Embedded vehicle PC vs laptop for chasing

  • Thread starter Thread starter chadvia
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The carputer's are comparable to a laptop, and the idea of just using a laptop stowed away somewhere is a viable option, I just tend to prefer the carputer as you can it get to do more than a laptop for the same price (that and my personal laptop is a POS). Whether you use a laptop or a carputer, the main idea here is to get away from mounting a laptop or screen even remotely near an airbag deployment zone as whatever is there becomes a projectile traveling at over 100 mph. As Skip proposed, if you built or had built the right computer, you could get a pretty powerful unit inside your car that would ultimately cost you less than a laptop. With the right setup, you could easily do video/image editing driving down the road, or anything else you wanted to do. You could conceivably mount your own desktop in the car using your own home-made shock absorbers, but your taking a risk on how well it might work. It might be fine, it might not. Only time will tell on that one, just make sure that you back up all your data/software/etc. on a regular basis just in case it decides to fail on the next chase. There are always a variety of options available, hat's off to David btw for the clean setup in his older car.
 
Just a couple of thoughts to offer on this subject. In 2006, I had planned to install a desktop machine in my last vehicle for many of the reasons mentioned in this thread. I decided that the cons outweighed the pros, however. The main reason is that a laptop is by far the most practical device for the job. It is built for a variety of mobile uses, can be removed from the vehicle on a long or short term basis, components can handle the vibrations of driving, and all of the ports (USB, etc) are accessable. A desktop CPU would require a larger permanent space, ports would be hard to reach, components aren't built for excessive vibrations, keyboard/mouse use would be awkward, and the monitor would be a power hog. A dash-mounted monitor would be positioned somewhat awkwardly, as it cannot be swiveled out at a comfortable viewing/typing angle (at least without a complex mount). The unit also cannot be easily removed for long or short term use outside the vehicle. The price and power of laptops has improved in recent years to the point that the cost difference is less of a factor.

The airbag concern is valid, but over the years I have become very uncomfortable with using the computer at all while driving, so the lid remains closed if I'm rolling. I will occasionally open it up briefly to glance at the map/radar if I'm on an open highway and not around other cars. With the lid closed, the laptop is still partially within the deployment zone, but the screen is not there to act as a 'sail' to catch the full force of the airbag. I have become a strong advocate of not using computers while driving. After a couple of close calls, I think that this trumps just about all other chasing risk factors.

My perspective of course comes from solo chasing, which is how I am 99% of the time. If I had someone riding with me frequently, with the laptop squarely in their airbag deployment space, it might tip the scales a little in favor of a pc-based system.
 
Just a couple of thoughts to offer on this subject. In 2006, I had planned to install a desktop machine in my last vehicle for many of the reasons mentioned in this thread. I decided that the cons outweighed the pros, however. The main reason is that a laptop is by far the most practical device for the job. It is built for a variety of mobile uses, can be removed from the vehicle on a long or short term basis, components can handle the vibrations of driving, and all of the ports (USB, etc) are accessable. A desktop CPU would require a larger permanent space, ports would be hard to reach, components aren't built for excessive vibrations, keyboard/mouse use would be awkward, and the monitor would be a power hog. A dash-mounted monitor would be positioned somewhat awkwardly, as it cannot be swiveled out at a comfortable viewing/typing angle (at least without a complex mount). The unit also cannot be easily removed for long or short term use outside the vehicle. The price and power of laptops has improved in recent years to the point that the cost difference is less of a factor.
Dan,

I think you're not aware of what's available... Monitors are 12 Volt DC, Power supplies are also 12 Volt DC with extra power available for high wattage USB hubs, etc. Mounts are made for vehicle mounting and high vibration and all of the parts are available because many of them are being used in Emergency Vehicles, etc. It's not like we're reinventing the wheel. I'm not suggesting that you wall into Wal-Mart and try to plug a off the shelf PC into your car... Just build one the way you want and it's not that much more cash.

I do have a work laptop that I carry into restaurants and hotel rooms so, I guess if you can only afford one machine, I can see everyone's point. But, I always travel with two machines. With all of the money spent on video gear, etc, I would think having a spare computer wouldn't be much of a leap?
 
Jerry, you're correct about the right parts being available. Though once you get into the custom mounts, hardware and 12v power supply in addition to the computer components themselves, I'd assume the cost would be over and above a comparable laptop. For me personally, it would be a fun project if I had the extra money to do it, but I'm currently economically constrained to one mobile computer. The other issue I'd run into is my Adobe licenses (for Photoshop and Premiere) only allow use on two computers at a time. You can deactivate/activate, but at last check they only allow a set number of those cycles in a time period.

Granted, a laptop requires a good desk mount (I have a Jotto) which is a cost to consider for someone who hasn't yet chosen to go either way.
 
