Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 23:05:42 -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: <38D82D73.2AB8DCE5@bigfoot.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Speaking of microphones. You can use the flex arms from the Hella lights to
rig up a sano mike for cell phone hands free like my buddy did. You could
use this same hook up for improved voice recognition for a PC, MAC or
AutoPC.
Ty
-----Original Message-----
From: ed [mailto:edevinney@bigfoot.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 6:19 PM
To: Ty Graham; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Suggestions on how to fasten a laptop while driving?
Interesting stuff. FWIW, I get great results playing MP3s and DVDs off my
Powerbook G3 through some half-decent equipment at home (Adcom electronics,
B+W
Matrix 2 speakers); the price premium for Mac hardware sometimes has real
value
:-)
I'm experimenting now with speech recognition to control the Mac, biggest
problem so far is a microphone for the high-noise automotive environment.
In
my car, I'm just using the passenger seat belt to hold the box down, but
will
likely go with velcro. In the Vanagon, I will bungee the box to a board and
belt the board down to one of the jump seats so the rear-seat passengers can
watch - I think driving with the table up is probably dangerous. We did it
all
the time as kids in our friends' parents' Westy, but that was a time before
most folks wore seat belts, too.
Thanks for your page - it's helping a lot for some ideas about how to rig my
own Vanagon (I have to replace the van's stereo anyway). It's mostly a
school
bus, but we intend to do some longish trips, and the DVD player is nice for
the
kids after it's too dark to see outside or read books.
ed
Ty Graham wrote:
> [...]
> 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) --
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