1. Yes it is possible,
2. There are limiting factors such as:
[*] Length of wiring.
[*] Signal strength to the Screen from the motherboard.
[*] Shielding the extended harness.
[*] and a few things I can't think of.
3. Me, I'm planning on using an HP Omnibook 800, it's
[*] Cheap,
[*] Small,
[*] Plenty bright,
[*] The wires can be extend.
4. Like most plans... it's far, far in the future.

 

I'm not sure what your purpose in this is, but to answer your question, it should be no problem to remove the screen. There should be several screws to take the bas cover off and then at some point you will see how the screen hinges remove. You will also find a place where probably a flat ribbon cable to the screen plugs into the mother board. Therein lies the problem, you may or may not be able to easily find an extension cable or the proper connector ends to make your own. You may have to cut the cable and extend it buy soldering another cable into it. If you do the latter, make sure that you space out the splices so you won't have a big ball of taped sliced in the middle.

As far as what is shown in the link you provided, I wouldn't be surprised if you could find software to invert the screen image without having to actually invert the screen.

 

A Big Hammer will remove it, but it sounds like you want it to work when you are done, so I wouldn't recommend my method.

 

Here's another suggestion and what I plan to do.
This will cost you an extra $200, but may be worth it.
Buy an adapter for your laptop that converst the VGA output to composite (RCA style) output. Then buy one of those Playstation LCD screens. Run the composite wire to the Playstation LCD and mount the LCD screen on your overhead console.
This allows you to still have a working, easily removable laptop, the laptop can remain safely secured in your center console, and it's easily upgradeable if you want to switch laptops.

 

Maybe give these guys a looksee. I don't know anything about them, just a site I came across the other day looking for cb install ideas. Maybe an email to them can get you some info.

 

it all depends on alot of things, biggest of which is What laptop is it? laptops are all different.

also think about what purposes you will have for the computer.

will you need to use the keyboard? or a mouse? if so that may cause issues. like the upside down laptop on their site is going to be useless as anything more than a screen. have you ever tried to use a keyboard or a mouse upside down?

I want a laptop in my jeep for MP3 playing, GPS navigation, DVD watching, and anything else you can use a laptop for in a jeep.
but i will need keyboard and mouse... so with that in mind i am looking for a more traditional mounting, one like in police cars, where the laptop sits at armrest level and swings and folds away on an arm.

if you dont need a computer as a computer, then you are better off just buying a lcd screen and using that for wahtever.

and as far as the computer to RCA style jack (to use with a playstation screen) i dont think that would work if they even make such a thing. first of all computer monitors run at a TOTALLY different resolution than a TV. the playstaion screen are designed to be small TV screens, where a laptop is a computer monitor. totally different. i would not mix the 2 at all. there are ways to do it, but it looks like total crap. i would avoid that.

and the inner connections of a laptop are totally different than a normal pc. so dont think just cuz you can switch a monitro on your home pc that you will be as lucky on a laptop. i used to build computers on the side for people, and i dont even like to take a laptop apart they are so delicate and tricky to work on.

 

My Dell Latitude has that adapter built right into it. It has a little pigtail that plugs into the side and you can plug an RCA cable into it.

 

I would use it for pretty much what you have listed (mp3, GPS, dvd) etc. Maybe have cameras on the corners of the jeep, who knows. But I would like to put the monitor overhead and hve the keyboard down lower. Maybe folding out of the dash, or out of my Tuffy console. Haven't thought about that. If you look further down on the cbrack page you can see where the 2nd version of that overhanging computer was done. I actually talked to the cbrack guy (was very nice and helpful) and if I remember right, he just did the work, not the computer stuff, but that monitor is seperate from everything else. That is what I am shooting for. I am not sold on it though. I guess I could mount the whole laptop, but everywhere I can think of would either be in my way, passengers way or obstruct switches.

This also based somewhat on the "coolness" factor. I just think that the sperarte screen is cool. Now maybe a touch screen is the way to go

thanks

 

In reply to:

and as far as the computer to RCA style jack (to use with a playstation screen) i dont think that would work if they even make such a thing. first of all computer monitors run at a TOTALLY different resolution than a TV. the playstaion screen are designed to be small TV screens, where a laptop is a computer monitor. totally different. i would not mix the 2 at all. there are ways to do it, but it looks like total crap. i would avoid that.

[/ QUOTE ]

They do in fact make that. I didn't just pull that out of the air. I am a computer programmer/analyst and know a thing or two about computers.
My $200 quote above included $100 for the adapter (that DOES exist) and $100 for the small 5" LCD screen.
Tha adpter converts the VGA output to a resolution that is compaitble with a TV screen. On a small LCD screen, the resolution will look just fine.
Please know what you are talking about before you tell me I'm wrong.

*Edit
Here is a link with the converters I am talking about:
VGA to TV converters

 

In reply to:

I actually talked to the cbrack guy (was very nice and helpful) and if I remember right, he just did the work, not the computer stuff, but that monitor is seperate from everything else.

[/ QUOTE ]

He used to hang around here until about a year and a half ago as "Doug '97 TJ". Seemed to be an alright guy but had some really strange ideas about math for an old math teacher. That's why I happened to remember him.

Here's an old thread of his where there was a discussion about the 'puter install.

As far as the mouse and keyboard most laptops have provisions for externals even if you have to have a peripheral adapter on the back or docking station.

 

In reply to:

will you need to use the keyboard? or a mouse? if so that may cause issues

[/ QUOTE ]

what about one of those industrial touch screens? (i am not sure if anyone makes one for this application, but I think some of those touch screens can be adapted)

 

What about using an addon foldout keyboard from a PDA and one of those wireless balless (sp?) mouse from Microsoft? Just thought I would throw in my two cents.

