I was told not to bother "ricing out my Focus. It's a daily driver, leave it at that". :angry:
Note - not by anyone here, it was on "another" board.
So, my original master plan is coming into effect.
7" LCD flatscreen for DVDs and gaming
Athlon 64-powered laptop with wireless keyboard and mouse, on a port replicator, only external access besides a power button being for a USB 2.0 CD-RW (easy loading of a movie or game CD). The actual laptop will be secured away within the vehicle. Also, it'll have wireless 802.11G for Internet access at home, or wherever we are.
Once I get a few more mods done, wheels bolted on... it's going into shows just for the clean factor and fun. I don't care about best of show... it's about what you like to do, and this I definitely like!
Whaddya think?
If your going to be tucking your notebook away and not using the screen or anything, why not get a microATX board and case and stash it somewhere. Its not going to be much larger, and its going to cost way less.
thing is that it's easier to get a hardened laptop than to build a hardened PC.
In the future, you may want to get a bluetooth card for the laptop.. it's handy with some dataloggers so you don't need to plugin a serial cable all the way to the OBDII port... and keep a USB port accessible so you can plug in other stuff, like cameras (record your track outtings) or tuning software...
just my $0.02
i don't get it if the guy told u to not do up ur focus that its only a daily driver he's basically saying its slow and there is no point ...so how are u gonna "show him" if u get a laptop hooked up or a screen ?? :unsure: or do u have anything else done to your car?? lol and no I am not bashing or anything i think that set up would be sweet but i just don't get what it'll prove unless u already have stuff done...let me know
Basically I was told the Focus is good for nothing but point A to point B. It came from two separate people - a VW Golf driver, and a Civic driver. They've obviously forgotten what types of cars they drive as well - the same as ours!
Anyways, I've wanted to do this for some time. I probably will get around to doing it, depending on if my next raise goes through or not.
Even smaller than a microATX, would be
these little bastards.
Used them at my last company with moderate success. I would think they would be more than adequate for your app. Plus they boot up fast, no waiting 4 blocks for your stereo to come on.
Having the laptop setup in the car would be cool, since it has more functionality than just in-car use. You can always take it inside with you and use it as a regular computer, etc.
Another plus for having the computer easily removable and bringing it in is that you dont have to worry about theft. Not sure if your car insurance would cover a $2000+ laptop. That, and extreme heat/cold/humidity could cause you some problems..
Also, a DVD-rom drive rather than a CD-RW drive would be better, so you wont have to buy an in-dash DVD player, since you'll have the video-out from the laptop hooked up to your LCD screens anyway.
Another cool idea is to get Momo steering wheel, and the Logitech Momo pc steering wheel controller for the passenger seat. That would be awesome for playing racing games in the car, and a cool thing for shows.
j3rt,Jun 15 2004, 05:59 PM Wrote:Even smaller than a microATX, would be these little bastards.
Used them at my last company with moderate success. I would think they would be more than adequate for your app. Plus they boot up fast, no waiting 4 blocks for your stereo to come on.
I bow.. those are awesome little machines..
Quote:I bow.. those are awesome little machines..
Steve, have you worked with them or just admiring the specs?
Wait a month or two until the new nano-ATX boards come out (if they aren't already out). They are super small. ...And I agree... mp3car.com is a great site.
j3rt,Jun 16 2004, 12:54 AM Wrote:Quote:I bow.. those are awesome little machines..
Steve, have you worked with them or just admiring the specs?
I all but built one once.
priced out all the parts... was going to build a media center PC for the living room to get access to my library of music on the network.. could get everything I needed onto a 256 MB flash card to make it work.
it's on the backburner until I get some money tho... especially easy since you can get built in TV out, or LCD screens in a bundle.
Just what you need... being distracted by the TV in your steering wheel, only to get in an accident where you'd need your airbag....
if any one is interested, I have a laptop at work that just the screen is not working. If your gonna hook a computer in the car, you can easily connect a montor to the ext VGA or TV out port, and the video will still work, its just the built in LCD is fried (can be removed if u want)
Umm.......here is what they are saying..and I have to be honest..sorry
YOU'RE FOCUS IS SLOW, IT WILL NEVER BE FAST, ALL IT'S GOOD FOR IS GETTING GROCERIES
By adding a screen and laptop, you are just proving that you can go buy them groceries in style while watching some porn.....doesn't really do anything other then that.
:)
Eh, it's the truth.
**DISCLAIMER** I'm not saying that's how I think...just that's how everyone else thinks of the Focus, not to mention a Sedan with a SPI.