pinch my ride

[theshadow]

I have a very nice Escort RS Turbo Injection (old skool:D ), and so being a geek
I have natually pimped it out with onboard computer:

*VIA EPIA 1.2GHz Processor
* CLE266 Graphics Chipset with MPEG2 accelerator
* 1GB Kingston RAM
* 40GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
* CDRW combo drive with 8x DVD read.
* Built-In 10/100 network port
* 2x USB v2.0 ports
* Serial port
* S-Video and RCA TV-OUT
* 3x Audio Jacks with 5.1 surround sound support
* PS2 Keyboard port / PS2 Mouse port

its all nice and safe in a hidden part of the boot! I have a mini keyboard and dvd drive in the glove compartment, very well hidden. Problem is I keep having the monitors nicked, even when it closed the buggers still notice, break in and nick it!

Well heres what I have done:

Take original cassette player, smash the hell out of it to remove all front buttons and the face plate. Use 1 geek issue dremel tool to cut to shape. take glue gun and mount onto top of the range touch screen motorized display. Now when its in use it looks the balls, when its not and retracted, hello gay casette player. I did this to it a month ago and guess what no break-in's.


NOTE: If the little gits are reading this then I'm f****d, I know where you live!

[hylian_231]

lol, maybe put an alarm on your car or something?

It looks the balls? ewww..

Pics?

[theshadow]

no they don't seemed to bothered by the alarm.

[theshadow]

If they break in again I might replace the airbag with a shotgun shell and wire that into the alarm, that will do the job! BTW El strips make good underbody lights! they dont break and are difficult to spot in the day time. If you haven't guessed from my other threads I love El strips!!:D

[BudoBob]

I have wondered about the security issues regarding having a PC installed in the car. I've heard many stories of people having their car broken into because they have left their Satnav on display. I would assume the odds on having your car broken into if you have a PC installed is probably about the same, even if they do think it is ONLY a Satnav.

Although many people like to show off a bit and prowdly display their latest gadgets to mates, they are still selective in who they show it off to. If it is on permanent display then you are showing it to anyone and everyone.

Knowing from personal experience, people will steal literarly anything from a car and to leave something like this on display would be just too inviting for some people.

Well done on the mod theshadow, I hope it continues to discourage the thefts.

[Slamdog]

we do need pictures though....

i'm toying with the idea of installing a car pc myself.....

[theshadow]

I've reached the time in my life where I've stopped building pc's and just brought them. I have a pre-built pc in my car, it is the ITX-w21 from itx-warehouse.
http://www.itx-warehouse.co.uk/ProductImages/morex%203688%20black.jpg
It runs on ubuntu linux. I box itself is hidden inside a carpeted box bolted into my boot. It also has a 24v 4Ah (20hr) sealed lead battery and charger, connected as a cheap ups, so when I turn off the engine it has time to shutdown. I run a usb, a power (cat5e, +12v,0v,0v,+5v, pwr) and svideo cables from the boot to the glove compartment where I have a usb mini keyboard, usb hub, and a external dvd rw-drive. The box has a cheap one built it, but I never use it.The Svideo and pwr (amp on wire) connects to the display, so when its turned on it switches the relay and turns on the pc. Simple yet affective. BTW the box is carpeted from the spare from the house, (car carpet costs loads). I will try and get some pictures up, but Im limited to a 1MP camera phone (xda II mini s).:D

[theshadow]

And yes, It has a Belkin wireless card rigged up to a homemade 2.4ghz coax anntenna behind the bumper. and heres how the poor mans ups works:
--------->o--------->------>+
pc Battery relay car batt
--------->o--------->------>-

[theshadow]

car pc's are quite common today. But I had a mac Lc and 5' crt in my 5-door vauxhall nova about 5 years ago. Don't underestimate 3 scsi cdrom drives and a 16mhz motorola processor. It was the cd changer of todays cars, alot more reliable too!!!

[Forthy]

...and still you have posted no pics of your install :confused:

Come on man, let the dog see the rabbit....