[slatergs]

So I am looking into putting my Dell Mini 9 into my car dash and using it for my music, gps, and rear backup camera (I have a wireless bluetooth camera) as well as anything else I feel like doing with it. I am putting a touchscreen into it and would like to detach my screen so it can be mounted into the dash and only see the screen. The rest would then be placed into the glove compartment. It will be touchscreen but I also have a Logitech diNovo Mini to control it for typing etc.There is enough room to fit the screen in the dash... I can already wire the power and speakers, but I am wondering what kind of roadblocks I might run into. Is there some type of cable that I can buy to extend the monitor so it can make it from the glove compartment to the dash? That is the part I worry about the most. Any ideas or things to think about? Thanks

[UnaClocker]

I think the easiest route would be to unbolt the screen, and fold it around backwards. Seems to me that would be the easiest route, and would keep the video cable from needing to be extended.
Oh, and to show of what I'm doing with my Mini9 in my car...

That screenshot was in demo mode..

[slatergs]

Yea I actually thought about that (turning it around), but I wanted to know if it was possible to extend it so I could have better access to the base for plugging in things if I needed to, What car did you put yours into and how did you get all of that displayed?

Also was curious how you are powering your Mini in the car... I have two that I know how to do, just wondering how you are and how its working.

[medicThree]

I think the easiest route would be to build a shuttle desktop system and buy a small enclosed screen designed for this application. 1, I've never seen a dash that was wide enough to mount this screen in it!

i can tell you from my experience using my mini in my car, that when it was put in the glove box(which has ventilation, unlike most(dodge caliber has cooled/heated glove box)) that even when it was "cooling" it would get very hot in the enclosed space. I wouldn't want to run it that way long term.

I don't think there are many ways to do it and look good. The one advantage is that if you are going with a touch screen, you can do it without putting the touch screen ON the dell. Just find a way to mount it in your car. They are USB controlled so you could just plug it in...

[EquinoxShadow]

Originally Posted by UnaClocker

I think the easiest route would be to unbolt the screen, and fold it around backwards. Seems to me that would be the easiest route, and would keep the video cable from needing to be extended.
Oh, and to show of what I'm doing with my Mini9 in my car...

That screenshot was in demo mode..

Megasquirt!

[slatergs]

I thought about building a shuttle system, but the price of a display that is the size I want with touchscreen is a lot more expensive than I would like. Plus I like the built in bluetooth, gps, and size of just modding the mini rather than fitting in a shuttle case. And I already have the mini instead of needing to shell out another $1000 to build a system and get a decent screen. But it is a good thought and I will keep looking into it. Thanks

[Dunhamzzz]

make sure the keyboard etc is nowhere to be seen as if you ever get pulled over you could get arrested for distracted driving (or whatever the official name)

[UnaClocker]

Originally Posted by Dunhamzzz

make sure the keyboard etc is nowhere to be seen as if you ever get pulled over you could get arrested for distracted driving (or whatever the official name)

If it's got gauges like mine has, or navigation, there is a loophole in most state laws (even California) that allows you to have a computer in view of the driver.
Yeah, that is MegaSquirt I have setup on that laptop. Aftermarket/DIY engine control computer. It's in an '88 Dodge Omni. I haven't got an in-car power supply yet, I plan to just pick up a cigarette lighter DC-DC power adapter on eBay, they have them for the Mini9, and I've had good luck with them in the past.

[Klug]

MegaSquirt rox.
Still trying to get one week holidays to setup a TGI on my Volvco C303....

[slatergs]

Originally Posted by Dunhamzzz

make sure the keyboard etc is nowhere to be seen as if you ever get pulled over you could get arrested for distracted driving (or whatever the official name)

Planning on using the touchscreen mostly, but will have a small logitech keyboard stowed away but available if I would need it. So I am more worried about getting it all to work together. Seems like there is not a way to extend the monitor away from the base. So maybe flipping it around is the only way or creating a different computer and buying a different monitor to use. I just wanted to use the Mini because it is all there. Monitor, BT, Wireless, etc. To build a different system then buy a separate screen is a lot of money. Especially since buying a monitor small enough costs $500 and if I want a sun resistant one its more like $1500.