In Car PC
After talking to a friend who's building a car PC with a primary function of navigation I’ve been pondering my own solution, but adapting his ideas.
So if I acquire a Panasonic Toughbook which are available for £80 second hand.
Connect a remote touch screen monitor with say a 2 metre umbilical cord. I have seen people using a toughbook but bolted to a bracket on the dash. I need to have the passenger seat free and don’t want to be installing and removing it all the time. Just disconnecting a touch screen won’t be any hassle.
Install Windows XP and MemoryMap or OziExplorer. I prefer MM.
Then install this software, which is the crucial bit
http://www.centrafuse.com/CentrafuseAuto.aspx
Oh and a GPS receiver, the tough book can live under either the drivers or passenger seat.
I know I could continue to use my PDA with OziExplorer or just buy a Garmin but I like the idea of this solution and it gives me something to do between now and the next trip :D
Russ
Russ,
If you already have a laptop, you probably won't need a toughbook (and if you can get one for £80, its probably broken or very very used). All you need is an inverter to power your laptop, a Garmin/Magellan/NMEA/etc with a USB-type connection, a longish USB lead and plug it in. Regarding the software, you'll need mapping. Garmin and Memory Maps tend to be the ones that most people chose. The advantage of memory maps is that they are OS maps on your screen and easy to read. Their European roadmaps are also easy to read when you're on the go (only my personal opinion though).
You could just put your laptop under your seat in a normal laptop carrier bag (unless you plan to go wading in very deep water). If you want a remote screen then just buy one and plug it in to your laptop.
I've tried to laptop mounting/launch pad and quite frankly, they get in the way and when you're offroad have a tendency to move at exactly the wrong time. I wouldn't recommend this. A fixed screen on your dash is better.
Hope that helps/Ph
Russ, There is a guy selling Itronix laptops on ebay. These any interest? P3 and touchscreen. I've been thinking along your lines also.
Got one for my toughbook - works a charm.
http://www.myviliv.com/eng/product/x70ex.asp
this is my best gadget so far!!!
combines everything and you are not warried when the car is shaking off road, plus i use it every day for work!
rate: 5/5 *****
http://www.myviliv.com/eng/product/x70ex.asp
this is my best gadget so far!!!
combines everything and you are not warried when the car is shaking off road, plus i use it every day for work!
rate: 5/5 *****
Yes I like the look of that but it’s not really what I’m after. My windows mobile device will do everything a MID will do and more (doesn’t quite look the part admittedly) :D
The project is under way though! I have a toughbook on the way, thanks Chris 8)
Just need to get the touch screen and away we go
I’ll keep you posted on progress :D
Russ
HI Russ.
I use a simalar setup running Centrafuse, and memory map. I use PC Navigator for on road use.
The best thing about centrafuse is that its open source so many people have made modification to the code to improve its features.
I purchased a laptop mount which bolts directly to the seat mounting which still leaves the passenger seat free.
The whole combination works very well, and centrafuse overcomes the startup and shutdown routine that windows insists on.
I have completed many in car PC systems and have found the Laptop / Tablet PC solution to be the best. In my opinion a Tablet PC is the best way to go.
If you need any help with this let me know.
HI Russ.
I use a simalar setup running Centrafuse, and memory map. I use PC Navigator for on road use.
The best thing about centrafuse is that its open source so many people have made modification to the code to improve its features.
I purchased a laptop mount which bolts directly to the seat mounting which still leaves the passenger seat free.
The whole combination works very well, and centrafuse overcomes the startup and shutdown routine that windows insists on.
I have completed many in car PC systems and have found the Laptop / Tablet PC solution to be the best. In my opinion a Tablet PC is the best way to go.
If you need any help with this let me know.
Brilliant, thanks for the offer.
What touch screen would you recommend or do I just take pot luck off ebay?
I’m thinking about exactly the software you mention.
When I’ve collected all the stuff together I’m sure I’ll take you up on your offer :D
Russ
go to www.carcomputer.co.uk there are som good monitors on there.
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I just don’t believe a normal laptop will survive, particularly the HD whilst being subject to vibration and dust.
Even at £80 I should be able to get a toughbook with 40Gig HD and 512Mb of ram. With a processor more than sufficient to run XP and MM. I would keep anything else installed to the absolute minimum. Should come with built in wireless as well.
40G HD should be sufficient? Important as these things are not the sort of thing you upgrade!
As I ran this stuff on a 5yr old PDA on our last trip to Morocco I’m not worried about the spec. of the toughbook.
Plus I really like the look of the Centrafuse software for the remote touch screen.
We use toughbooks at work, some now of the same vintage as the £80 ones to run, amoungst other things, reasonably demanding mapping software they really are pretty much indestructible, superb build quality and very stable, something I’m not sure about with a notebook, or indeed a custom built DIY PC (as per my friends solution) in adverse conditions.
Still pondering though, maybe I am trying to reinvent the wheel :lol:
Russ