• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Complicated Idea for Car Jukebox

P

pcman2002b

Senior member
I want to use a Pentium laptop in the backseat of my car with cables running to front to listen to MP3s, I've got a keyboard with a built in mouse on it and the cassette adapter. Next I want to take the LCD display off of a Thinkpad 755C and convert the leads to a 15-pin VGA connector to go into the alternate display on the back of the Pentium laptop. The only problem is I don't know what in the world the wiring configuration is on the panel and IBM has absolutely nothing that pertains to it on their website. Can anyone help me out please!
 

Not that simple. LCDs require driver chips (additional hardware) to run them. The stuff runs about a hundred bucks.

IMO, in this day and age, it's easier to buy a headunit that plays MP3 cds than to custom build your own hardware. But good luck on your project.
 
Originally posted by: OuterSquare
Not that simple. LCDs require driver chips (additional hardware) to run them. The stuff runs about a hundred bucks.

IMO, in this day and age, it's easier to buy a headunit that plays MP3 cds than to custom build your own hardware. But good luck on your project.
Click to expand...

easier != funner. 🙂 but it does equal smarter.
 
LCD wiring is not standard, and even different for different types of laptops from the same manuf. If your lucky you'll find someone around the net that has done it before for your thinkpad, else you can try to do it yourself.

If you dont wanna do that, but still want the fun, buy a small LCD (graphical or text) and use a controllerchip that runs of the serial port. Winamp has plenty of plugins for that and it even looks cooler then an oversized display 😉.

Check out sproggy's site for more info.

Have fun,

Menel.
 
Also, some other considerations. Tape adapters cause considerable loss of sound quality and they add noise to your music. Also, have you considered how difficult it will be to operate a computer while driving around? Often I'm afraid to change a CD while driving because I can't shift my attention away for a second. The usability of a computer while driving is horrible.



 
Here is what I am putting into my truck. I have a compaq iPaq. I will soon be buying GPS for it. It all goes well I will buy a flash card HD (1gig) and put that in it. I will mount it into my truck. It will be easy to wire the audio up. I will then have a touch sensitive GPS/MP3/PDA. When I get some where I jsut pop it out and take it along.
 
Originally posted by: RemyCanad
Here is what I am putting into my truck. I have a compaq iPaq. I will soon be buying GPS for it. It all goes well I will buy a flash card HD (1gig) and put that in it. I will mount it into my truck. It will be easy to wire the audio up. I will then have a touch sensitive GPS/MP3/PDA. When I get some where I jsut pop it out and take it along.
Click to expand...

I have had an idea similar to this. I have a 5m serial extender cable, and an iPAQ, and i was going to put computer in boot (trunk) of car, and wire the outputs from computer directly into the amps (already in the boot) via RCA, so no loss of sound quality. Then i will run the serial cable to the front, and hook up the cradle to the dash in some way that the iPAQ will be able to be seen/controlled from the drivers seat without too much distraction. The only problem i have is how to control Winamp from the iPAQ. There is a plugin for Winamp called Snowcrash which uses XML/HTTP to remotely control Winamp from any browser, but i will need to edit the XML pages so that the controls/display is right for an iPAQ screen, and easy to use.

For answer to original question, couldn't you wire the original wiring for the LCD display to say a 15 pin VGA connector, get an extender cable run to front of car and wire up another 15 pin connector in the same way, and just bypass the alternative output on the laptop and the need to worry about the driver chips?

Confused
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top