Here you have a video I recorded to demonstrate how to build a limited desktop computer from an X51V and some extra stuff. Sorry for my english and also because I am still newbye in PDA.
VIDEO PDA2desktop256 Mid-Low res (16.3Mb)
(zip file)
ADDED USB TOUCHSCREEN VIDEO AT POST #42 OF THIS THREAD.
I built it with two major objectives in mind. First one is to have a more comfortable layout when main computer is not close. The second one, and the most important, is to build a carputer (car-computer) as an evolution of desktop setup.
The main reason I am using USB interface rather than Bluetooth is because all in-dash car TFT 7" comes with USB touchscreen. Also, once having the USB host, it opens the door to a broad range of standard and cheaper devices compared to bluetooth.
ABOUT USB HOST:
I am using a Ratoc CF USB host card. I bought it at Ebay for $100, I know it costs +$140, here you have a
cheaper option, but I have no idea how it works, here you have an
aximsite thread about it. Both CFs are only USB 1.1. Ratoc CF comes with three drivers: usb host driver, human interface driver (HID) and mass storage driver. I found some limitations, all acceptable and compatible with my objectives (see notes below).
I have no idea about supplied HID driver is going to work with USB touchscreen output, I still have not tried, all I can say is I put to work all USB mice I tested. I only found some problems with mouse pointer (see notes below), but it is not used with touchscreen. I suppose a touchscreen behaves like a mouse. Next week may be I will have a chance to test a borrowed one.
Current thread could give some answer to some posts in following threads:
Connecting USB touchscreen
X50/X51V VGAout + USBhosting = carputer | desktopPC
Once having an in-dash 7” touchscreen TFT I will publish another video as the second part of current thread, showing a car setup including TFT/TC + X51V + USB Hub + USB HD, to be used as carputer + general purpose multimedia device + Navigator. If this
aximsite bluetooth stack thread success it will also add a cell phone hands free system. If possible and I found proper software I will also add some experience with car diagnostics using a
VAG-COM USB cable.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- To see mouse pointer I am using Deje driver. Occasionally pointer does not appear when connecting mouse. I think it could be some WM5 incompatibility with the driver. If someone knows a better driver please let me know.
- HD partition must be FAT32. WM 2003 / 2005 does not deal with NTFS. HD can have several mixed partitions FAT32, NTFS, EXT3, etc. All FAT32 partitions are recognized and showed as different disks.
- It is important to use a self-powered USB hub because the limitation of 100mA RATOC CF card. Typically those hubs can be used with / without self-power.
- I tested several USB mice. All wireless mice I tested did not show Deje mouse pointer. Same result when using wireless keyboard + mouse set, keyboard also worked fine.
- Movie playback show in video is a full CD size movie (700Mb). I wanted to know how USB 1.1 behaves with it. The test was OK, the movie plays back smooth without interruptions.
- Ratoc Mass Storage Driver can only hold one device. If you connect more than one only last one will be functional (see video).
- For me, one of the reasons to built a car 7" TFT setup is to see TomTom on larger screen. WM5 requires TomTom 5.21 update witch still have several problems with WM5:
- PDA vertical, TomTom vertical: OK
- PDA vertical, TomTom horizontal: Runs slower. No landscape arrangement in VGAout.
- PDA horizontal: TomTom does not start
It means currently TomTom can only be vertically displayed on 7" external TFT, witch is almost the same PDA size.:realmad: