XJ netbook mount

[Backwoods Rambler]

So, now that I have all of my Navigation software running on my new eMachines netbook :wings: (running Win7 starter 32bit), I needed to figure out how to mount it.

Here's what I have so far....

I removed the center stack bezel. Not much to mount to behind it, so I'm reinforcing it.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3526.jpg


The reimforcement plates
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3528.jpg


Their location. The idea here is to spread the load and leverage. The netbook only weighs a couple of lbs, so I think this should work.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3529.jpg


After sketching an idea out on paper, I laid it out on some 1/8" plate I had around.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3530.jpg


It's not perfect (as is nothing on my Jeep), but here's the cutout.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3531.jpg


A bit of bending (this took longer than the cutting) and it takes shape. The tabs are for brackets that will secure the netbook to the mount.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3532.jpg


A little reinforcment to eliminate any potential bouncing while on the trail
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3538.jpg


That's it so far. I'll follow up with the completed and installed mount. Then again with a full review of it's performance. :smiley_drive:

[Backwoods Rambler]

Man, I really enjoy side projects. They're almost always easy and in this case, it added a TON of functionality to the Jeep on for my longer trips. I could use it on crawling type trips, but the netbook isn't very rugged, so I'm not sure that would be a good idea.

I picked up some 1.5"x5/16" bolts, nylock nuts & wingnuts. Here's how it all comes together.

http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3540.jpg


http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3541.jpg

http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3542.jpg


The mount easily doubled the weight of the bezel and as I was putting it all together I got concerned about it even staying in place. However once I snapped it in, it was in place very well. I gave it a tug and no movement. I'm impressed so far.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3543.jpg

The cutout is for airflow under the netbook.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3544.jpg

http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3545.jpg


I don't have the GPS reciever, mouse or power supply hooked up, so the setup looks really clean here, but there will be cables running out the PC once I'm done. Including an 3.5mm jack going to a wired FM modulator so I can run my full music catalog when on the road.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3546.jpg


I'm really happy with the viewing area on this 10" screen. Hopefully daylight visibility will be acceptable.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3551.jpg


My favorite aspect is that there's ZERO intrusion on the driver or passenger seating area like a typical RAM mount setup. Also, I can leave this setup in place when I'm sleeping in the jeep on my longer trips.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3553.jpg


I have a "Navigation Mode" power setting which leaves all systems running with the top down (you don't always need to navigate right). With this in mind, I positioned the mount so that with the lid down, the HVAC vents can still offer up thier comforting winds.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3554.jpg

[Backwoods Rambler]

It may not be apparent in the pictures above, but the angle of the mount also allows easy access to the HVAC switches/temp control. Also, if I do need to access my stereo (which I shouldn't when I have the netbook hooked up, I can simply lift out the netbook and reach through the cutouts.


Here all systems are back to normal with minimal impact on the stock appearance of the dash.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3557.jpg

http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/GPSMount/100_3558.jpg

[Casper]

Nice work, looks well thought out and very functional. If I could make one suggestion, add something to help hold the screen up when open. This is the only thing mine doesn't have and on bumpy roads it tends to close itself. Just a thought, I hope you don't mind.

Cheers,
Josh
&
Porthos
:smiley_drive:

[kc0tma]

Thats pretty cool! It is a good alternative to the commercially manufactured mounts that go on the floor of your passenger seat and make it hard for someone to sit there.

[Backwoods Rambler]

Nice work, looks well thought out and very functional. If I could make one suggestion, add something to help hold the screen up when open. This is the only thing mine doesn't have and on bumpy roads it tends to close itself. Just a thought, I hope you don't mind.

Cheers,
Josh
&
Porthos
:smiley_drive:

You know what? I've heard of that being a problem before and I planned to add it, but just plain forgot. I will have to incorporate something.

Thanks for the tip/reminder. :ylsmoke:

[Backwoods Rambler]

Thats pretty cool! It is a good alternative to the commercially manufactured mounts that go on the floor of your passenger seat and make it hard for someone to sit there.

Thanks and it only cost me $15 in hardware, since I had all the materials :wings: Even the material would only be about $10, give or take...

[Nikson]

I've got a JOTTO DESK setup laying in my garage that I am considering to modify to fit perfectly with the notebook I am going to use...

(havent purchased it yet, since have been looking at TOUGHBOOKS, but just havent found the "right" deal)...

Looks good thou... I would have to say real good, as far as the idea etc.

