StarDestroyer.Net BBS

I'm about to find myself in a situation where periodic long-range Road Trips will be common, and Dave and I would like to fit our truck with a navicomputer.

I'm thinking a laptop rig for the copilot station similar to what the police use would be best for this. I need to know what kind of lappy, mounting brackets, etc. I need.

Laptop must not be exorbitant; it should be relatively rugged; it should have wireless networking capability (LOL Wardriving!); and it should be capable of running Win2kPro, XP, or some form of Linux in a lightweight install. It will not be used for heavy gaming at all, but likely will interface with a digicam we plan on buying as well. Power will be provided from the shipboard mains (since we don't use the bloody cigarette lighter anyway), with option to upgrade to a Powercast system.


I think we should also invest in gig thumbdrives out the ass as well, and maybe an adaptor that can use a cellphone as an internet transmitter.

The best mobile laptop is the T60, but it is a bit pricey (though you can probably get the lower-end configurations with integrated graphics)

Some form of UMPC would probably be best. It offers the capabilities you need in a very practical package. Probably better to wait for 2nd generation devices that should be showing up this year - they're supposed to be both more affordable and overall much better then 1st gen (VIA procs vs. Core Solo).

Failing that, some sort of tablet would probably be strongly recommended. There really isn't any room for a mouse nor is it practical to use a touchpad while moving.

There is also the possibility of something like this. However, getting something like that loses you the flexibility you want.

Wouldn't a setup like that just beg for a guy with a crowbar and a lack of conscience to help himself?

First price:
Kohjinsha SA1-A

around a thousand quid


Top of the line:
Panasonic Let's note R6

2500USD


or you could look eventually look for a thinkpad Txx

Keep in mind wardriving tools do not support all wireless chips.

The Dell D520s are fairly cheap and sturdy for their cost (from what I've seen of someone else's Thinkpad R series and my sister's D510, R < Latitude D's < Thinkpad T series).


And personally I've haven't found it hard to use any laptop in a car- you shouldn't be using one at all if you're driving .

Pu-239 wrote:And personally I've haven't found it hard to use any laptop in a car- you shouldn't be using one at all if you're driving .

He wants to use it, among other things, for a navigation unit. This is why I'm recommending a UMPC - its form factor helps in mounting it somewhere where the driver can use it as a display for a navigation unit (GPS PCMCIA card with appropriate software). If the requirement for usage during driving is cut (navigation, possibly as the sound system), then almost any laptop would do the job.