I just ordered a new pc for work and decided to go with one of the new Compaq Table PCs. I've wanted to get one for the past few years and just haven't like the ones I've tested out... well this one is hopefully going to be "the one" and make me more productive ;)

After seeing Ravens box I see that it's totally possible to at least have a modded stand and have your laptop with you, but how realistic is it to have the Tablet be my GPS/Stereo/DVD/Workstation? I'd love to rig it up so that the Tablet can be docked right where the stereo is... I realize it would cover some stuff... but if you could have it pushed out slightly from the dash? Maybe I could just use the same placement as Raven's but have it on a telescoping arm?

I'm getting ahead of myself... but I think that it may be possible.. and incredibly fun to attempt to pull off. GPS/DVD decks I've seen are $1500 and being able to just use my Tablet I could easily afford to pay for any mods/equip I'd need.

So where do I start? Anyone have any good sites for this kind of thing? I really want to make this thing into a reality.

Guy

 

I used to have an Acer tablet PC couple years ago before it crapped out on me. Now I am considering getting an IBM one.

That idea sounds very cool, keep us updated.

 

Try here: http://www.laptraveler.com/

or here: http://www.jottodesk.net/joto/sitemap.htm

or maybe: http://www.gpscity.com/rammounts.htm

I found these all with a simple Google search so I'm sure there are plenty more out there. Good luck with it and keep us up to speed with your progress...

 

moved...

 

My laptop is currently doing GPS, WiFi, War Driving, Voice
Control NAVI, and is setup to play MP3 and Videos of course.

As long as you have USB ports and PC Slots, you can do
just about anything you want. The tricky part is making it
look good!

Trust me, I almost dropped $3000 and a full custom fiberglass
dash where my glovebox is to have my laptop stealth when
I parked the car, but fold out of a slot when I use or "show"
the box.

I opted for the simple shelf setup and I love it! It was inexpensive,
it's very solid, and it's the perfect height and size for the
girlfriend to Co-Pilot. Honestly, she loves going War Driving
with me late at night. It's fun quality time with the girlfriend and
the box!

My WiFi card has dual antenna inputs, so I'm going to run two
seperate antenna, I'm still shopping around for what I want though.
I can go stealth window mount ones with little gain, or I can go
big and ugly and get monster gain.

What tablet are you getting? I'm Compaq certified and I work on
this stuff all the time, but I see VERY few tablet PCs.

Oh, and just FYI, I don't recall the model number, but HP Compaq
has one laptop where the screen is on a full swivel and can turn a
full 180 to become a tablet if you so choose! VERY cool, but VERY
expensive! I can find the model number if you want?

 

The Compaq tablet you're talking about is the TC-1100. I have the TC1000. I think it's pretty slow actually, I hope the 1100 is faster.

You mention [L.G.] that you want your tablet to play DVDs. My 1000 has no drive on it (other than the Hard Drive). You could rip your DVDs to the hard drive or I suppose you could run a the modular external Compaq DVD drive because it draws it's required power from the USB port (a regular external drive can't use the tablet's USB to power the drive, trust me, it's complicated but true).

I don't think you're dreaming or that this is too far off. Definitely post some pics if you do this install. I would love to see a tablet PC in a Scion.

 

God I love this place....

Raven... what the hell is War Driving? The Tablet I'm getting is the HP/Compaq TC1100... found it on Ebay for $1699. Did you do all the installation/wiring yourself? I'm not exactly the most handy person in the world, but I do follow directions incredible well ;) Any place that explains this in detail?

HatePoet... my thought was to get the modular dvd/cd bay and insert it in the lower slot under the AC Unit. That way I can play DVD's and CD's through the Tablet without incidient.

I'm thinking the best bet is to have some kind of moveable/lockable arm that would come out of the spot where the current CD player is. The arm could hide the power/AV cords and I could simply dock the tablet when I get in the car.. and pull it when I leave. It actually seems like it may not be that tough a thing to pull off. I'm just not sure there is a way to have the tablet run the regular am/fm stereo?

Thanks for the links everyone.... I will certainly keep everyone posted on my progress.

Guy

 

War driving is the driving around in your car and leeching off someone else's wireless network and using their internet connection for w/e.

 

lol... I guess that works.

So what kind of fun stuff can I do on someones unprotected wireless network? ;)

The wheels are turning on this project... I can't wait.

 

If someone is nice (or unknowing) enough to have an open wireless network, you'll want to avoid trashing it lest you be found locked out. Once they discover something wrong b/c of their wireless, you can bet they're going to figure out how to lock it down and make it private.

I think it just seems like it would be funny to mess with their systems, you know, change to some **** type wallpaper or something then lock down their networks so that only *you* can use as your own private wireless hotspot. It would be funny yes. Funny but uncool.

 

NO!

War Driving is Mapping the growth of expansion of the wireless internet.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...ine:Wardriving


Wardriving is the term for finding and marking the locations and status of wireless networks. Wardrivers typically use software to determine whether the network is open or closed and a Global Position System device to record the location. A wardriver marks the spot either by using a symbol written in chalk on a building near the spot -- known as warchalking -- or mapping the locations and posting it on the Internet

Wardriving is an activity consisting of driving around with a laptop or a PDA in one's vehicle, detecting Wi-Fi wireless networks. It is also known (as of 2002) as WiLDing (Wireless Lan Driving), originating in the USA with the Bay Area Wireless Users Group (BAWUG). It is similar to using a scanner for radio. Most wardrivers will use GPS devices to find the exact location of the network found and log it on a website. For better range, antennas are built or bought, and vary from omnidirectional....

 

Raven explained what it is below.. but on that subject, I cant believe people still leave their networks open. Good thing I am a nice guy seeing as how I can see about 4 open networks in my apartment! Not smart at all!!! I keep mine locked down with WEP, MAC filtering and a firewall just for that reason... and that is just my home laptop.

 

When I first started Wardriving 3 years ago, 1% of the WiFi
networks were LOCKED!

Now that I've started up again, this past few weeks, I'm seeing
about 10% locked. Maybe more.

 

i would like some pics of your setup raven...