Attach laptop to Prius display or to mount laptop for stand-alone use

[attachmentid=10044]You may be able to customize a solution using parts from manufacturers of Law Enforcement vehicle solutions. You will not likely find one made specifically for the Prius however you may find a combination of some of the parts that might fit dsiplayed on the sites below. With a little customization of these parts I'm sure you'll be happy though your wife may still be annoyed.

http://www.gamberjohnson.com/products_1.1.php

http://www.police-laptop-mount.com/

http://www.ram-mount.com/nodrillsystems/nodrillbases.htm

Hope this helps, Enjoy!

 

Also, If youre going this route I'd suggest a Garmin software solution which would resolve some of the issues you experience with your other software.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=139]

I also have a 2007 Prius Navi package and I use a Garmin handheld gps to accompany the in dash gps.

If this is the only reason you want to install a laptop in your car I'd say it's a pretty inefficient solution to your problem. You'd be better off purchasing an older GPS unit (ie: Garmin Streetpilot 2720 or 2730). The older GPS units allowed us to still use the interface while under way while most newer units from all manufacturers are disabling this ability as a safety feature. I've used the 2720 and love it, I feel it would answer all your prayers and make your wife happy as well.

 

:angry: The OEM Toyota Prius NAV really is lame....... I've gone into details about it's shortcomings too many times before here on several threads. We were "spoiled" by a REAL NAVI in our Acura (2003) MDX and made the grave mistake assuming that a 2007 Toyota NAV would do the same, perhaps ever better than what we had.... we were totally wrong and regret buying Package 5 instead of Package 4, every day we drive the new Prius !! Be happy YOU didn't get the Toyota NAV !!

We have a couple of notebook (laptop) computers and have recently purchased (eBay - $45 brand new in sealed box) Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 w/GPS device (SiRF III). Tried this in the Prius with our Dell (15" LCD) D820 on my lap as a passenger. It show 99% more street NAMES than the OEM Prius NAV. Makes the Toyota NAV look like a child's toy..... but it would be very uncomfortable on a long trip to have this notebook computer in my lap. I suppose that when traveling in an area we want accurate data and street NAMES (something the Toyota NAV will never give us) we can place the notebook computer on the back seat and I can just bring it forward when needed.

I guess the only smart way to get this all done would be to purchase a Garmin or other brand GPS NAV unit with a screen large enough to view while driving with a passenger.

 

My other car is an RX-8 where one of the www.rx8club.com members just posted something along these lines. I would think that the Prius version would be very similar to what you are asking about.
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show-off-y...-up-screen.html

 

How about a car computer? Get another screen and install it in the map pocket. When the screen is closed, it's fairly discreet, and not very eye-catching, so thieves won't be tempted by anything.

 

Hey Jeff,

Check out this web site; it may be exactly what you are looking for.

http://www.coastaletech.com/lockpick3.htm

I would be interested in your results if you do use this. I also want to add GPS output to MFD.

Thanks,

Mike

 

I use my phone's built in GPS (HP hw6945) with the GPS Tuner software... mounted in the prius cup-holder using the HP adaptor... works pretty well!!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marco CR @ Oct 22 2007, 12:17 PM) [snapback]528876[/snapback]</div>

Can we see a picture?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Doc Willie @ Oct 23 2007, 09:19 AM) [snapback]529272[/snapback]</div>

Uhhhh... Let me find a camera that is actually NOT attached to the phone!!!

 

i had very similiar issues with my laptop nav option as well. forgetting that is 2004 map database (i check for updates at least once a month and nothing!!) i used a MAC powerbook 17" widescreen which is great for screen real estate but way too big for a passenger to deal with or mount anywhere.

i ended up doing verizon wireless VZ nav on my phone. its maps im sure are more up to date and it has worked very well for the 4 months i have used it. i do enjoy the big screen option my laptop gives me that allows me to scan roads around my route so re-routes are easy. but its nearly impossible to enter in routes while moving.

on my phone,entering in a new destination is inconvenient, dangerous, but actually very doable albeit a bit time consuming, but i have a phone with a full qwerty keyboard which makes entry much easier. also verizon does automatic route recalculations if i wander off the path and at 9.99 a month, no where near as expensive as the Toyota option.

another advantage to verizon and what i do most of the time, is i put in route addys ahead of time, then i just click recent searches saving me the hassles of entering it in on the fly. i have preset as many as 10 destinations ahead of time. not sure of the limit but probably have at least 50 in there now.

