Okay, so I need some suggestions for my buddy!

His name is Claes, he's my best bud. Before I get to what he posted over at tabletpcbuzz.com I'll give you a quick run down of what I though would be good ideas but in fact don't work for him. 1st things first: he got rid of his big nice expensive Jeep commander and no longer has a lot of room in his brand new Nissan Altima.

I suggested an M34 and a T5 for him, both of which are too big... The reason that they are too big is because they are not slates... they are normal laptops. He's determined that even a tablet (CF-18 for example) is too big. His budget is $500 tops and obviously a Toughbook would be the way to go over a Viliv X70 only because of the resolution issue. The native res on the program that he'll be using will NEED 800x600. I was looking at the U1's but they're WAY to expensive...

Thoughts? Suggestions?

ORIGINAL POST FROM CLAES:

Greetings and salutations,

First post here! I have to say this is a very nice and well put together forum. Before I ask my question I do want to put in that I read through scores of posts in this section, general, and others to see if I could find the answer previous to posting.

But I digress.

* I want to put a 7-9" slate in my car for the purpose of listening to music. I really do not have any other need for it (I don't want to use it for wifi, movies, documents, etc).
* Just for the sake of transparency, I would like a slate and not a tablet (swivel screen). I drive a Nissan Altima (just traded in my Jeep Commander) and it does not have a ton of space. I need something small I can velcro to a particular spot. The swivel laptops take up too much space.
* I definitely want a windows based slate. I spent 13 days updating all the id3 tags on my music yet when a program (zune, ipod, adroid OS) pulls the info it still is incorrect despite the id3 tags being correct. My buddy uses a toughbook in his truck and has a program that pulls the artist and song title from the name of the file.
* I would like touch screen that I can use with my fingers and not a stylus. I read on here about different types of touch screens (capacitive and digitizers etc) but do not understand the difference.
* Battery life is not too important I would prefer something with at least 3 hours though.
* Memory capacity: since I am going to be loading music onto this it needs a good amount of space. Ideally something with flash memory since I live in Chicago and it can get mighty cold. I don't mind a hard drive based unit though. In either case I want to be able to upgrade the memory later. Whether that is from upgrading a physical HD (1.8" for the slates?) or inserting SD / microSD I am not as concerned.
* Whether it is XP for win7 it really makes no difference. The program I am going to use works on both and I'd just assume not spend the money on a win7 unit or the resources it requires to run.
* Price point, well I was hoping to get something around $300 but as all things in life you get what you pay for. I really do not want to spend more than $500.

That's about all I can think of. From the research I did, I found the Archos 9 windows PC. That seems to be basically what I want. Only thing is it is more than I really wanted to put into it. It has a ton of features I am uninterested in. It's not that i'm cheep, more that I don't care to spend money on capabilities I don't want / need. +

Thank you for your valuable time and knowledge. I look forward to the advice given.

Cheers,
Claes

 

Friends don't let friends buy non-Toughbooks.

Rather than buy based on a predetermined budget, I would suggest your friend put his purchase off, put aside his "pennies", and buy based on need, rather than budget.

I would suggest the "best of both worlds": a reasonably inexpensive WiFi-equipped CF-29 (or even a CF-28) in the trunk and a Mobile Data Wireless Display (MDWD) (or equivilent) up front.

So, your friend can "have his cake and eat it, too"; just not as cheaply as he first wants.

 

It sounds like he needs an iPad rather than a Toughbook.

 

I don't know from music, but if he needs help with pRon...

 

The CF-VDW07 is available much cheaper on eBay; I've seen many auctions close in the $100-$150 range for a good, high-bright model.

They do NOT have to be connected to a ToughBook; look in my tutorial for the link to the UNIVERSAL VERSION of MEIWDS interface software that will run on ANY PC.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/428080-cf-vdw07-wireless-display-how.html

This means he CAN have his cake & eat it too; just put his existing laptop in the trunk and he's good to go. The CF-VDW07 is 800x600 and the MEIWDS software switches the host PC's desktop to that res and back automatically when the display is connected or disconnected, so it's going to be well-suited to his software.

mnem
Post-graduated.

 

True; but his original posting did not indicate that he has an "existing laptop," hence the suggestion for an inexpensive WiFi-equipped Toughbook.

Moreover, even though he said he has no other use for the PC, his needs may change (such as GPS) and he'd already be equipped towards that usage.

Don't forget that his prime usage in the Altima is as a "Super iPad" for music, so he's going to have to integrate the unit's audio output into the Nissan's stereo system via the "Aux" input jack.

 

I grabbed one of these on "fire breath's" advice. It's a pretty impressive and well made machine for the money. Not mentioned in the listing is the fact that they have the high bright screen which is also quite nice.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/533119-ot-ecost-heads-up-ot.html
I know its not a Toughbook, it is a very nice little computer. Before the loyalists chime in I also use my CF-18 a lot, its not a tablet, it really isn't.
CAP

 

He DID state that he had an extensive collection of music in his previous vehicle; this would indicate a portable computer of some sort... and there's no reason one can't plug the audio out of whatever laptop into said system, or worst case, use an FM RF Modulator if the system doesn't have an AUX input.

mnem
Ooogity.

