Laptop in Vehicle Navigation

[The S's]

Having already been down the path of putting computers in cars I have done lots of research.

We are currently running a full pc for navigation, dvd's, web cams, mp3's and anything a PC can do ....

Firstly about the PC it is a P4 2.4 ghz with 512mb Ram 40 gb HDD, external DVD combo drive, usb GPS, FM modulator, it has a custom made case and uses a 5.5 inch nesa lcd screen, it also has an opus 150 watt 12 volt dc power supply. I have just had two custom made interior consoles made to house the monitor, external dvd player and usb hub.

For software we currently use: Windows XP Pro, Media Engine ( A Free Open source software specifically designed for Carputers http://www.mediaengine.org), Oziexplorer for moving maps, power dvd, and I am just about to buy destinator for turn by turn navigation.

Some links that may be useful try:
-http://www.mediaengine.org - Carputer software, forum and lots of general info pics etc.
-http://www.neltronics.com.au - A south Australian supplier of lcds and other cool gadgets.
-http://www.consoles.com- A Sydney based manufactor of car interior consoles, including mounts for laptops.

more specifically
-http://www.neltronics.com.au/SmartRider%20Car%20PC.htm - for an in dash car pc pre built system

I notice there were some comments earlier in this thread saying some people were not satisfied with the results of putting computers in cars but all I can say is that we have had ours installed for over 6 months and we are very happy with the system and it's operation.

We are happy to answer any more questions or to post photos if wanted.

[ian-and-penny]

Sorry to hijack your thread with comments I felt were useful, esp after you listed all the negative points about the laptop

Sorry Dave, my response to your thread entry was unnecessarily harsh.

Ian

[xf king]

I don't know why anyone would bother with laptop navigation in the car, very fiddly as everyone has found out. A few seconds and a quick glance at the street directory is much easier and less fiddly. Never crashes either, no boot time, and 1 / 100th the cost.

If I was going to do in car GPS navigation I'd go for a proper fixed in-car GPS unit that just sits there and works, and has all that nice turn-by-turn navigation stuff.

EcoDave - Keep'n it practical! [/i]

I agree with these points when I'm travelling around the city. But as soon as you go out 250 km from melbounre you have to work with very small maps in the back of the melways. And sometimes you got no idea where you are, and your stuck guessing if you have turned down a certian road yet, or missed a turn...

This is where having a laptop or car computer can help. Mapsource can also have all the waypoints on screen. So if you find one cahce is on the other side of the river you can leave that cache till later and do all the caches on your side of the river first.. Unfortunately my Etrex has no base map either. Just a laptop in a car cacn become fiddly. But I want a car computer. Something fixed and hidden out of the way, so passengers wont be slamming into it. The cable professionally layed where they cant be seen. And gps with cables in a holder next to the windscreen.

I can understand your points about having a GPS in built to the car, but would you want to enter co ordinates in twice.. One for the handheld and one for the Car navigation system??? I have been told at anaconda that in car navigation wont work off road, but until I see someone running navigation GPS in their car I cant say if the sales assistant was talking babble or not.. But for city streets i would probably go melways instead of booting up the computer..

[CraigRat]

more specifically
-http://www.neltronics.com.au/SmartRider%20Car%20PC.htm - for an in dash car pc pre built system

I have just found what I want for Xmas

On my recent jaunt in victoria I did the Dell Laptop running Ozi on the passenger seat and found that it worked niceley. BUT it was a bit of astruggle when I had a passenger...ended up with it on the back seat (missed a few turns and consequently a few caches )....

I like the idea of the device above.....