Just got a Laptop, what all can I do???

[AZ3.8Camaro]

I have 2 questions... is there anything else I can use the computer for other than autotap?? and where can i get an autotap cable at a decent price???

[slacker69]

its not really a cable its a package that has a cable data converter and the software it is like $270-$280 everywhere

[BillyCobin]

I was a computer nerd long before I was in to cars, and I love to combine the two. A few weeks ago a friend and I took a 5000 mile road trip, and we both brought our laptops.

* AutoTap
* GPS
* Entertainment
-
* Power inverter
* A table

We ran AutoTap with mostly temp guages open, very nice for going through the mountains/desert. On one mountain I didn't down shift, and my brakes where smoking. I have a transmittion cooler, but worried that I would over heat the transmittion by down shifting. We let the brakes cool for a while, then put it in 2nd and coasted the rest of the mountain, the tranny temp only went up 15 degrees, it was nice to know we weren't damaging it.

We had an Earthmate GPS Receiver, the software that came with it was pretty sweet. It got us around LA without getting lost for 2 days. You just type in an address, or click on the spot on the screen, and it tells you how to get there from where you are. If you turn on the audible settings it will tell you when to turn, so you don't have to watch the screen or worry about missing your exit. In Oklahoma city we where running late and needed some food to eat on the road, we decided on some pizza hut take out. My buddy typed pizza hut into the program, and it came up with the closest one, and the phone number. If you buy this one, make sure to get the power adapter, 4 AAA batteries lasted about 8-12 hours of constant use for us.
Earthmate GPS Receiver

My friend and I both have lots and lots of MP3s, ripped TV shows, and other media on our laptops. My cd deck (AIWA CDC-MP3) has an input jack right on the front of it. We picked up a '6 stereo patch cable for a couple of bucks at radio shack. Hook one side into the output for your sound card, and the other side into the stereo. The passanger could watch episodes of the The Simpsons, and at least the driver could listen. This worked well with the GPS software when we turned the audible directions on. Since the computer was using the cars speakers through the deck, you could hear what the computer was telling you to do loud and clear. If you plan on doing this, and use a power inverter, make sure you ground the inverter, very very well, otherwise you will get nasty hum.
The cable


---

A power inverter was important for us, since we where driving 10-15 hours a day. It's also nice when driving around town logging with Atap. I mounted mine under the driver's seat. On my site I have a lot of pictures of it, and it was worked nicely. Don't wire it like I did though, I have since re-wired it all the way to the battery on it's own circuit.
Mounting the power inverter

I still don't have a good table/stand to hold the laptop when there isn't a passanger. My friend and I spent hours debating the best way to mount some type of table that still allow a passanger in the passanger seat, swivle to face either passanger or driver, hold the laptop secure, mount without much modification to the interior, and stay out of the way of the air bag. Lots of ideas, but I haven't tried any of them yet. But it would be really handy.

The thing that worries me about my laptop in my car is getting the car broken into. I have a convertable, and I can just imagine my laptop sitting on a little table in there looking mighty attractive. If you are really looking to meld a consumer computer with your car, mounting a regular computer in the trunk and using a LCD screen and a wireless keyboard (like the ones that come with webTVs) would probably be the best way to go. Kind of like what this guy did.
This guy

[ June 29, 2002: Message edited by: BillyCobin ]</p>

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Where's the best place to get the autotap cable and stuff, from autotap? or are they a little expensive???

[Cale]

I too need to know the best places to buy AutoTap and now MAFT+. I guess ramchargers.com for the MAFT+, and how about for AT? Is one place just as good as any?

[John_D.]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Cale:
I too need to know the best places to buy AutoTap and now MAFT+. I guess ramchargers.com for the MAFT+, and how about for AT? Is one place just as good as any?<hr></blockquote>

About the MAFT+, I haven't found anyone else who lists the +.

The autotap, yeh, everyone is about the same price. I got mine from thunderracing at the same time I got the borla.

[Cale]

Do you John, or anyone else - hold a strong reco of the + model over the regular MAFT? I know I can get a used reg MAFT for something like $130 shipped.

I would say that being able to fool with timing is worth it - but... might as well get a suggestion.

[Cale]

Note to anyone else... LMPerformance can do a GP on AutoTap. Anyone reading this post that would be interested?

[ July 01, 2002: Message edited by: Cale ]</p>

[Blue94V6]

Just a note. If you want to continuously use your laptop in your car www.afterthoughtsauto.com has tables so you can position your laptop where you can see it while your driving. Kinda hard to describe, but you'll see what I mean if you go to the site


Blue 1994 L32 M5, Eibach pro-kit, KYB Gas-A-Just shocks, K&N Filtercharger

[Steve Presley]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Cale:
Note to anyone else... LMPerformance can do a GP on AutoTap. Anyone reading this post that would be interested?

[ July 01, 2002: Message edited by: Cale ]<hr></blockquote>

What kind of discount? How many to get the GP?

[Cale]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Steve Presley:


What kind of discount? How many to get the GP?<hr></blockquote>

Well... I didn't get any replies, so I just ordered it [img]smile.gif[/img]

Leon didn't let me know,. you'd have to ask him

[Steve Presley]

Okay.. will do.. thx ;)

[John_D.]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Cale:
Do you John, or anyone else - hold a strong reco of the + model over the regular MAFT? I know I can get a used reg MAFT for something like $130 shipped.

I would say that being able to fool with timing is worth it - but... might as well get a suggestion.<hr></blockquote>

I don't know how much gain you could get with the timing. I was thinking about using one, to be able to retard the timing if needed when I get the s/c kit. I did see some tables for it in the manual, looks like you can do an across the board change, and also some progressive ones, that increment as the rpms go up.

I get some kr around 3800-4800, it would be great if I could take out a little timing there, and add some in the other ranges, but it won't do that level of change.