. But what makes HD Radio so cool that you have to have it? I mean other than knowing what song is playing and some compression I don't see the point. The signal is just as good as FM...and you still have limited selections to choose from. A CarPC or even an iPod win big over HD Radio at least for me.
I'm certainly no expert, but I thought HD radio was much better quality audio. I like having live radio options (in addition to mp3s) so that I can listen to random new stuff. I had an HD radio in my car for a couple of weeks and I liked it. Not instead of mp3s, but in addition to them.

zoom44
12-29-2008, 08:09 PM
legend racer- try pro clip http://www.proclipusa.com/Default.asp they must have something

DeViLbOi
12-29-2008, 08:47 PM
I'm certainly no expert, but I thought HD radio was much better quality audio. I like having live radio options (in addition to mp3s) so that I can listen to random new stuff. I had an HD radio in my car for a couple of weeks and I liked it. Not instead of mp3s, but in addition to them.

Nope...just a digitally compressed signal of the original. So the static and stuff that you get from standard radio is just missing. I guess where you are plays more into it. Being up on the lake near Cleveland we get really good signals of those stations that we do get. Albeit we only get like 10 FM channels tops...they come in pretty good no matter where you are. To me it is just easier and more reasonable to get the $100 iPod adapter and put it on random and have my own radio station of only music I like.

robrecht
12-29-2008, 09:38 PM
Nope...just a digitally compressed signal of the original. So the static and stuff that you get from standard radio is just missing. I guess where you are plays more into it. Being up on the lake near Cleveland we get really good signals of those stations that we do get. Albeit we only get like 10 FM channels tops...they come in pretty good no matter where you are. To me it is just easier and more reasonable to get the $100 iPod adapter and put it on random and have my own radio station of only music I like.Well, lack of static is better audio in my book. Very noticable difference where I live in New Jersey. But, again, mp3s and HD radio need not be considered an either/or option. You can have both.