Integrating PDA Ideas?

[Kor]

I realized over the weekend that I have an old NEC MobilePro sitting in my desk at work. It looks like this:



Its not a powerful machine (its very obsolete) but it does have a nice screen and keyboard.

Does anyone have any ideas about how I might be able to integrate this into my car? I think it would be awesome if I could do something cool with it, since it does display VGA quality graphics at the very least.

[Tuna]

Re: Integrating PDA Ideas?

You could use it for scrolling pictures or something. I imagine there is no inputs so you couldn't really plug much into it. Other than that, i'm not sure. If the screen was bigger you could mount it in the back window and if someone's tailgating you could write them a "Friendly" "please stop following so close", heh.

[James]

Re: Integrating PDA Ideas?

Definatly rip the screen off that bad boy and mount it. and let me know how that works out cause I have a 17inc LCD moniter on an NEC powermate 2000 at work I am thinking about confiscating and mounting in my roof (if I can wire it myself, if not - too much $) Or maybe even in my trunk for camping trips....yeah

[Kor]

Re: Integrating PDA Ideas?

Definatly rip the screen off that bad boy and mount it. and let me know how that works out cause I have a 17inc LCD moniter on an NEC powermate 2000 at work I am thinking about confiscating and mounting in my roof (if I can wire it myself, if not - too much $) Or maybe even in my trunk for camping trips....yeah

Now we're getting somewhere... but I don't have any experience separating the screen from the keyboard! This sounds tough. BTW its a touchscreen!

It would be cool to mount the keyboard somewhere like in the armrest or glovebox, and put the screen elsewhere. I don't think putting it "on" the dash will look good... and I don't think there is any way to recess it anywhere on the dash? My main concern is keeping it from looking too ghetto.

This thingy has Infrared (IrDA) Communication, Serial Interface, an
Audio jack for optional Earphone/Microphone, VGA Out and a Telephone jack for built-in modem too...

I might be able to connect it to the ODB II port but I would need to write my own software I bet. Maybe I could connect audio to the microphone port, then write some code to do visualization...

[Stonewall]

Re: Integrating PDA Ideas?

I might be able to connect it to the ODB II port but I would need to write my own software I bet. Maybe I could connect audio to the microphone port, then write some code to do visualization...

What OS does it run? I bet we could get it hooked up for diagnostic and logging Get me some info and I will look into it.

[Kor]

Re: Integrating PDA Ideas?

What OS does it run? I bet we could get it hooked up for diagnostic and logging Get me some info and I will look into it.

It runs a NEC-modified version of an older MS PocketPC OS except that I have not ever had much success getting most other PocketPC apps to run on it.

[James]

Re: Integrating PDA Ideas?

Alls you need is an app to run MP3s, then just make a cheap carputer in a shuttle case with a 40gb drive. Set up good playlists and your set! Mount that bad boy in the arm rest and im sure it wouldnt be overly hard to get VGA outs (ive taken apart a few laptops, it looks possible I just wouldnt know where to start) then run it to the trunk

[Kor]

Re: Integrating PDA Ideas?

Alls you need is an app to run MP3s, then just make a cheap carputer in a shuttle case with a 40gb drive. Set up good playlists and your set! Mount that bad boy in the arm rest and im sure it wouldnt be overly hard to get VGA outs (ive taken apart a few laptops, it looks possible I just wouldnt know where to start) then run it to the trunk

That wasn't really my plan here, since I already have an MP3 CD deck that suits me fine...

[Stonewall]

Re: Integrating PDA Ideas?

There is some software that will run on a palm we should see if we can get that to work.