Here are details on how I installed a computer into my S2K.

Here is a link to my setup:
http://www.hookedup.com/joe/files.nsf/626E...F7?OpenDocument

Got most of the stuff on e-bay - basic steps:

1) Purchase cheep laptop that can play music and has a battery ($300/$400).
2) Purchase cheep LCD screen with touchscreen ($300)
3) Purchase an AUX input for the CD changer if stock stereo, need aux input if have a custom system already. ($80)
4) The hard part - add a remote on/off switch - we had to attach wires to the on/off switch connecter in the laptop by taking it apart. I realize this is the toughest part of the job and is important to allowing for remote start. We tried having it start automatically when it got power to no avail. You may find a way around this part by using a UPS that starts / shuts down the computer automatically based on power - let me know if you find something here.
5) Put computer in spare tire and run wire behind drivers seat through grate that is there already. No drilling needed thank god.
6) Get a cig lighter adapter for Power to run the laptop and screen.
7) Add a USB hub for easy access in driver area. ($40)
8) Add GPS system / USB ($140)
9) Write or get from me or a friend a simple VB application that plays playlists from media player and has LARGE buttons. I wrote a program for this and will provide the install for anyone that needs it.
10) Optionally add a Wireless card if you have wirless network at home to allow loading new updates / music, etc directly from driveway (I do).

Total cost around 1K plus some work.
Having GPS / Touchscreen / MP3 Library in car - priceless.


Hope you all enjoy

 

Ummmm.....thats nice and all, but its definetely NOT how you add a computer to an s2000. Sorry.

 

Ok - That is the idea - this is how I did it.

Please provide details on how I can do this for 2k or less without cutting the dash.

 

umm.... well that's not exactly how I would have done it but, I guess if your happy with it then that's the most important part. However you could make it much cleaner though but I'm very picky about the cleaness of an install...

 

Well I see the general idea, and nothing was cut up or permanent, so it's a neat hack to see how things work before doing something permanent.

Some changes that might be better:

Use a mini-ITX motherboard instead of a notebook:
http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=2

Lots are fanless and silent and will fit under the passenger seat in a PC case the size of a DIN unit or cigar box. Hell, some ARE DIN sized.

Slap a cheap processor in there as well as a bit of RAM and a small cheap laptop HD. Note these have TV-out as well as VGA/DVI

How to handle power is another issue, but you can set it to boot when power is applied via a BIOS setting.

Or have the OS boot off a CDROM or flashcard (via IDE or USB 2.0). There's some documentation on how to do this on the 'net, especially with Linux/Knoppix "Live" systems. 2600 Magazine did a write up once a Windows NT system that boots off of a CD and had all the temp files on a ramdisk.

The Mini-ITX will cost more than $200-300, but should come in under $500 and be much cleaner.

 

How easy is navigating in and out of MP3 player and GPS etc. without a mouse or keyboard?

 

Jeff... NO!! Well that's what Erin's gonna say

 

gewroo, one of the potential problem could possible be vibration from the road. You might want to find a way to absorb some of the vibration. Your laptop probably does like like being shake around in the car right now. lol.


You gotta mount the laptop in the car on the passenger side. this way, you can control your NAWS and monitor your intake manifold for danger...

 

Funny this thead has come up....I've been taking my old laptop apart the last few days thinking about installing it into the car somehow....anyway

You're one to talk John!!

 

yeah yeah I know