Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 21:44:23 -0800
Reply-To: Ty Graham <TyG@OZ.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ty Graham <TyG@OZ.NET>
Subject: Re: Suggestions on how to fasten a laptop while driving?
In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.20000320195332.0072e44c@mail.abccom.bc.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I've used high friction tape from Lee Valley Tools coupled with a thin
Bungee around the base of the screen. Also, that grip foam from West Marine
works pretty well with the thin bungees. I'm still working on a dedicated
bracket for my Dell, but haven't come up with the ultimate solution.
My Clarion head unit has Aux in. It was pretty easy to route this to the
rear for hookup to the PC. Without the right head unit, you might be able
to hook the CD changer IF though these are so often proprietary.
While on the subject of mobile PC entertainment ...
There's a cool article on building a dedicated MP3 PC for automotive use in
last months Maximum PC magazine. This is more appealing to me right now
than using the various laptop solutions I've tried.
Analog out from an ESS audio system in a PC sounds like crap when amplified.
I've done all sorts of filtering to clean up my signal and I'm still not
happy. I think you really need an all digital stream. That's the direction
I'm moving for rev 2 of Cinerama this Summer.
A lot of my cost no object MSFT friends are using the new Nakamichi deck
that has SPDIF input and running that to the glove box. You can then hook
up one of these HD based consumer MP3 players for 700 hours of MP3s or
whatever it is they play. That still leaves you with no UI except of the
velcro to the dash or reach in glovebox variety.
My buddy has dropped serious resources into a dedicated 15" screen for his
Dell Inspiron built into a custom console. The Dell is inserted into a bay
between the seats made from a modified docking station. Input is controlled
using an RF keyboard plus mouse combo. This works really cool for TV
viewing, GPS, scanner control, etc. The caveat on this setup is on the
$10k+ cost of entry. The screen alone is ~$3k.
One thing I've done in my vans that I'd really recommend is the Lind 12v
power adapter. It's really nice not to horse around with power bricks and
inverters. The power is really clean; no dropouts while starting stopping
and driving.
Ty Graham
http://www.oz.net/~tyg/Westy.htm
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of David Marshall
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2000 7:54 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Suggestions on how to fasten a laptop while driving?
I'm in love with MP3s! There are far more MP3s on my IBM ThinkPad 760ED
than there are CDs in my vans.
I know it has been done before, so why re-invent the wheel? What is the
best way to secure my lap top so I can drive and have access to it without
worrying about it sliding off the dash or seat? Also, what is the best way
to interface audio out with my sound system?
Thanks in advance!
-- David Marshall - - Quesnel, BC, Canada --
-- 78 VW Rabbit, 80 VW Caddy, 84 VW Westie, 85 VW Cabriolet --
-- 87 Audi 5000 Quattro, 88 2.0L VW Syncro Double Cab --
-- David's Volkswagen Home Page http://www.volkswagen.org --
-- Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning http://www.fastforward.ca --
-- david@volkswagen.org (pmail) or vanagon@volkswagen.org (list) --
