Laptop mounting.

[JEONLYEP]

Here's what I did.

Mounted the bracket thru the bezel for the dash. Using the bottom screws that hold the ac/heater controls, and two holes I drilled and put clip-on screw catches in up top.

http://users.ucom.net/~werwe/lapbracketdown.JPG

Bracket folds up when not in use.

http://users.ucom.net/~werwe/lapbracketup.JPG

Display can be folded down for access to radio and Ac/heater controls.

http://users.ucom.net/~werwe/lapover.JPG

Laptop is used with my GPSr for Geocaching and keeping track of where I'm at.

http://users.ucom.net/~werwe/lapopen.JPG

There is still room to reach the gear shifter by reaching under the laptop. It takes a little getting used to though.

http://users.ucom.net/~werwe/lapunder.JPG

What do you think?

Thanks, Daryl

[XJ_ranger]

Cool!

im diggin it - that would be great for war driving too... (if you know what that is - 7|-|3|\| '/0|_| 5|-|0|_||_|) |33 4|3|_3 70 |234|) 7|-||5 )

[seanR]

Only see Red x's!
Links don't work!
:rattle:

[riverfever]

Daryl,

That looks really nice man. What excactly would I need for software to do something similar with my laptop? I ask only b/c after I get moved to the mountains I would like to start guiding fly fishers. Something like that would be very nice to waypoint remote spots at snow melt lakes or high streams etc. Would be really slick to be able to pull stuff up and also have a description of the area, and details of it for clients. Ya know...to make decisions about which areas to target. Thanks.

-Chris

[riverfever]

Man...the more I think about this the more excited I am. It would be slick to have the coordinates for hundreds of holes with separate files for descriptions of the locations as well as notes of past trips (times of peak bites, hatches, etc.). Pictures of the locations could also be included. So...if fish weren't cooperating, you could grab the client and say..."let's go to spot X." Show a pic, describe it, etc.
I have a nice laptop and digi cam. I'm unsure of what else I would need though. It looks like you made that out of angle iron. Way simple. Neat.

[dan89XJ]

Neat Idea !

This makes me think what do those cop cars have ? I like how they are angled to you.. for easy viewing. Hmm...

[JEONLYEP]

I'm using Expert GPS (http://www.expertgps.com/) You can down load a trail version at the website. It's $60 to buy, and I really like it. It has topo and Aerial Photo Maps. Once you've seen a map while online, it's saved on the computer so that as you track your movements, you stay centered on the map on screen. ExpertGPS also reads and writes data files from Garmin's MapSource, National Geographic's Topo, and MapTech's Terrain Navigator.

It looks like you made that out of angle iron. Way simple. Neat.

It was 16 gauge steel, that I cut and bent.

Daryl

[JEONLYEP]

Only see Red x's!
Links don't work!
:rattle:
Anyone else have picture problems?

Daryl.

[nhrocker]

I can see the pics fine. Looks good! And simpler than my idea (and probably cheaper).

Are you using an external add-on type of GPS for your laptop? I was given a Garmin Vista (handheld) a while back as a present and now I'm wondering if I could hook it up to my laptop. I still don't even know how to use it when dealing with coordinates, though......

[BrettM]

won't a laptop get pissed off at all the vibrations and such?

[XJ_ranger]

won't a laptop get pissed off at all the vibrations and such?
my IBM "braces" for impact - as in stops all read / write comands when a large movement is sensed... dont know if it actualy does anything but there is an annoyign pop up sometimes when the bass from my sub fires...

[riverfever]

Hey Ranger...any pics of your setup?

[JEONLYEP]

I can see the pics fine. Looks good! And simpler than my idea (and probably cheaper).

It was just scrap metal that I had left over from another project. BUt a 12x24 sheet is like $10.00, two bolts and 4 screws and two screw clips $4. So $14.oo plus an hour bending and designing, and one more hour getting it in the Jeep.


Are you using an external add-on type of GPS for your laptop? I was given a Garmin Vista (handheld) a while back as a present and now I'm wondering if I could hook it up to my laptop. I still don't even know how to use it when dealing with coordinates, though......

I have a Garmin Etrex. Just have a cable that gives power from the cig lighter and connects the GPSr to the computer.

won't a laptop get pissed off at all the vibrations and such?

That's why I got the Panasonic Toughbook, all connections in the laptop are flexable and everything is mounted with silicone gell padding, it's also sealed from dust and water getting into the computer through the keyboard. (Toughbooks are the most used laptop by law enforcement)

Daryl

[RichP]

Looks cool but do a search on yahoo for VSM or Vehicle Specific Mounts, give you an idea of whats out there...

[XJ_ranger]

Hey Ranger...any pics of your setup?

mine sits on the passneger seat - hope that i dont get in an accident...

[riverfever]

OK...I checked out some software today. So I need to get that installed, some kind of hand held GPS device from Garmin or Etrex, and then have that plugged in to the laptop? Is that what all the cables are in your vehicle JEONLYEP?

[JEONLYEP]

OK...I checked out some software today. So I need to get that installed, some kind of hand held GPS device from Garmin or Etrex, and then have that plugged in to the laptop? Is that what all the cables are in your vehicle JEONLYEP?
Garmin makes the Etrex. It's a low end type of hand held. But once it's hooked to the computer (serial port) the computer and what ever program you have takes over anyway.

All the cables in my Jeep aren't all for the laptop and GPS. I'm going to hard wire my inverter to power the laptop, and most any other AC item I may need.
Then I'll be down to the cig lighter plug in for power to the GPSr and connecter to the puter. Other wires in the photos may be for the CB that I displaced while figuring where to put the laptop, or power to and signal from my XM raidio, which are hanging around there somewhere as well.

Daryl