in car computers

Biggest hurdle is getting a screen with good resolution in front of you so you can easily see it when driving.

To buy a purpose built in-car computer looks pretty complicated to me.

A tablet PC (computer with touch screen) is still the one of the best all-in-one solution IMO, especially with a bluetooth GPS. The Tosh M200 and Panasonic toughbook are good computers if you don't mind something thats a bit bulky.

The compact tablets can be a bit fragile - I had an NEC T400 that broke its screen in the car, but was a nice compact bit of gear otherwise. A new one called the Samsung Q1 looks more compact, and looks more robust - looks small enough to mount on the dash.

For now I've gone back to an old Tosh running W98SE. It has a 6gigHDD which is enough to store maps and backup photos - it runs off 12v, folds away in a padded pocket next to the drivers seat, and I have it hooked up to my dash screen and work it with a cordless mouse. I'm probably happier with this setup, than I was with a TabletPC. But to get good resolution on the dash screen you either need a decent video output on your computer, or get a screen with VGS input.
!MPG:35!
!MPG:33!
and my reversing camera shares the screen - press a button and they flick over.
!MPG:34!

Phil,
I like your set-up. Seems to me that most car computers are aimed at the entertainment market. I am looking for a way to use Oziexplorer and have a reversing camera as well. The Samsung Q1 looks good, but I cannot see how to link in the reversing camera (no AV port). Panasonic Toughbook looks good, but way out of my budget.
Thanks for the photos of your setup,
Hugh

I agree, we use a toshiba tablet as well, but it's in front of my navigator, not me. I use the GPS if I need some guidance during fighting. LOL



We use Ozi and a combination of maps from DEC 50k maps to scanned tourist maps, through to the 250k Natraster maps depending on what we are trying to acheive at the time. ie Touring, camping, exploring off road etc.

My system is ever evolving, but presently based on an old acer laptop, an inverter, touch screen monitor from ebay, ozi & ubd maps etc, & a bluetooth gps (used to run it with a garmin II+, but got very sick of the cables).

I'm presently trying out a home made stand, which straddles the centre consol. Quick & easy install/remove is one of my criteria. I'm yet to find a convenient spot for the laptop if there are people in the backseat, but I haven't put too much thought in to that yet.

!MPG:6!

!MPG:3!

looks great , what software are you running ?

I have a 10" touchscreen at 800x600 on a adjustable arm with
a photohead like mechanism to turn it from driver to passenger

7" DIN monitor with 800x480 have trouble with some videoboards
and are too small to be useful .. I have one on the boat in a waterproof case

PC is a 2GHz MiniITX board ina VOOMPC 2 case with 160G HD DVD drv
1G RAm and the 6 channel audio is wired into my factory audio system from
BOSE . I have a quadprocessor (4 cameras to reverse under my slideon) in one AV input and an auto video selector into the second AV input. this automatically
switches one of 4 inputs to one output depending on which camera was switched on last. I have the rearview, hitchview and the rearviw of the camper and the boat hooked up to it so I can select which camera is shown by just powering the camera.

The PC runs OZIexplorer, copilot and holds my 60G Mp3's. I run NextG with a Maxon arial and USB modem into tha PC and have it networked via Ethernet to my Pc's in the camper, which access the Internet through this gateway PC ...

the PC with all bells and whistles can be had for under A$900 and if you are happy with a slow 1.5G and 512M ram it is less than $500 all on Ebay ..

I find the turnkey systems too expensive and too restrictive. MiniITX is still big
for many cars but will fit under the seat easy. NanoITX is smaller though but also
more expensive. MiniITX is previous generation and gets cheaper and cheaper.

BUT be aware that 800x480 screen have some problems with some of the motherboards. 800x600 is just fine.

I also have a wireless minikeyboard with integrated mouse.

I have no pics at the moment but can take them quite easy .. still working on some parts of the system. I swap the case to a slightly thicker one to run a PCI card on a riser . its a capture card which records up to 16 cameras which will run
24/7 and covers the complete rig including boat.

If you are in Perth I am happy to help to put it in.
good luck
gmd

I have a 10" touchscreen at 800x600 on a adjustable arm with
a photohead like mechanism to turn it from driver to passenger

7" DIN monitor with 800x480 have trouble with some videoboards
and are too small to be useful .. I have one on the boat in a waterproof case

PC is a 2GHz MiniITX board ina VOOMPC 2 case with 160G HD DVD drv
1G RAm and the 6 channel audio is wired into my factory audio system from
BOSE . I have a quadprocessor (4 cameras to reverse under my slideon) in one AV input and an auto video selector into the second AV input. this automatically
switches one of 4 inputs to one output depending on which camera was switched on last. I have the rearview, hitchview and the rearviw of the camper and the boat hooked up to it so I can select which camera is shown by just powering the camera.

The PC runs OZIexplorer, copilot and holds my 60G Mp3's. I run NextG with a Maxon arial and USB modem into tha PC and have it networked via Ethernet to my Pc's in the camper, which access the Internet through this gateway PC ...

the PC with all bells and whistles can be had for under A$900 and if you are happy with a slow 1.5G and 512M ram it is less than $500 all on Ebay ..

I find the turnkey systems too expensive and too restrictive. MiniITX is still big
for many cars but will fit under the seat easy. NanoITX is smaller though but also
more expensive. MiniITX is previous generation and gets cheaper and cheaper.

BUT be aware that 800x480 screen have some problems with some of the motherboards. 800x600 is just fine.

I also have a wireless minikeyboard with integrated mouse.

I have no pics at the moment but can take them quite easy .. still working on some parts of the system. I swap the case to a slightly thicker one to run a PCI card on a riser . its a capture card which records up to 16 cameras which will run
24/7 and covers the complete rig including boat.

If you are in Perth I am happy to help to put it in.
good luck
gmd