Makes me want to think about relocation of the stereo / vents / climate controls and see if its possible to actually fit some sort of a screen into the Dash there, similar to the new cars GPS monitors, at the same time incorporate may be rear view camera... and provide some sort of a "shade" option, where the screen is inside (deeper) for much better viewing during the daylight...

But have to say... very good idea on the brackets... and very simple and usefull...

:):):)

[PhulesAU]

Have you tried this out on some rough road yet? I'm wundering about those damn clips. They can be a pita to get lose when YOU want them to come off. But may refuse to hold together when you want them to. If you think about it , you might consider a bit of padding between the mount and netbook. I use the foam stuff that goes in for drawer liner. I put it on top of my Jotto, after the better part of a week on wash boards and FINE interstate for a test, No ill effects were suffered. The biggest concern now is dust. Enjoy, it will be a entertainment system.

[tommym]

Really nice setup!!!
:)

[kc0tma]

(havent purchased it yet, since have been looking at TOUGHBOOKS, but just havent found the "right" deal)...


I installed 18 of the floor mount laptop brackets and Panasonic toughbooks with IMT adapters into sheriff department squad cars about 2 years ago at my old job. Those toughbooks are pretty cool but cost quite a bit more, when we were shopping for them our sales guy sent us a picture of one that took a bullet in a police car and kept on running. Having the touch screen would be awesome for a GPS type of set up.

[Backwoods Rambler]

Have you tried this out on some rough road yet? I'm wundering about those damn clips. .......you might consider a bit of padding between the mount and netbook. .....Enjoy, it will be a entertainment system.

I have not tested it on rough road yet. Probably Friday since I have the day off and the kids are in school :sombrero:

The netbook has rubber feet, but at the front, where the edge is turned up (touching the front of the netbook), I added padding. Also, I added padding to the 4 "clamp brackets" which I haven't posted pictures of.

I've had a lot of comments regarding the ability of the clips to hold this setup, so I will probably add some long screws through it, into the stronger part of the dash, BEFORE it becomes a problem.

Yeah, Navigation, Movies, Music, Surfing at hotspots (probably not, but I could if I wanted to) and Writing trip reports on the road, instead of trying to remember highlights after the fact. I'm excited!! :wings:

[Riot]

This is just straight up awesome!
THanks for posting this, I may steal your idea in the near future!

awesome.

[Backwoods Rambler]

Thought I follow-up on how I'm actually securing the netbook to the mount.

I drilled some holes in the tabs I had previously bent over from the cutout. I JB welded the bolts through the holes.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/RoofRack/100_3569.jpg


I found some copier brackets at work that worked perfectly combined with some wing nuts.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/RoofRack/100_3568.jpg


Here you can see the padding I added to the bracket to protect the netbook
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/RoofRack/100_3566.jpg


Once the laptop is in place the slotted bracket snugs against the netbook, then I just tighten the wingnuts.
http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/RoofRack/100_3564.jpg


http://www.rockfrogs.org/members/backwoods_rambler/jeep/RoofRack/100_3562.jpg

[Nikson]

I installed 18 of the floor mount laptop brackets and Panasonic toughbooks with IMT adapters into sheriff department squad cars about 2 years ago at my old job. Those toughbooks are pretty cool but cost quite a bit more, when we were shopping for them our sales guy sent us a picture of one that took a bullet in a police car and kept on running. Having the touch screen would be awesome for a GPS type of set up.

Yes, agreed there... They do tend to be quiet spendy.

Biggest question at the moment then would be:

How do "regular" (stock:)) notebooks stand up to the test of off-roading, as far as shaky-shaky on the off-pavement stuff?

Is it that much of vibration and other that would effect the performance of the drive?, since I guess its safe to say that its not just your regular @home use when you are on the road.

Being that Toughbooks have that vibrations protection built into their drive mounts, thats the main idea there...

Anyone had a laptop/netbook drive lock up on them on the trail from vibration?

Being that harddrive is the only moving part of the setup, I wonder if a simple swap to a SolidState drive would solve that problem?! :coffee:

[Nikson]

I have not tested it on rough road yet. Probably Friday since I have the day off and the kids are in school :sombrero:

The netbook has rubber feet, but at the front, where the edge is turned up (touching the front of the netbook), I added padding. Also, I added padding to the 4 "clamp brackets" which I haven't posted pictures of.

I've had a lot of comments regarding the ability of the clips to hold this setup, so I will probably add some long screws through it, into the stronger part of the dash, BEFORE it becomes a problem.

