Laptop mount?

B

brtb

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Orlando, FL
Okay, so not exactly a big-ticket mod, but I recently, uh, acquired :D a halfway-decent laptop that I wanted to put into gps-nav/mp3-player/etc duty, and eventually when i can find newer XJ I like (or 5-90 figures out the Renix datastream), maybe realtime ECU readouts. Got the wiring all taken care of, even the annoying groundloops...

Just not entirely sure on placement. Right in front of center dash of course blocks out the AC vents and makes it a bit difficult to use the shifter. Sliding it back some isn't much better, starts to interfere with the e-brake. Under the back seat seems to be the best place, but that kinda defeats the purpose. =]

Ideas? Or... Anybody seen a pre-fab XJ+laptop mounting bracket somewhere? Saw one on random website but it looked kinda flimsy, and $130.
 
I'm detaching the screen on my old laptop and mounting it basically in front of the radio on a swing away mount. The rest of the laptop goes under the back seat. I run TOPO software coupled to my GPS so I can do a moving map or track where I've been. I use a thumb ball mouse type control to activate and control the software.
 
I thought about that... the screen signals will reach that far? What kinda cable you using? That'd be some fancy soldering in any case... stupid little ribbon thingy on it at the moment.
 
JP_in_STL said:
Most any Laptop will have either a Composite or S-Video output. You can find smaller LCD display in the 6-9" range setup for running 12V rather inexpensively - under $100 depending on size.
http://www.mp3playerstore.com/stuff_you_need/special/L7M.htm

Then setup a trackball for controlling things and get a rollup keyboard like this and stash it in the glovebox for emergencies.
http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=FOLD-2000

- JP
Click to expand...

Thought of that too... even those LCDs that go in place of your head unit, so they'll fold out when you want it. But I'm cheap, already have a perfectly good 13.1" TFT screen, and just no good places to mount it. :D
 
What OS will you be running on the Laptop?? You could mount it to the roof and let the screen fold down like normal and hook up an external trackball mounted to the console for controlling it. What this would require is either disassembling the laptop screen and physically flipping it 180º or getting software to do it. Under Linux I know this could be handled easily, but it could be done under Windows as well with additional software or dependent on the video hardware this may be supported with the driver. This would tuck it up out of site of the casual thief.

- JP
 
I tossed around this idea with mine since the ATI Radeon 9600 in it can flip 180 degrees. Gives the kid something to watch in the backseat when I pop a Spongebob DVD in, too. :D I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to do it. First things first...I need to get the Jeep back on the trail.

JP_in_STL said:
What OS will you be running on the Laptop?? You could mount it to the roof and let the screen fold down like normal and hook up an external trackball mounted to the console for controlling it. What this would require is either disassembling the laptop screen and physically flipping it 180º or getting software to do it. Under Linux I know this could be handled easily, but it could be done under Windows as well with additional software or dependent on the video hardware this may be supported with the driver. This would tuck it up out of site of the casual thief.

- JP
Click to expand...
 
boise49ers said:
You guy's haven't watched that Insurance commerial on Multi tasking while your driving have you ? LOL :spin3:
Click to expand...

I don't think I'll have to worry about that on a trail at 2mph glancing at a topo map every once in a while. :roll:
 
I have a couple of comments, first of all i'm planing on running a laptop for GPS also! I'm planning on making the base of the laptop rotate all the way back(like a table PC) and mounted it screen out where the glove box is! I will build or use some kind of arm thing so it can rotate around toward me somewhat, and so it will fold into the dash and i will cover it with a custom door to hide it while its not in use!! I dont have a laptop yet, so this is still all just a dream!! if i can could find a 12in LCD monitor i would just mount that, and put a computer under the front seat! I'm still planning all of this, and if i had a laptop it would make it alot easier to plan!!

But i have afew things about your plans! First of all, have you removed the laptop screen yet? If not you might want to know that the video signal on most laptops are only designed to travel a very short distance! and its very very hard to extent the cabels more then a few inches longer!

JP_in_STL said:
Most any Laptop will have either a Composite or S-Video output. You can find smaller LCD display in the 6-9" range setup for running 12V rather inexpensively - under $100 depending on size.
http://www.mp3playerstore.com/stuff_you_need/special/L7M.htm

Then setup a trackball for controlling things and get a rollup keyboard like this and stash it in the glovebox for emergencies.
http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=FOLD-2000

- JP
Click to expand...

Also from what i've read, you need a VGA monitor if you want to run GPS, those smaller monitors that use S-Video or composit dont have good enough detail to very the small text on GPS! If you want more info(also where i'm getting my info from) check out www.mp3car.com more info there then you will ever need!! Check if out, and post lots of pictures if you get your project going!! Please dont kill me if you've done any of the above that i'm said shouldn't be done, accuatly i would love to hear about it, all i know is what i've read on mp3car.com! From my computer background i think i can extent a laptop screen if it has normal wires running to it, if it has a ribbon cable those are a huge pain to extend!! So please fill me in on what you find out, and post lots and lots of pictures!!

Aaron
 
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