[olePigeon]

I picked up a 7" Lilliput touch screen LCD for $150 on eBay so I could finally finish up my in-car computer project. I'm getting a Mac mini pretty soon and I'll be installing that in the lower section of my center console.

However, for anyone else looking to do a project like this, I made a quick tutorial on just getting the display to work on a Mac. There was almost zero information on getting this LCD to work under OS X. There's a MP3Car website that had 3 pages of people using trial & error to get it to work.

Anyway, after 3 hours of playing with it, I just booted into Windows and used the nVidia control panel. This thing told me the timing information for the LCD at 800x480. Just stuck that into DisplayConfigX and it worked. Go figure.

So here's a URL on how to set it up for the Lilliput so you don't have to go searching all over Google to find scraps of information:

http://www.wreckcenter.com/LCD/

Hope it's useful.

(Sorry for the iWeb, it's all I had...)

[Laminar]

I'd like to see some pictures of the installed setup, if that's possible.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

I'd like to see some pictures of the installed setup, if that's possible.

When it's fully installed, sure. But getting the stupid display to work was actually the most difficult part.

[MM-o4]

why?

cars are for driving from a to b.

[brassplayersrock²]

and if one doesn't know how to get from a to b without some guidance, and doesn't feel like pulling over to look at maps, or if one doesn't have a riding partner; then the/a nav system would be helpful

[MacosNerd]

I'm not sure I get the whole touch screen in a car bit but then that could be because I'm an old fart

I've watched those pimp my ride shows and they throw all sorts of stuff into a car and I just kind of scratch my head wondering why.

Of course its a cool idea, so on the geek factor its up there.

[ajprice]

VW/Apple touch screen system?

Apple might be there already...

[Mastrap]

Once you've had sat nav in you car you won't want to drive without it. It's insanely useful, even when you know your way around. I frequently use it to pinpoint addresses, so I know when to start looking for parking.

[osiris]

I used to laugh at this stuff too, but once you use it you miss it when it's not there. At least for navigation.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by osiris 

I used to laugh at this stuff too, but once you use it you miss it when it's not there. At least for navigation.

Exactly. I'm getting a GPS system and load it up on the computer with maps for the entire country. Never know with that unexpected road trip.

1 other project I'm going to work on is interfacing a Java program that talks to the pickup. It'll relay me all sorts of information that my dash doesn't tell me. If the engine light comes on for some reason, I'll know immediately why (or at least, what the pickup thinks is wrong) and if I have time to limp into a shop or if I should pull over immediately.

Not to mention I can load a crap load of songs onto the computer, way more than my iPod can carry. I'll get to transfer all my CDs over instead of just a few of them. Should be awesome.