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olePigeon · Dec 28, 2006, 09:13 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/VM84-8-4-8-TFT-L...QQcmdZViewItem

Seemed like a good deal. $100 for an 8.4" touchscreen, 1024x768 LCD display. Comes with stylus, remote control, dashboard brackets, VGA and component hookups, plus USB. It also works with Windows, Linux, and most importantly, Mac OS X.

I'm gonna build a carrying case under the front dash so that I can slide my laptop (when I get it) securely under the glove compartment and run the cables through there.

Gonna get a GPS express card and some software. I'm also going to run my pickup's auxillary audio to a mini jack so I can plug it into the laptop, too.

I ran by the autoparts store and bought an extensive repair manual for my pickup. My dad is/was a car junky when he was a kid so he's gonna help me out. I'm hoping to save some money by doing some preventative maintenance by myself. I feel kinda stupid taking my pickup into the autoshop for little things like tire rotation (even though it's free.)

This is gonna be fun!

starman · Dec 28, 2006, 09:17 PM

I want pics when you're done. I've been wanting to do this for years.

olePigeon · Dec 28, 2006, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by starman

I want pics when you're done. I've been wanting to do this for years.

Ditto!

This is gonna be great because I have access to my schools Plasma CAM and CNC routers. I can make whatever custom brackets, frames, or any pieces imaginable to get this to work.

Can't wait.

effgee · Dec 28, 2006, 10:02 PM

Well, as long as you stick to the instructions provided in the manual you should be perfectly fine ...

Blasphemy · Dec 28, 2006, 10:14 PM

sweet

centerchannel68 · Dec 29, 2006, 12:43 AM

Good luck. Seems like a waste of itme in a pickup, but hey, at least you won't get bored and get into trouble.

Jim_MDP · Dec 29, 2006, 01:57 AM

Hmmm, I thought the problem with Tablet Hackintoshes was that the touchscreens were made by Wacom who ran the data through internal serial buses which OSX had no access to. Hope this is wrong.

And the seller seems to be about 5 miles from me. Have to see what else he sells.

macintologist · Dec 29, 2006, 08:53 AM

I'm sorry, but what's the point of this? Is this a distraction for you to watch movies while you drive or does it serve a useful purpose to make driving easier?

Gossamer · Dec 29, 2006, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by centerchannel68

Good luck. Seems like a waste of itme in a pickup, but hey, at least you won't get bored and get into trouble.

Why does the body style matter? If it's a daily driver wouldn't it make sense no matter what kind of vehicle it is?

By the way, the manual claims it has an 800x600 resolution.

Doofy · Dec 29, 2006, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by macintologist

I'm sorry, but what's the point of this? Is this a distraction for you to watch movies while you drive or does it serve a useful purpose to make driving easier?

It's to impress geek chicks, silly.

mitchell_pgh · Dec 29, 2006, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by macintologist

I'm sorry, but what's the point of this? Is this a distraction for you to watch movies while you drive or does it serve a useful purpose to make driving easier?

My initial thoughts:
- You can hold TONS of music
- You can wirelessly update your music selection.
- GPS
- Movies (if you wish)
- Internet (if you have a cell phone that does wireless)

It's a computer...

oh, PLUS IT'S COOL!

imitchellg5 · Dec 29, 2006, 09:47 AM

Woah. For a second I thought you said pickup, not limo. That makes me feel better.

( Who needs a TV screen in their truck?)

macintologist · Dec 29, 2006, 10:40 AM

I think a cool mod like this would be appropriate for the backseat passengers, especially children. But for the driver? I don't think it's worth it. If you want a large music library, then get an 80GB iPod integration kit.

centerchannel68 · Dec 29, 2006, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Why does the body style matter? If it's a daily driver wouldn't it make sense no matter what kind of vehicle it is?

By the way, the manual claims it has an 800x600 resolution.

Pickup= hauling stuff. Who needs GPS in something like that?

GPS= most useful on long trips, business or pleasure to places you've never been before. If most people have a choice, they don't make long trips in a pickup, due to the horrid ride, noise, etc.

Gossamer · Dec 29, 2006, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by centerchannel68

Pickup= hauling stuff. Who needs GPS in something like that?

GPS= most useful on long trips, business or pleasure to places you've never been before. If most people have a choice, they don't make long trips in a pickup, due to the horrid ride, noise, etc.

Pickup=his daily driver (I'm guessing). I'm sure he's very sorry that he didn't consult you and provide you with a list of his necessities in a car before making a purchase. Grow up.

amsalpemkcus · Dec 29, 2006, 10:58 AM

Post pics when you are done please.

centerchannel68 · Dec 29, 2006, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Pickup=his daily driver (I'm guessing). I'm sure he's very sorry that he didn't consult you and provide you with a list of his necessities in a car before making a purchase. Grow up.

You grow up. I'm not attacking him, I'm just saying GPS is only really useful for longer trips to places you've never been. I had GPS in my car for quite a while, and I assure you that if I had every type of car in the world, a pickup would be the last place I'd desire it.

Doofy · Dec 29, 2006, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by centerchannel68

Pickup= hauling stuff. Who needs GPS in something like that?

People who don't know how to get to where they're hauling stuff to?

Originally Posted by centerchannel68

You grow up. I'm not attacking him, I'm just saying GPS is only really useful for longer trips to places you've never been.

Crap. If that was the case, I wouldn't have GPS in all my vans for my drivers, would I? They're all on local (30 miles radius) runs.

sek929 · Dec 29, 2006, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

People who don't know where they're hauling stuff to?

I can attest to that, getting lost with a F-450 full of two tons of scrap isn't a walk in the park.

Gossamer · Dec 29, 2006, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

People who don't know how to get to where they're hauling stuff to?