 

Just found this thread, interesting to hear the Prius Nav is so poor. We just bought a 2008 Prius with P#1 and we have been using a Garmin Streetpilot c530 for a year and love it! Bought a reconditioned unit from eBay dealer for less than $200 and then bought two more for our daughters. It's very accurate, easy & fun to use and I recommend it very highly to anyone. The POI feature allows me to download all the rest areas in the US from POI Factory | new & interesting places for your GPS which can very very helpful. I also have major national parks and lots more so the c530 has lots of memory. I doubt one can do anything with POIs with the Prius nav system.

 

Thanks Dave for the info. (I have a Verizon LG Env.)

I can think of maybe 10 times in the past 4 years I really thought I "needed" a GPS. This summer my wife and I are planning a 4,000+ mile road trip and I got to thinking about GPS. The great thing about Verizon is that you can buy it only when you need it. At $10 for a month it is a GREAT deal for me.

Good to know it works well. I really like the idea of putting in all of my destinations before I leave.

Bob

 

If you can convert your laptop video output to RCA a/v plugs, then you could view the output on your MFD(and save all that mounting space up front).
Simply use the CoastalTech Ultimate Lockpic 3.
I have with great success!

 

Wow:bounce: - what a great way to preprogram your stops into the Verizon Nav...I had turned down Nav as an option on my Prius because of the very fair pricing of the Verizon Nav on my phone - which is also available at AT+T...Your solution "DaveinOly" was/is Awesome....Plan to start utilizing it immediately. Thanks Again

 

I was under the impression that the map data was proprietary. Is there a .gov site I can go to and download the data? That is, unless you're referring to the GPS data. I suppose you're free to use the Euro Gallileo, oh wait, it won't be ready for a few years and has already been hacked. Or the Russian glonass, the volga of gps systems. But you're right, let's spend another $100B just so you don't have to circle around.

Best,
ronh

 

I was thinking the same thing... Here is my solution.



My Prius with the mounted 15" LCD Monitor. The laptop sits under the Front Passenger seat, and all the wires are ran behind the dash. There's also a self powered USB Hub under the dash that connects the GPS, and wireless Keyboard/touchpad to the computer. Of course, Audio is via the Audio plug in the center console. Currently, the actual laptop is just slid under the Passenger seat.
For the specifics on mounting, I can take pictures, but if you open the Top Glovebox, you have the plasctic mat. Take that out and the Base(NOT the back) is where I placed the Ball mount from Ram Mounts. I only ordered 3 parts. RAM246(Square plate for LCD Screen), RAM201D(the Arm is 7.88" Long), and RAM243( 2.81'' x 5'' Rectangular Plate) Both plates had a 1.5" Ball. Cost for this application was just Under $100 for the RAM equipment. If I remember correctly, the USB Hub was about $20. the Adesso Wireless Slimtouch Mini keyboard/Touchpad combo was about $75 and the Inverter was $50 at Sears(went with a 400watt model). Total was under $225. The screen was the old screen from an older computer... Go with what YOU want though...

The Steaks

 

Routing info is as follows, Garmin Vista HCX Reciever to the router(USB) to the computer. On the computer, I use nRoute with the Mapsource maps Topo2008, Metroguide NA, City Select, Topo Canada v2, or US topo(Older version) depending on what I am doing. They all have their different uses. I'll throw some more shots up later.

The Steaks

 

I am in the process of installing a cappucino pc (very small footprint) and using the lockpick to get it to the MFD. I have successfully gotten the image on the display but it is off center and not as sharp as desired. Did you use anything to adapt the output? I was told powerstrip would change the settings to something more suitable for the display and will work with that soon. My pc also has a video out so nop issues getting the image out. A work in progress