pete300tdi90 Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Hey Thinking of getting a lil laptop with multi-map for when im greenlaning. i want to put in on a holder that sits to the dash or something so i can use it with/without a passenger. anyone done this/got any ideas where it could go/how it could fit? thanks, Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 No ideas, but will be watching as i want to do the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete300tdi90 Posted December 14, 2009 Author Share Posted December 14, 2009 No ideas, but will be watching as i want to do the same. an idea someone had on LRO was linking it up to a flip down in car monitor. Great idea... but cant afford that. when its done i will post a pict' but no idea how im gona do it yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Yeah, i kept thinking about that, but with the price of netbooks as low as they are, i think the in car PC and touchscreen job loses on price and security. A netbook (slowish processor i know but up to the job) with an internet connection - perhaps via a mobile - and a proper mount will be just as tidy and removeable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProteuS Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I believe ram do some pretty good solid laptop mounts, may be a bit much for a netbook though. I have been considering these sort of options for running memory map. I would be pretty tempted if i was doing a single vehicle to install. to mount a netbook / small laptop via a strap or glue'd fixings to the roof / headlining and have the screen fold down. combined with a touchscreen or bluetooth keyboard / mouse I think it would be a neat solution for memory map, and keep it well away from water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkydave Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Yeah, excellent bits of kit and you can build them to fit where you want. Not cheap though: http://www.ram-mount-uk.com/index.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I've got a Ram Mount but don't have any photo's of it in use, cracking bit of kit, will hold virtyally any laptop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I have a HP TC4200 tablet PC, I have a small bracket on the passenger side of the dash that it slips into and then a strap that holds it in place. (will take some photos later) The bracket is a simple "basket" scaled down type you see waffle boards in, with a simple strap over the top this means that I can remove the Laptop when not in use! Or I want to type something using the keyboard. I looked at several options including small netbooks etc (I am lucky to have access to lots of Tec) but the tablet was best as I had no need for a keyboard or mouse and could just use the touch screen/pen. It survived a trip over the Pyrenees this summer however I am going to change the hard drive to a solid state one as these are better at taking the I have it hooked up to a small inverter for power and have hidden the PSU so the lead just plugs in I use my Vodafone 3g for internet access and a Bluetooth GPS transmitter for mapping, I have just brought a odb2 to USB connector and software to enable me to run diagnostics on board, I like the dash board idea some people have when running and spotting a problem before it becomes a big one appeals to me. Anyway short answer buy a tablet PC flat mount to dash on removal bracket, add whatever goodies you want. Jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101sean Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I use a Toughbook in tablet mode hung from a custom made stainless mount that slots in the ashtray hole. Doesn't need any fixing and you can remove it and put ashtray back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete300tdi90 Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 Anyway short answer buy a tablet PC flat mount to dash on removal bracket, add whatever goodies you want. Jason. how do PC tablets work? are they just a single layered (ie no lid) laptop/netbook? or do you need to plug them into something? some photos of your set up would be nice. sounds interesting. roughly how much are the tablets? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markyboy Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Hey Thinking of getting a lil laptop with multi-map for when im greenlaning. i want to put in on a holder that sits to the dash or something so i can use it with/without a passenger. anyone done this/got any ideas where it could go/how it could fit? thanks, Pete Pretty sure someone in the members vehicles forum has done this. Worth doing a search. HTH. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 how do PC tablets work? are they just a single layered (ie no lid) laptop/netbook? or do you need to plug them into something? some photos of your set up would be nice. sounds interesting. roughly how much are the tablets? Thanks I think Seans pics are already what you want to see - that is an example of a tablet. Very neat by the way Sean - nice solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete300tdi90 Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 I think Seans pics are already what you want to see - that is an example of a tablet. Very neat by the way Sean - nice solution. yer, i just didnt know if it was an add on to a laptop, or it ran on its own... but had a look and now realise what they are. seem very expencive compaired to a netbook tho :S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poohbear Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 You could always try one of these...... fully featured Windows XP SP3, 7" touchscreen, 1.5Ghz,60gB of music and films, bluetooth for phone, WiFi for mobile Web plus GPS for Satnav. Pc is in a custom box bolted to bulkhead behind drivers seat. Sorry for the quality of pictures - will take some in daylight if anyone is interested. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 how do PC tablets work? are they just a single layered (ie no lid) laptop/netbook? or do you need to plug them into something? some photos of your set up would be nice. sounds interesting. roughly how much are the tablets? Thanks there are two forms of tablet ones with screens that turn around i.e. the lid and ones with no/removal keyboard and just a touch screen. They are coming down in price and a previsouly enjoyed one can be had for little money. as you are only going to use internet explorer and some other small programs you don't need a NASSA computer with a massive hard drive 1gb of RAM and a 40GB hard drive will do it. you need a couple of USB ports and can make sure you get windows tablet addition so that the touch screen etc will work. I will take some photos of the bracket but it is simlar to Sean's but mounted lower down on the passanger side. Jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101sean Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I have a Toughbook CF18 which has a screen you flip round to use as a tablet. Got it off Ebay from a hot air baloonist loaded with the whole of the UK in Memory Map inc a lot of 25k maps. Got the whole of S Ireland as well for which I use Ozi Explorer. I'm fairly tall so although the mount looks high it doesn't obstruct my view of the road, could be mounted lower with a pre 02 dash or no Mud console in the way. I researched using a car pc but I can shift the Toughbook between vehicles and indoors (typing this on it now) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poohbear Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Toughbook idea looks promising..... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Panasonic-Toughbook-CF18-Tablet-Laptop-remote-display_W0QQitemZ180444139747QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_Laptops_EH?hash=item2a034f10e3] Good price at the moment aswell. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Sam Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 or how about something like This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn668 Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 The Maplin thing runs Windows CE, which after some Internet searching appears to me to be pretty much useless. I guess there are some programs for it, but unless I am mistaken it won't run Memory Map (neither the PC, nor the PDA version, as these need Windows Mobile, and Windows CE is a "subset" of that, or some sort of kernel. Been looking at all these mini netbooks, and they're relatively cheap (very if on Windows CE), a bit more on Linux and then there's a jump as soon as they come with XP. Back to the drawing board for me, but now I'm thinking of an old laptop, with a dash-mounted (headrest) monitor from Halfrauds for about £70. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landy andy. Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 This is mine. 8" touch screen, connected to laptop. Would not want smaller screen as would be difficult to use. Mine is mounted via the ashtray, so no holes and an easy removal. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headhunter Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Ram mounts as identified by Ralph are excellent, I use one on a Toshiba Portege P3500 touch screen tablet with Memory Map, it's for sale by the way if you are interested. Have upgraded to a Toughbook, pending an overland trip to Morocco. I will use a Ram Mount attached to a cradle for the Toughbook. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeyw Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I started off with a 7" touch screen mounted on the dash, I ran it from a car PC. It was pretty good, but had quite a few downsides too. 1. Windows XP is not really suited to touch screen operation, 2. A 7" screen involves a lot of scrolling when trying to plan routes, 3. A car PC is not so easy to just take indoors and play with. There's a few more. I think a laptop is more suited due to its transportability. Current solution for me is a 12" Dell Latitude that sits on top of a home-made holder that is fixed to the centre cubby box. Laptop is held in place by some industrial strength Velcro. This has been quite successful so far, although I need to add a screen steady element. As has been mentioned by others, RAM mounts are very good. Paul Humphreys has a superb setup in his TLC, but it costs quite a few £££. My version above was knocked up in a couple of hours from bits I had lying about and is removable in less than a minute. The table can rotate so can easily be used by driver or passenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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