Thanks for all of the replies. I've decided to build the carputer. The point of the portability of a laptop is a valid one, however I never planned on not taking one with me for use in hotel rooms etc. My typical setup has consisted of my netbook mounted on the center console for me to glance at weather radar while driving and letting my chase partner do the detailed work on his laptop in the passenger seat. Grant I also do some solo chasing locally, however typically I already know a general destination prior to getting on the road, so again all I need is just to be able to glance at the radar from time to time while in pursuit. I know everyone's needs are different, but for me a laptop with a 15" screen at my side isn't necessary. Therefor I am going to embed the carputer underneath the center console and mount a 7" vga monitor above the in dash GPS unit. Again, I will still tote the laptop as a backup unit or for stationary use. The fact that everything can be powered by 12V DC without an inverter really sold me. Plus the whole setup will be so much cleaner than my previous one. Thanks again for everyone's input and if you have more, please keep it coming. Tomorrow I will start the project, so I will post pictures soon.
 
Thanks for all of the replies. I've decided to build the carputer. The point of the portability of a laptop is a valid one, however I never planned on not taking one with me for use in hotel rooms etc. My typical setup has consisted of my netbook mounted on the center console for me to glance at weather radar while driving and letting my chase partner do the detailed work on his laptop in the passenger seat. Grant I also do some solo chasing locally, however typically I already know a general destination prior to getting on the road, so again all I need is just to be able to glance at the radar from time to time while in pursuit. I know everyone's needs are different, but for me a laptop with a 15" screen at my side isn't necessary. Therefor I am going to embed the carputer underneath the center console and mount a 7" vga monitor above the in dash GPS unit. Again, I will still tote the laptop as a backup unit or for stationary use. The fact that everything can be powered by 12V DC without an inverter really sold me. Plus the whole setup will be so much cleaner than my previous one. Thanks again for everyone's input and if you have more, please keep it coming. Tomorrow I will start the project, so I will post pictures soon.

Just remember that heat and vibration are your main enemies. And I'm not sure that a 7" monitor is going to be big enough for looking at radar.

I've had variations of the set-up and if you have any questions on anything, please feel free to ask.
 
I've been working with a Mini-Box ITX (specifically the "Vroom" model chadvia mentions) with the intent of using it in a vehicle to handle non-interactive functions like gps, video, and instruments. A wireless hotspot like the CR500 allows it to be connected via wired ethernet together with multiple wireless connections for other computers.

The Intel processor used needs forced ventilation which could be an issue if the vehicle and hence the computer gets hot; however the chassis is built like a truck, which is A Good Thing. Provided it's mounted solidly I don't think vibration is an issue for today's HDDs. The kind of whacks which would bother a HDD would also greatly bother the passengers; and anyway the same considerations apply to laptops.

I also have just been experimenting with an iPad app that wirelessly mirrors a computer's desktop and provides a virtual mouse and keyboard. My first test was WeatherTAP's RadarHD which is currently beyond the iPad's paygrade. The responsiveness and image looping is quite acceptable and I'm looking to adopt this as a mode for interacting with a carputer. The 7" screen is as big as the stand-alone screens and it can run for many hours on battery or forever off a 5V USB supply. It's light enough to rig a visor mount and a way to just flip it up against the headliner to deal with potential legal issues. Out of the vehicle, tap the "home" button and take it with you as an iPad. I'd seriously look at this as an alternative to a hardwired screen, wireless mouse/keyboard, etc. The computer I'm using is an HP laptop, BTW. FWIW.
 
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This will be the third year I've chased with both a laptop and a "desktop." The first two years the desktop was a retired Dell mini-tower that was belted in next to the second seat in the van. It is dedicated to GPS and video streaming, including its own data stream (tethered to a phone in '09, a USB data card last year). Went the inverter route -- had three inverters, by the time the PC, the laptop and the cameras/chargers and so forth were taken into account.

This year, I'm building the "baby pc," as I've taken to calling it. It's based on the ITX with a 12v power supply. I also got a dc-to-dc charger for the laptop. I have a Town & Country now instead of the Grand Caravan (wreck last June), and it has the floor pan with a power jack right there, meant for a center console, between the captain's chairs in the second row. The plan is to build a mount that takes advantage of that space, lifts in and out, and will power pretty much everything. The PC will be attached to it and I'll use some rubber washers for vibration isolation. That should be enough to cover most anything that doesn't jar the passengers.

I'm looking at putting a small battery and charging system into it so I can go with the vehicle shut off for half an hour or so -- anyone who has setup something similar for power, please PM me, I'd like to hear how you figured this out.

Laptop and PC each have their own data card. They're hooked together on wi-fi...as I use VNC to the desktop to monitor and restart streaming as needed. I just can't get radar data, GPS, chat, and all my inbound data to coexist with the outbound stream reliably on the same machine/data connection. I've never regretted splitting them, except for all the inverters. I'm looking forward to far less load on the battery....
 
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