Crap. If that was the case, I wouldn't have GPS in all my vans for my drivers, would I? They're all on local (30 miles radius) runs.

You're quite wrong. Rob's experience is applicable to all people at all times, and his opinion is fact. You better pull the GPS out of those vans quick, it is useless.

centerchannel68 · Dec 29, 2006, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

You're quite wrong. Rob's experience is applicable to all people at all times, and his opinion is fact. You better pull the GPS out of those vans quick, it is useless.

No, it's MY OPINION, and I am not only allowed to have one, I am allowed to express it also. Jesus christ, what is your problem?

imitchellg5 · Dec 29, 2006, 11:24 AM

It's funny that I said basically what Rob said first, but didn't get attacked, but when Rob said it, he gets attacked. Break it up kids.

Gossamer · Dec 29, 2006, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

It's funny that I said basically what Rob said first, but didn't get attacked, but when Rob said it, he gets attacked. Break it up kids.

Oops, sorry I missed that.

ghporter · Dec 29, 2006, 12:40 PM

MODERATION: Let's not all get Kindergarten, eh? I find it interesting that imitchellg5 had to point out that Gossamer was baiting someone...

Personal: Unless you have some sort of TRULY real-time integrated traffic update system, GPS for a daily commute doesn't make any sense to me. On the other hand, I CAN see it for a delivery vehicle that makes runs through areas but not along a fixed router. As long as one's street database is current, that could be about the only way to find "123 Newpaved Lane". Around here streets get invented pretty regularly-with mushroom-like subdivisions sprouting up daily, it's unavoidable-and once you've moved in you want your deliveries, right? So considering that map makers don't update our city maps more than every few years, how else can someone find new places to make those deliveries.

I have two portable GPS units (ok, three, but one of them is a plug in for my PDA), but no need for one permanently installed in my car. When I go somewhere new, I do my homework (printed maps, Mapquest (yeah, right!), Google Maps, Google Earth, etc.) and then use GPS to track distances and directions. I never depend on GPS as my sole navigation aid in ANY situation, particularly on the road.

olePigeon · Dec 29, 2006, 03:41 PM

My pickup is my only vehicle, I usually walk where I need to because I live in a small(ish) town. I do all my traveling in it, so I wanted to make it as comfortable as I can. I just thought it'd be nifty to have GPS/GIS, music, etc.

Plus, not getting lost because MapQuest didn't know a street doesn't go through, or having to get out my maps from my glove compartment.

Gossamer · Dec 29, 2006, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

MODERATION: Let's not all get Kindergarten, eh? I find it interesting that imitchellg5 had to point out that Gossamer was baiting someone...

Was I baiting or disagreeing?

olePigeon · Dec 29, 2006, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

( Who needs a TV screen in their truck?)

It's not for TV/DVDs.

imitchellg5 · Dec 29, 2006, 03:44 PM

Well just don't let it distract you and cause a wreck. Are you gonna hook a Mac up to it?

Gossamer · Dec 29, 2006, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

Well just don't let it distract you and cause a wreck. Are you gonna hook a Mac up to it?

Originally Posted by olePigeon

It also works with Windows, Linux, and most importantly, Mac OS X.

I would say it's likely.

imitchellg5 · Dec 29, 2006, 03:48 PM

Oh duh. I pretty much forgot the whole post. Pigeon should get a Mac mini and put it in there.

Gossamer · Dec 29, 2006, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

Oh duh. I pretty much forgot the whole post. Pigeon should get a Mac mini and put it in there.

I think a portable would make power issues much easier.

centerchannel68 · Dec 29, 2006, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Was I baiting or disagreeing?

You were baiting. If you were disagreeing you would have disagreed with someone who held my identical opinion, and posted before me.

EmmEff · Dec 29, 2006, 09:33 PM

Any reviews of this unit online? I searched for "VM84" on mp3car.com | your source for mobile computing solutions but nothing came up.

The price on this screen is almost a third of the (popular) Lilliput.

olePigeon · Dec 29, 2006, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by EmmEff

Any reviews of this unit online? I searched for "VM84" on mp3car.com | your source for mobile computing solutions but nothing came up.

The price on this screen is almost a third of the (popular) Lilliput.

I was looking at the Lillputs, but they're so expensive. I think these VM84s are as generic as they come. Looking at the manual, it's some Chinese knockoff. I'll post here again and let everyone know how the screen works out (if it works.) Sometimes you get lucky. I'll see how it goes.

EmmEff · Dec 30, 2006, 08:30 AM

Hopefully it works out for you (and you post a review), so I can get one too

olePigeon · Jan 4, 2007, 07:15 PM

Just got delivery confirmation. Took them about a week to get it out the door. I suspect most of them were on holiday for New Years. Says 2-5 days. I'll update here again when I get it and try it out.

olePigeon · Jan 8, 2007, 08:42 PM

OK, I received it and powered it up fine. However, all the files on the CD that came with it were corrupted and wouldn't open. I had to track down the website that had the original drivers and try those.

After plugging it into the USB, the software wouldn't recognize it. I tried it on various different Macs on different OSes and even on 2 different PCs. Nothing would recognize it.

I'm going to attempt to send it back. :/

Ah well, shouldn't 've expected much from a $100 LCD.

Gossamer · Jan 8, 2007, 11:10 PM

Sorry to hear that. Still planning on doing this project though?

olePigeon · Jan 9, 2007, 12:15 AM

I'm gonna try one more thing, just incase.

I just added a molex connector to the power cable and stuck it on a standard ATX power supply. I'm gonna get some wire nuts and stick it on a 12V DC adapter. Maybe it's just not getting enough juice.

If that doesn't work, I'll trying replacing it. If the new one doesn't work, maybe I'll just have to shell out the money for a Lilliput. :/