 

i didnt mean "it wouldnt work" as in it is impossible to do.. i meant that it wouldnt work usefully.
and notice that i did say "there are ways to do it, but it looks like total crap" adapters like the one you mention are exactly waht i was refering to. they have been around for years, but have never been any good.
I have worn alot of hats in my day, but my 2 true loves have been and will always be jeeps and computers.
I am the head computer technician at a reputable college, i also teach computer grpahics at the college. I have 2 years of college in programming.
and hold a bachelors degree in Computer Graphics. I have studied digital video, converting standard video to digital and visa versa, compositing, and output media. In other words alot of my training is specificly related to the bridge between TV and computer. so needless to say i DO know alot about computers and an aweful lot about this particular subject.
I do not want to get into a "i know more than you" kinda thing. because i very well may not in many cases.
but there are a few things i do know.

1. tv runs at approximately 640x480 in computer terms.
2. most modern computers run closer to 1024x768 comfortably.
3. modern releases of software will disable 640x480 mode because it is not suggested anymore.
4. comparing a tv to a monitor would be like comparing a geo tracker to a HUMVEE. TV's dont even have actual quality ratings since they are so low quality. but in monitor terms a cheapy monitor can have a rating of 28. (lower is better) with 24 and 21 being great quality. lately companies have released very high quality TV's that can be used as a monitor as well. remember, only the very best TV's can also double as a monitor. but guess what rating those are? well where real monitors range from 19(amazing)-28(garbage) these TV/monitors they sell now typically rate as a 50+ on the monitors scale (known as dot pitch for the computer savy) basically. i am just trying to say that even the BEST tv made is garbage compared to a cheap monitor.

so my point being that no matter how good of an adapter they make to use a TV instead of a monitor, it will never work well. you will have to force the computer to run in 640x480 (very lo-res mode) and cramping that onto a cheapy playstation 2 monitor cant be of very good quality.
(many laptops these days come with a TV output, so you can use a TV as your monitor. and to me it still looks aweful.

running a computer thru a TV is like off roading a hummer with slicks. doesnt matter how good the rims are, or what kind of lockers you have. if the final link is not a good one, all the rest of the components are meaningless.

DISCLAIMER: this is all theory, and i can be proven wrong at any time. i have never personally tried any of the above mentioned combos.so maybe a playstaion lcd screen would look great on a laptop, but in my OPINION (based on theory) it is not worth it.

to get an idea what this would be like...
turn your computers resolution down to 640x480 (if you computer will even alow you to do this) that is what you will need to have it at for the play station or other such thing.
then stand about 10 feet from the monitor which is about what it will look like on a 5" screen.
and then cover your face with a piece of clear plastic wrap, this will give you about the amount of blur the converter and tv parts will make.
if after all this, you think it looks fine and workable, then this might be the way to go.

but my vote is to stay with all parts designed for a computer.

if you have alot of money to spare, and want the solution to all your problems, just buy a tablet PC. it is basically just a flat screen LCD monitor. but it is a full computer inside. and it is fully touch screen, so you dont need keyboard or mouse. just slap that baby overhead and you are ready to go. (and it will only cost you about $3000)

 

I wasn't trying to imply you don't know what you are talking about, just trying to make it known that I wasn't just making this stuff up. I also have a lot of computer experience and spend my time between computers and jeeps as well. I work for a fortune 500 company writing budgeting and cost accounting software.
You are absolutely right, the resolution is not good for graphically intensive presentations, however, if using a low detail mapping program, it beats the hell out of trying to see a tiny little GPS screen.
My suggestion is a middle of the road suggestion that would preserve the integrity of the laptop, but be a better alternative to a small handheld GPS screen.
I know all about the difference in resolutions, DPI, etc, but in the case of displaying mapping software, which would be MY primary use of the screen, it would be more than adequate. I certainly wouldn't fire up Adobe Photoshop and do photo editing with it or play a game of Counterstrike.
For the relatively graphically simple tasks you would do in a jeep, I would think a small LCD would work fine. Plenty good to change MP3's in Winamp, fine for viewing zoomed in maps on MS MapPoint, etc.
You are certainly correct in some of your points. My response was because your first response came across as if I was some kind of moron just making stuff up. No harm. Sorry if my response seemed rude.

 

Yeah, I saw some pretty flat touch screens and links to others on ebay. That would be the best. I could keep a laptop assembled an out of the way, and do everything off the touch screen. Maybe something about 10 in. wide. could be pretty sweet if it wasn't super expensive.

I like the tablet pc idea too, but that is way too much money to spend to take out into the dirt. I am hoping for a cheap used laptop, and a cheap used screen. If I can't do it pretty cheap, then I won't bother.

thanks

 

"Yeah, I saw some pretty flat touch screens and links to others on ebay."

I was just looking at my post, and feel that I have to add that I meant to say that I saw some pretty cool flat screens. Not pretty flat screens. Just didn't want anyone thinking that I have a thing for flat touch screen monitors.

 

You can use the "EDIT" button and go back and fix the messups. As for taking off a Laptop Screen... I wouldnt go that route. Use a small LCD screen and hookup to the video output on the back of the laptop. Most new laptops already have the output built in and you dont need a convertor or anything. I've hooked my cpu to my tv and a small LCD in a buddies car with no problems. Yes the picture is alittle worse than a regular monitor but for looking at GPS, Directions, and MP3 players I think you would be just fine. My opinion is that the 10'' would be fine for the Jeep. Thats the route I'll be taking whenever that road comes.