Here's one way to add GPS capability to your Prius

what's it take to boot this thing up?

The boot up time + finding the cursor while driving + screen brightness control are a couple of the things I didn't like so much about my laptop + delorme + garmin hand held setup I was using.

When I had the pickup, my laptop was ok for this on long road trips... for day to day, I just can't wait around for the bootup...

You can get a pretty nice gps system designed for the car in this price range. I imagine your laptop system doesn't get traffic data...

The size is great.... If you could get internet that would be untouchable...

 

Velcro? oh thats wonderful except it makes it vulernable to be stolen. I love the idea, but there has to be a better way to integrate the machine into the car to be theft deterrant, and bringing it in and out everyday wont work. Everyone will forget it at home.

 

That's so theft-attractive, I probably wouldn't even consider it, even with a cable lock for the laptop. Even if they don't steal it, the damage (broken windows etc.) they do just trying is a huge PITA.

 

Vince! Looks like a great set up! My brother recently bought a 06 prius without nav and is looking for one! He wants a large screen one!ill relay this system u have to him.Thieft!! I have never had any car broken into! Maybe lucky.You can just cover it up when u feel need too! or hide it somewhere in the car.Seems easy enough to do.Good luck with it.Question!! dCan you add bluetooth to it for the cell phone

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(massimo @ Oct 26 2006, 11:10 PM) [snapback]339078[/snapback]</div>

Stolen is one thing, an accident could be far worse. Nothing like a laptop missle in the front cabin. Having hit a deer 4 days ago and finding everything even vaguely loose tossed all over the place, I'm a bit sensitive to mounting 2.2 lbs of anything with a few small pieces of velcro.

- Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Beryl Octet @ Oct 26 2006, 11:46 PM) [snapback]339093[/snapback]</div>

You guys didn't read the entire post. When you get out of the car, you put the tablet under the seat, attached to the Kensington cable. No one will break in just to steal the tablet if they don't see it.

I have one of these 1510D's for work. It's fast, the touchscreen is great, suspend cycle is about 3-5 seconds, and it even has a fingerprint swipe on the lower left that you can use to login.

Nice idea!

 

the velcro idea is a good one because there is no way i would risk my windows to something that attractive to a thief. at least it can be put out of sight.

i have a way less convenient method.(actually works fine but a 17" widescreen powerbook is simply too big for this application) using my Mac, Route 66 mapping software and a Holux BT 231 GPS receiver.

the only "complaint" i have is that it takes a few minutes for the GPS receiver to warm up and start transmitting a signal. but i have verizon wireless broadband access so i have full internet access nearly all the time (only place i didnt have it was a stretch thru the northern Cascades...also had no cellphone either!!)

but my solution is way better if i have a passenger. the laptop is too big to easily handle in the front seat although as it stands, my gf can always find something to do on it, emails, chat, etc.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(VinceDee @ Oct 27 2006, 10:41 AM) [snapback]339250[/snapback]</div>

I'll agree with you on this. I like your setup. I put my Garmin C320 in the same place. Not as sweet looking as your setup, but it does the trick for me.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(VinceDee @ Oct 27 2006, 10:41 AM) [snapback]339250[/snapback]</div>

A cup of coffee isn't a 2.2 lb laptop. Yes, I do worry about loose objects. A laptop on the front seat - no way! I try to not have anything loose in the front seat area. Especially after being reminded of the danger a few days ago.

If you don't care, fine. However, it is something others may want to consider.

- Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(VinceDee @ Oct 27 2006, 12:13 AM) [snapback]339106[/snapback]</div>

Velcro or metal, not too sure it matters. Perhaps I was not too clear, but I was just considering the OP where it lists this as one of the parts:

5. Kensington keylock (to lock your laptop inside the car. I would recommend that you wrap the cable around the frame of your seat to secure it.)

And I assumed they left it mounted, but cable locked to the seat or something for security. Putting it out of sight would definitely be better, I agree. But you still run the risk someone will see you storing it, and return for it, or you're only stopping into the mall for a minute, so why bother putting it away etc. I don't think leaving a laptop in a car is ever a good idea, but that's just me.

 

I have mounted electronics in my vehicles using velcro for about 10 years now. Mostly amateur radio control heads, GPS, and radar detectors. I always advise putting the hook velcro on the car and the loop side on the device. That way you don't get "hooked" when using it elsewhere. While your solution only uses small patches of velcro, if you can use large pieces it can be very secure. I always recommend using some sort of lanyard as a "backup" however, for heavier items (such as your tablet PC). It's very difficult to secure them totally, but if you can keep them in one area, such as within a foot of where you mounted it, during an accident, it would only cause minor bruising. You absolutely want to keep it from hitting anyone on the head!

My current GPS solution is a Garmin iQue 1620 (CF module) in a Toshiba 830 PDA. Much smaller screen, of course, but nice just the same. I mount it with velcro, and loop the lanyard over strong things in the vehicles I drive.

Your solution can also be used for the data gathering device ken@japan has just announced in the technical section of this forum.

Thanks for the work and ideas!

 

I recommend using iGuidance for GPS on laptops and computers. It's made specifically for portability, and with a few configuration adjustments, it'd work beautifully with a touchscreen. An installed computer would be a good choice as well for the budget concious, as you can get all the parts for a carputer for around 600 bucks or so.

Vince, does the tablet put a lot of pressure on the map pocket cover? How well does it handle bumps and such? 2.2 lbs doesn't seem like too much force to put on the cover, but i would be concerned of big bumps that might give it sufficient downforce to snap the door.

 

This is a sweet setup. Wish I had the $$$ to drop on it.

My only beef with it is having to put velcro on the front of the stereo. Otherwise, I think it's great. As far as theft goes, you can find plenty of places in the Prius to hide it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(quagmire0 @ Oct 27 2006, 03:58 PM) [snapback]339610[/snapback]</div>

As he said, it doesn't block the stereo power button, which is really the only essential control that you don't have on the steering wheel.

As for places to hide it, I know from personal experience that the 1510 fits very well in the lower glove box.