Yeah, Navigation, Movies, Music, Surfing at hotspots (probably not, but I could if I wanted to) and Writing trip reports on the road, instead of trying to remember highlights after the fact. I'm excited!! :wings:

Looks very "well-thought out"... :26_7_2:

[PhulesAU]

My little net book, has survived 2 years of Houston area test track. a week riding the roads of Big Bend, trips to Barnwell mountain and assorted mental health rides on the beach. I think they have gotten tougher over the years out of necessity. since it's not bolted to the frame, with a bit of padding Ya should get a couple years of service.

[Backwoods Rambler]

Yeah, if the HDD fails, I would look for a SSD swap. The netbook is of no importance to me, so I'm not really worried about it.

[kc0tma]

Yeah, if the HDD fails, I would look for a SSD swap. The netbook is of no importance to me, so I'm not really worried about it.

The tough books have the solid state drives in them for sure and I think pretty much all of the netbooks on the market today do as well. Vibration isn't so much what kills mechanical hard drives, it is when there is a big thump like if you hit a pot hole or something. Inside the hard drive there are disks called platters that spin at a couple thousand rpms, and just about that extremely close (the seperation is a fraction of the thickness of your hair) is an armature that moves back and forth reading data of the drive as the platters spin. If this armature jiggle and comes in contact with the platters while they are in motion that is called "head crash" and it means the death of your hard drive. The newer solid state hard drives have no moving parts which means no head crash.

[Backwoods Rambler]

I couln't find any reference to the EM250 having an SSD.

[Number 7]

Great idea & write-up! Let us know how it does on the trail. d :)

[PhulesAU]

I don't think SSD's are very prevolent yet, most people are waiting for the price to come down. a 250g is more than the price of some full sized laptops. But between the durability and power savings, I'm itchin'.

[kc0tma]

I know a lot of the problems with the SSDs is heat management too, which could be a bit of a problem if you leave it in a vehicle with the windows up in the summer. The hot interior of the vehicle with the heat created by the drive would be pushing it.

Really though, if you are using it mainly as a navigation unit and for internet connectivity you wouldn't need a whole heck of a lot of hard drive space. Its when people start getting movies and their entire itunes library and stuff on the computer when they realize they are running out of space.

[StumpXJ]

Nicely done... You will love having that much tech power at your finger tips. I did mine about 4 months ago, and use it constantly. I love my touch screen! Mine pivots and locks in the driver or passenger position, I like the way yours is more centered. Any problems with glare and being able to see the screen at a slight angle?

~ James

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n257/topfuel443/fabrication%20stuff/th_DSCN1481.jpg (http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n257/topfuel443/fabrication%20stuff/?action=view&current=DSCN1481.jpg)
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n257/topfuel443/fabrication%20stuff/th_DSCN1488.jpg (http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n257/topfuel443/fabrication%20stuff/?action=view&current=DSCN1488.jpg)
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n257/topfuel443/fabrication%20stuff/th_DSCN1412.jpg (http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n257/topfuel443/fabrication%20stuff/?action=view&current=DSCN1412.jpg)
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n257/topfuel443/fabrication%20stuff/th_DSCN1413.jpg (http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n257/topfuel443/fabrication%20stuff/?action=view&current=DSCN1413.jpg)

[Backwoods Rambler]

Unfortunately I don't know yet. I did this project right in the middle of a roof rack project that I'm still not done with, so it hasn't even been out of the garage. I'm planning to take it for a spin tomorrow though. I'm just going up to Greeley for bowling with family, but I'll "navigate" my way there :coffeedrink:

Naturally a full report will follow. :sombrero:

[Nikson]

Just picked up an ACER ONE Netbook from a guy on craigslist for $200... Still figured its either for my kids to use, so I can take the laptop into my Jeep, or put the Netbook into the Jeep instead...

Just haven't decided if Netbook's 10" screen is large enough for me to use it for GPS purposes.

I've got Overland Navigator Topo maps, which come in really handy when going through the backroads, but larger the screen, better view you have...:coffee:

[PhulesAU]

Just picked up an ACER ONE Netbook from a guy on craigslist for $200... Still figured its either for my kids to use, so I can take the laptop into my Jeep, or put the Netbook into the Jeep instead...

Just haven't decided if Netbook's 10" screen is large enough for me to use it for GPS purposes.

