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Carputer

I started the carputer back in 2002 after hearing about VIA's new mini-ITX form factor integrated motherboards. Suddenly it seems possible to fit a computer in my car, so I set about the task of working out how to make the hardware run in a mobile environment.

7 September 2002

It's been a while since an update, still it's better to be too busy than too bored ;)
I've got to make one last trip to Maplins, to pick up a few wires and mounting materials, then I'll fit the carputer into the car properly.
Hopefully I'll be getting a new LCD display shortly, I'll have new pictures up and tell you if it's any better than my current one.

As you might imagine, I get loads and loads of email about this project, most of them asking the same questions. For this reason I'm writing a quick FAQ.

FAQ

How is your monitor connected to your Eden board?
Just by the composite cable from the boards video out. It's only a video monitor, not a computer monitor, so it doesn't use the 15-pin VGA connector. Just remember if you're using the composite video out on your Eden board, to change the jumper first. Otherwise it'll just be a sound output ;)

I've got a similar monitor setup, the text is too small and hard to read!
That's what you get for using a 'cheap' video monitor, instead of a computer monitor ;) Seriously though, if you want a crystal clear display, you'll need a VGA monitor. For the rest of us, I recommend setting your display to 800x600, with large fonts/icon enabled under Windows. Also I turn on high contrast in the accessibilty settings.

Where did you get your touch screen from?
I don't have a touch screen display, I'd just like to buy a touch screen overlay at some point. Everything I've seen so far has been very very expensive...

Can you put your interface software up for download?
If and when I finish writing it, yes I will, but for now I'm concerntrating on other areas of the project.