 

Hey WOW Cap'n... you're right. I had forgotten about them; actually, I'm surprised to see them still available. That would probably be perfect for the guy... but I think you said they're digitizer, not touchscreen, right?

mnem
Hmmm...

 

It is a digitizer, but it works much better than my CF-18 digitizer, not that I mind that one either. It has a very slick "garage" for the full size pen which is very easy to use, even comes with replacement tips. I am extremely impressed with the quality of the Motion, it was probably a good buy at $1700, it is a much better buy at $279. This is brand new with all of the extra cost options and a very daylight viewable screen.
Rugged PC Review.com - Motion Computing LS800
I certainly am happy with my purchase. By the way, I found a docking station on the flea for $39 IIRC. It would be an easy mod to convert it to a vehicle dock.
CAP

 

OR, that his former vehicle, a Jeep Commander, was equipped with the factory-installed MP3 player ...

The Nissan Altima has the "Aux" audio input jack already installed (or at least my step-daughter's Altima does).

 

Okay. So here is what Claes and I decided to do. He's buying a CF-30 motherboard (No screen, no optical, no handle, no port rubbers). Just the base with the keyboard (just in case we need the keyboard). We will put the CF-30 in the glove box (FITS PERFECTLY IN THERE) to run a Lilliput Screen ( Lilliput 669GL-70NP/C/T-5HB 7" HDMI, DVI, VGA High Brightness 5 Wire Resistive Touch Screen ) through the back of the one cubby box.

To the CF-30 mobo we will run the wires we need: Lind power, USB port to put in dash for a mouse if need be, power switch (which I already hotwired to the Toughbook, SEE PICS , etc etc etc. )

I will tap directly into the always on cig lighter and run 3 total devices from the one (2 behind the dash, one that is accessible to anyone else externally) so that he can wire additional things to it.

I'll keep you all updated with pics as we move forward here . w00t!

 

Next time, just pm me
I have done many vehicle installations


I have installed tower computers using a screen that size in the past
Personaly I find them too small to be of much use
Especially on screen hight
I would suggest the smaller panasonic pdrc screen
It's bright ,much better for navigation software as it has the standard aspect ratio , and if you can find a used one ,quite inexpensive
Here is a link
http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-CF-VD...057?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item564179f8d9

 

I agree 100% with TC plus with the PDRC you already have remote power on/off control of the TB, the signal gets sent over the serial port.

 

x 2 with TC for ease, functionality, and viewability. If you want to be able to actually glance at your screen while driving you have to get it up to dash level. The factory installed units in new cars are completely voice controlled so its not too important where the screen is, not so when manual input is required. But then I am from a state where we had to pass a law against texting while driving, yes I said texting while driving. The push back against the law was amazing, people actually were arguing that they could safely text while in charge of three tons of steel rolling at 50-60 mph.
CAP

 

We just passed the same law here in TX. My response was "Should we really NEED to pass such a law? Shouldn't we expect people to KNOW BETTER?" then I remembered where I live.

mnem
TX - home of the "Here, hold my beer and watch THIS!!!" school of driving...

 

MAN ALIVE GUYS! A guy just brought one of these screens in today and I fell in love with it! It's totally cool! I'm going to have him buy one of those $40 PDRC screens.

Now question is this: Can a LIND charger be used with this screen?? A power supply is NOT included in this auction...

 

Lind DC Power Adapter - Model # PA1540-795
Compatibility: Panasonic PDRC, 12

 

Any Lind 16v power supply with a MP205 (old style) plug will work. Let me know if you need a display, straight swap for emissive key board?
CAP

 

What's the difference between the VDL01 and the VDL02???

From what I can tell it's only $10 more for THIS ONE and I can use a standard LIND that I already got in stock instead of a CF-28 plug style LIND: http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-CF-VD...041?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588b0ab9f9

Thanks

 

VDL01 has 10" display 800x600

VDL02 has 12" display 1024x764

Both are touch screens with multiple CFL tubes for very high brightness. I think the VDL01 has seven (!) CFL tubes, not sure about the 02. Both are resistive touch screen with serial port interfaces.

 

Looks like the VDL02 is 12" vs 10.4"... I think the VDL01 is the way to go here as the 10.4" screen is almost too big as it is...

 

Answered me before I did ... Yeah 800x600 is the resolution we need too...

GREAT! .

Ohhh Cap.... Let me know where we stand on this deal?

Thanks

 

We're trading here, not paying "retail" . IMHO, the VDL02 resolution is too high for vehicle use. You want the big icons for touch use, and you're not, I hope, going to be streaming video whilst driving.
CAP