I've got Overland Navigator Topo maps, which come in really handy when going through the backroads, but larger the screen, better view you have...:coffee:

Yeah, yeah,yeah. there you go with that whole "bigger is better" thing:coffeedrink: It does help If you have no navigator. My excuse is, if she wants to go somewhere to take pictures. she better be able to tell me how to get there. The Jeep doesn't care where we go, just as long as we go.

[Nikson]

Yeah, yeah,yeah. there you go with that whole "bigger is better" thing:coffeedrink: It does help If you have no navigator. My excuse is, if she wants to go somewhere to take pictures. she better be able to tell me how to get there. The Jeep doesn't care where we go, just as long as we go.

Well, my last trip to High Desert in East Oregon, I've used my 15" laptop for GPS. Thought it was great, but really liked to have the touchscreen capability.

So what I figured may be to use this Netbook and install a 2nd larger screen with the touchscreen on it for that specific reason...

[PhulesAU]

After looking at some of the other write-ups. I think MAYBE a monitor for the back of the sun visor or instead of it. like a repeater display, just quick glance up . for those times she's typing with both hands and I'd like to look at the map real quick.

[Don-Pero]

Nice solution! :Wow1:

Like it!

[Backwoods Rambler]

All righty, I took it for a spin yesterday and overall, I like it. The mount is VERY sturdy. There are some drawbacks though and here they are.

It's pretty close to the steering wheel. Twice when I went to put the key in the ignition, my hand scrapped against the front corner of the mount. OUCH! This is a problem.

Also since it's pretty close to the steering wheel, it very incovenient to reach the CB Mic. When I'm using the CB, I tend to leave it in my lap, but there are times when I need to put it up, then get it back down, so this will be a problem.

I can't get to the "wireless" switch at the front of the netbook, so it searches for a wireless network for a while, which slows the boot-up process. Minor incovenience, which can be corrected by cutting down part of the front up-turned lip.

The right rear securing bracket is in the way of the power port. I thought I took that into consideration, but I must have measured wrong. Luckily I will be able to trim the bracket and all will be well.

The last issue is more of a design flaw. The mount is angled more towards the pass seat for some reason. I think it's because of the way I had to bend it on my workbench. It was inconvenient to say the least.

So, while I'm considering it's proximity to the steering wheel, I think my best be is to weld on some additional material which will move it away from the steering wheel and angle it towards the driver. On the other hand, I might just redesign the whole thing, depending on which is easier.

As far as the screens visibility, I thought it was completely acceptable. Also the 10" screen was AWESOME!!

I'm currently caught-up in my roof rack built, but I will follow-up with changes when the come. Stay tuned :coffee:

[Summiteer]

Nicely done... You will love having that much tech power at your finger tips. I did mine about 4 months ago, and use it constantly. I love my touch screen! Mine pivots and locks in the driver or passenger position, I like the way yours is more centered. Any problems with glare and being able to see the screen at a slight angle?

~ James

I'm gonna be mounting a netbook between my visors on my JK and think a touchscreen is the way to go too. Which one did you buy? I've been looking at a couple between $400 - $600 but haven't settled on anything yet.


Looks great JD, I told you that you should have mounted it on the ceiling though :ylsmoke:

[Backwoods Rambler]

My location is good. It just needs a little tweaking. I was happy to find that I could reach the touchpad with my elbow on the center console.

[StumpXJ]

I'm gonna be mounting a netbook between my visors on my JK and think a touchscreen is the way to go too. Which one did you buy? I've been looking at a couple between $400 - $600 but haven't settled on anything yet.


Looks great JD, I told you that you should have mounted it on the ceiling though :ylsmoke:


I *think* you are asking me since you qouted me, but not totally sure. I bought a HP Pavilion tx1000. I got it from a guy on here actually... I dont remember what i paid for it, maybe 600 bucks? That was about 1.5 years ago, and its been an awesome comp.

[Backwoods Rambler]

Nicely done........ Any problems with glare and being able to see the screen at a slight angle?


No major issues with glare.. Just a minor amount that will be eliminated once I angle the netbook towards the driver seat.

[Backwoods Rambler]

The last component of the netbook setup arrived. I purchased a wired FM modulator so I can plug a 3.5mm jack from the netbook to the stereo speakers. I'm typing in this in the Jeep right now while listening to tunes from the computer in the Jeep!

I think I'm really going to like this!

Bonus...since it's a std 3.5mm plug, I can jam tunes from the netbook, my blackberry, my wifes iPod or my kids MP3 player! How awesome is that!!!