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Laptop for Cabs
Acroyear:
Hey Guys...
Have yet to post in this forum, so be nice. Been looking around, and collecting parts for a MAME cab. Been lucky, and gotten a lowboy cab (very popular in the 90's in Australia) and am looking to put a monitor and computer into it.
One of the unique stiles of this cab is that its been built locally in Aust, and has very little room. While I can mount a Pentium board and gear to its side, I like the idea of being able to pull a box or laptop out, hanging it on the network, and using the processor... (believe me, there are times where I would need to!)
So, has anyone used a laptop in there cab? Any pitfalls or problems? Right now I have a Laptop that I could use, or go the box route, and start screwing motherboards into the cab.
I have thought about putting a network connection into the box, and using it that way, but due to the fact that the cab will live in the garage (yeah, I've been told she's not allowed to live inside too,) I don't think thats a good idea at this time.
Love to bounce this one around the forum, and see what comes up!
-Acroyear
2slk:
I was considering those same options a while back. I was planning a scaled-down cab but finally decided to go full-size. I did consider the laptop option quite heavily though.
I concluded that it was easier and more cost effective (I didn't have a spare laptop hanging around) to put together a PC from parts and use an LCD monitor. It gave me better options for monitor size, overall design and future upgradeability.
As for the network, it may be possible to have your cake and eat it too. To be able to use your cab on a network, you could possibly go the wireless route. Depending on how far away and how many walls you have to go through, WiFi 802.11g just might do the trick. If that's not in the budget, wheels are a far cheaper accessory ;)
TheTick:
I don't see any problems versus a standard PC... except making sure it receives proper ventilation. No computer likes overheating, but laptops have everything squeezed into a smaller space.
I'm going that route by sticking an extra, underpowered Toshiba Libretto palmtop into a desktop cab. Just a bit smaller than a mini-ITX board, and its already been paid for.
jakejake28:
my opinion, dont use a laptop. for the price, you can normally get a much more powerful reg. pc, and maybe buy an lcd. more bang for the buck. hey, maybe try one of those miniitxs. never had one, but reviews say they are fine.
anthony691:
IF you are planning on using an arcade monitor; forget using a laptop! Video card upgradability is something to keep in mind!