Guest wolfman62 Posted March 11, 2004 Report Posted March 11, 2004 Some time ago I was thinking about buying an in car DVD system to keep the daughter happy on longer journeys. After looking into the prices of these and the small screen sizes I eventually bought a laptop computer with a dvd drive. With this I get the best of both worlds with a decent size screen.My question is this are there an suggestions for mounting a laptop between the front seats so it can be viewed from the back seats. I tend to put the front passenger seat forward and put it in the rear pocket but if the wife is with me this option is not available. Quote
Ivor_E_Tower Posted March 11, 2004 Report Posted March 11, 2004 Is the DVD drive in a laptop sufficiently ruggedised to work in a moving car? Does the picture break up at all due to vibration etc? Quote
Guest wolfman62 Posted March 11, 2004 Report Posted March 11, 2004 I have had no probelms with anything to date. Quote
Ivor_E_Tower Posted March 11, 2004 Report Posted March 11, 2004 Have you tried one of those tidy thingy you hang over the back of the front seats? Similar to the ones that come with the in-car travel DVD's - or wouldn't it be large/strong enough to support a laptop? Quote
Guest wolfman62 Posted March 11, 2004 Report Posted March 11, 2004 problem I have with putting it on the back of the seat is that my little girl would kick the crap out of it. Quote
Guest nimrod Posted March 11, 2004 Report Posted March 11, 2004 cable ties! no not for mounting the laptop, but for securing your little angels legs :unsure: now where's the number for child line! :lol: Quote
Tigger Posted March 12, 2004 Report Posted March 12, 2004 Were have the old days gone of Eye Spy and talking to your kids???????? Perhaps your right but the cheapest is to jus gag them! Quote
bushm Posted March 12, 2004 Report Posted March 12, 2004 Hi Wolfman62,I was thinking of doing exactly the same. I presume you run it off the car battery through a power outlet/cigar lighter. Where did you get your power supply from? Quote
Ivor_E_Tower Posted March 12, 2004 Report Posted March 12, 2004 ...so what you need is a program for the laptop that inverts the picture by 180 degrees, then you strap it to the roof, with the screen hanging down. Quote
Guest wolfman62 Posted March 12, 2004 Report Posted March 12, 2004 got power supply from halfords. Loads cheaper than buying a 12v cable for the laptop. Quote
Richmond Posted March 12, 2004 Report Posted March 12, 2004 Maplins (the electrical component shop, not the fictional holiday camp) sell 12V DC to 240 V AC converters cheap ( Quote
Ivor_E_Tower Posted March 12, 2004 Report Posted March 12, 2004 Next idea - you need a bag that can hang from the front seats - just seen one in the Betterware catalogue that dropped through the door earlier today. Then a trip to the DIY store to buy some mdf, shelving board or similar to make a protector for the keyboard part of the laptop so that just the screen protrudes from the hanging bag. board/mdf gives adequate protection from kiddy feet. Is the screen safe though? - maybe an additional investment in some clear perspex for the top part of your custom mount system to guard against cola and fruit juice assaults. Quote
Tigger Posted March 12, 2004 Report Posted March 12, 2004 We can tell you watch Blue Peter. so what do you do with the yogurt pots and washing up bottle. And who was on Blue Peter when you watched it???????? Quote
Guest wolfman62 Posted March 12, 2004 Report Posted March 12, 2004 tower are your ideas never ending? Quote
Ivor_E_Tower Posted March 12, 2004 Report Posted March 12, 2004 Don't watch Blue Peter now; when I did it was Val Singleperson (what rumours?), Chris somebody (Trace?) and someone else. Don't use old washing-up bottles but you'd be amazed at what you can fix with lengths of platic tubing! Improvise at all times! Quote
italiastar Posted March 12, 2004 Report Posted March 12, 2004 Rather than converting 12v to 240v and then using the laptop transformer to step it down - Maplin do variable output 12 volt converters with different plugs which can plug straight into the laptop. Quote
Guest nimrod Posted March 12, 2004 Report Posted March 12, 2004 sticky back plastic and flame proof tinsel :o and mmm valerie singleton :o Quote
Ivor_E_Tower Posted March 13, 2004 Report Posted March 13, 2004 Just remembered that I have used an old washing-up bottle once - for syringing ears (you must be EXTREMELY careful). Should I work on "Ivor's 100 tips for avoiding having to speak to the Doctor's receptionist" or"101 things to do with an old washing up liquid bottle"? Quote
julesanth Posted March 13, 2004 Report Posted March 13, 2004 What about the sound? It must be distracting if you have the volume up loud on your laptop. Quote
Guest nimrod Posted March 13, 2004 Report Posted March 13, 2004 But isnt that the idea of getting your ears syringed? to improve your hearing :o Quote
Guest wolfman62 Posted March 14, 2004 Report Posted March 14, 2004 I have found a program that flips the screen image upside down, now any suggestions how to mount the laptop to the roof safely and securely. That will be without the empty washing up liquid bottle or empty yogurt pots please..!! Quote
Guest nimrod Posted March 14, 2004 Report Posted March 14, 2004 Securely is the operative word here! I wouldn't fancy something that large flying loose around the cabin if the worst happened! is there no way of running an second auxiliary screen off the laptop? a smaller screen that can be secured to the back of the drivers/passengers headrest? Quote
julesanth Posted March 14, 2004 Report Posted March 14, 2004 The problem with fixing your laptop to the roof, assuming you do overcome the mounting problem, is heat dissipation. Make sure all air vents are clear, mount it with a gap between it and the roof if possible. Surely some way of mounting it to the back of a seat is the best option. It is possible to run a aux screen from a laptop, cables are readily available but an aux screen (LCD, most probably) would probably cost more than the laptop. What about buying one of the new portable DVD players? Like the sort Panosonic and Goodmans sell, about Quote
Guest wolfman62 Posted March 14, 2004 Report Posted March 14, 2004 Problem with them is the tiny screen size, which is why I went for the laptop option. I do not just use it for the in car DVD side so it was the best option. I can run another screen but it is finding one, they only have a small power need but I think the smallest is 15 inch. Which the wife would be more than happy with of course. fnar fnar..I have moved away from the roof mount option for safety reasons, and I dont want to be hacking the roof lining up. Quote
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