Hello everybody, I'm new on the forum.
I use a EeePC 901 laptop with a small bluetooth GPS receiver and Microsoft Mappoint as my GPS setup. Apart from the byzantine Mappoint user interface, the solution works great for me.
My problem is this however: I usually use the laptop on the passenger seat and let it direct me vocally, but sometimes I peek at the screen to check my route. I've never felt it was very safe, but I had no real choice since the laptop is too big to mount anywhere on the dash, and I don't really want it in front of the radio or the heating outlets. Today however, I nearly crashed into a tree gazing at that laptop, so I don't want to use it that way ever again.
I think I found a clever mount though: I drive a small van, and there's a dividing wall between the two front seats and the back of the van. If I mount the laptop at the center of the dividing wall facing forward, then I can see the screen in the rear-view mirror. Plus, the speakers at close to my ears so I can hear Mappoint speak better, and the laptop doesn't get any direct sunlight. The snag of course is that I see the display in reverse.
So my question is this: does anybody know a small XP utility that would flip the screen horizontally? I don't mean rotating, but mirroring. I believe it's entirely a graphics chipset feature if it exists at all, and I didn't find it in the Intel 950GMA utility, nor did I find anything on google, but I figured I'd ask you specialists.
Thanks a lot everybody!
I use a EeePC 901 laptop with a small bluetooth GPS receiver and Microsoft Mappoint as my GPS setup. Apart from the byzantine Mappoint user interface, the solution works great for me.
My problem is this however: I usually use the laptop on the passenger seat and let it direct me vocally, but sometimes I peek at the screen to check my route. I've never felt it was very safe, but I had no real choice since the laptop is too big to mount anywhere on the dash, and I don't really want it in front of the radio or the heating outlets. Today however, I nearly crashed into a tree gazing at that laptop, so I don't want to use it that way ever again.
I think I found a clever mount though: I drive a small van, and there's a dividing wall between the two front seats and the back of the van. If I mount the laptop at the center of the dividing wall facing forward, then I can see the screen in the rear-view mirror. Plus, the speakers at close to my ears so I can hear Mappoint speak better, and the laptop doesn't get any direct sunlight. The snag of course is that I see the display in reverse.
So my question is this: does anybody know a small XP utility that would flip the screen horizontally? I don't mean rotating, but mirroring. I believe it's entirely a graphics chipset feature if it exists at all, and I didn't find it in the Intel 950GMA utility, nor did I find anything on google, but I figured I'd ask you specialists.
Thanks a lot everybody!
Hello Fastolfe,
Depending on your hotkeys try doing ctrl + alt + one of the side arrow keys. While you do that I will Google for you to see what graphic options come with your eeee. That is the Asus brand, right?
Also, have you considered using a swivel wall mount? Maybe attaching it to the back wall, but swiveling it so you can see eye level when necessary?
I have the same concern on covering my front controls and plan on doing a gooseneck type of mount that sits behind the passenger seat next to the console. That should allow me to use it from the front or back seat and keep it out of the way otherwise.
Depending on your hotkeys try doing ctrl + alt + one of the side arrow keys. While you do that I will Google for you to see what graphic options come with your eeee. That is the Asus brand, right?
Also, have you considered using a swivel wall mount? Maybe attaching it to the back wall, but swiveling it so you can see eye level when necessary?
I have the same concern on covering my front controls and plan on doing a gooseneck type of mount that sits behind the passenger seat next to the console. That should allow me to use it from the front or back seat and keep it out of the way otherwise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wiz-Nerd
Depending on your hotkeys try doing ctrl + alt + one of the side arrow keys. While you do that I will Google for you to see what graphic options come with your eeee. That is the Asus brand, right?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wiz-Nerd
Also, have you considered using a swivel wall mount? Maybe attaching it to the back wall, but swiveling it so you can see eye level when necessary?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fastolfe
I want to modify the van as little as possible, it's a company vehicle
Thank you. Actually I've been lurking on the forum for a while now, it's a treasure trove of information here.
For the mount, I should have mentioned that I am in Europe. My Fiat van isn't listed in the RAM Mount website.
But that's okay, I think I might have another idea: in the van, above the windshield, there's a sort of overhead bin where one can stow maps, garage door remotes, keys etc... I could simply make a sort of oversized money clip thing that would let me hang the laptop upside down, just in front of the rear view mirror, then I could flip the display upside down and use a bluetooth keyboard/mouse combo such as this one to control the laptop.
That would work great, and since I almost exclusively use the side rearview mirrors, I wouldn't miss the center one much. The diNovo Mini doesn't come cheap though. I'm trying to convince myself that it's worth blowing 159 euros because, quite frankly, at that price, I could get a standalone GPS device without all this hassle. But then, a standalone GPS device doesn't do wardriving too does it
For the mount, I should have mentioned that I am in Europe. My Fiat van isn't listed in the RAM Mount website.
But that's okay, I think I might have another idea: in the van, above the windshield, there's a sort of overhead bin where one can stow maps, garage door remotes, keys etc... I could simply make a sort of oversized money clip thing that would let me hang the laptop upside down, just in front of the rear view mirror, then I could flip the display upside down and use a bluetooth keyboard/mouse combo such as this one to control the laptop.
That would work great, and since I almost exclusively use the side rearview mirrors, I wouldn't miss the center one much. The diNovo Mini doesn't come cheap though. I'm trying to convince myself that it's worth blowing 159 euros because, quite frankly, at that price, I could get a standalone GPS device without all this hassle. But then, a standalone GPS device doesn't do wardriving too does it
No, it definitely doesn't.
Ok quick update: I found this keyboard at my local toy store: it's a bluetooth fullsize keyboard w/ trackpad for the PlayStation 3 console, but it turns out to work perfectly fine with a PC. At 59 euro, it's a much better deal than the diNovo Mini.
So next, I'll be making a custom clip-on mount to hang the laptop upside down from the van's ceiling. It ought to be cheap and shouldn't modify the van in any way. I'll post pictures when it's done.
So next, I'll be making a custom clip-on mount to hang the laptop upside down from the van's ceiling. It ought to be cheap and shouldn't modify the van in any way. I'll post pictures when it's done.
I have a diNovo mini and am presently testing it with a CarPC project. You definitely don't want to try typing on it while driving but should work with another person navigating. While it is very nice, the lack of F keys causes some issues. I looked at the Mediaboard as an interesting possibility but would like something a little smaller.
Terry
Terry
I might eventually have persuaded myself to fork 159 euro for the sexy DiNovo, but indeed the lack of function keys is a real deal breaker for me. MapPoint has tons of useful keyboard shortcuts mapped to the Fn keys.
I've tried driving and typing on the Mediaboard at the same time today, and frankly I find it a lot safer than thumb-thumbing on something like the DiNovo, which is more like a cellphone keypad than a keyboard: the Mediaboard sits on my laps between the steering wheel and my belly, and I can type and control the mouse with my right hand while steering with the left. Very safe if you can already touch-type, and much less conspicuous with the police. I can even hit the space bar by sticking my tummy out, to get MapPoint to repeat the direction vocally
I've tried driving and typing on the Mediaboard at the same time today, and frankly I find it a lot safer than thumb-thumbing on something like the DiNovo, which is more like a cellphone keypad than a keyboard: the Mediaboard sits on my laps between the steering wheel and my belly, and I can type and control the mouse with my right hand while steering with the left. Very safe if you can already touch-type, and much less conspicuous with the police. I can even hit the space bar by sticking my tummy out, to get MapPoint to repeat the direction vocally