Okay, I'm getting reasonably close to having to (getting to!) make decisions about electronics in the garage rebuild...
I was thinking about using a Squeezebox or similar to stream Pandora/Spotify/my mp3s, then I realized it made a lot more sense to get a cheap computer to be both the media renderer, as well as my looking-stuff-up device.
I'm thinking that the cheapest laptop I can find is pretty much what I'm after, with bonus points for the availability of those clear plastic keyboard covers for the grease-infused user 
Said computer will probably also be pressed into service as a megasquirt tuner/datalogger. A solid state drive would be nice, but since there shouldn't be much important data on there, I can do that when the normal one dies...
The big questions, I guess, are:
1: Which cheap laptop?
2: What device should the computer output to in order to run audio to four ceiling-mounted speakers?
3: Am I asking for trouble running electronics with cooling fans in the filthy garage atmosphere?
I've got very little to offer, but I'll throw this out there: I've kept an old laptop, might be a Gateway, in the garage for the purpose of tuning the Haltech. It has lived on the back of my one workbench for I don't want to think about how many years. It is subject to extremes of heat and cold, sawdust--lots of sawdust, and paint fumes and overspray. Every once in a while, I fire it up to see if it will still boot up, and every time it does.
Check craigslist and get one that fits the budget.
2: What device should the computer output to in order to run audio to four ceiling-mounted speakers?
A cheap used stereo amp, or a T amp like I use in my shop, and on my computer setup
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Lepai-TRIPATH-TA2020-Class-T-Amp-Hi-Fi-Audio-Amplifier-20WX2-Black-/290808748757?pt=Car_Amplifiers&hash=item43b58d5ad5
You may want to use 2, depending on the speaker load. Get one that includes the DC power supply.
Sweet! Sounds like A) my rough plan isn't crazy, and B) amplification isn't going to break the bank.
I like it.
get an external keyboard and mouse for greasy hands
I have two of those Lepai T Amps. They're cheap, look chintzy and have terrible tone controls. But they also have a tone bypass and if you use it, they sound absolutely amazing for the money. It's worth noting, though, that the distortion gets pretty pronounced as you up the volume. Not that it'll sound bad, but it can be tough on tweeters. They make good power though, so as long as you don't push it too far, they're stellar performers for the kind of thing you're talking about. And for the money they're durn near impossible to beat. I'm kinda picky about audio stuff, and I can honestly say I can (and have) listen to that amp all day long and not feel like it was missing anything.
There are some laptops available on BF. Any of them will do I would imagine.
For garage audio, I just found a free 80's boombox with an Aux In and hook up either my phone or my iPod to it. Works great and its plenty loud.
For a garage laptop, I'd get something cheap that runs Windows XP and is made well. I have an older Dell laptop built around 2004/05 that is a beast. It's got a metal shell around it's HUGE 17'' screen and is heavy duty. I used to use it to tune when I had my 2002 WRX. It actually had a decent sound system with nice speakers and a little subwoofer!
I got my son one of the Lepai T amps to drive the Overnight Sensations I built. Works very nicely, and was cheep, cheep, cheep!
For noise I use a old stereo receiver. For computing power I usually use my net book or my tablet. I'd be inclined to pick up something dirt cheap at the local pawn shop.
clutchsmoke wrote:
There are some laptops available on BF. Any of them will do I would imagine.
BF? That's a new acronym on me... What is it?
as most have mentioned any laptop will work. all you need is a functional internet browser, and something that can play audio files. Basically any computer made in the last 10 years will work plenty adequate for garage use.
For this reason I just employed a hand me down PC that I got for free. 1980's stereo amp hooked up via 1/8" to RCA connector provides the power, and some big 12" sub 3-way cabinets provide the jams and are mounted up in the rafters to avoid taking up valuable garage space.
Toss in a wireless adapter I can stream music off my library on my "good" computer in my house through the network, or I just stream via Pandora/your favorite online music provider.
I got a cheap flat panel monitor free also (like a 13" or something) that came free with a cheap bundle PC when the original owner upgraded to a bigger 17" or 19" or whatever. I ripped the base off it and ran two screws through the mount to make that jewel into a wall mount above the bench.
with the advent of smartphones though, I find myself just plugging in my phone to stream music to the stereo any more, and/or just looking up info via my phone before I fire up the PC any more.
xflowgolf wrote:
with the advent of smartphones though, I find myself just plugging in my phone to stream music to the stereo any more, and/or just looking up info via my phone before I fire up the PC any more.
Hrm... That would also keep me from doing the thing where I keep my phone in my sweatshirt pocket and then turn myself upside down to work on something, thereby unceremoniously dumping my phone on the ground...
As an IT wonk, I have lots of old hardware laying around, so for tuning I have an old Dell C640 w/2GB of RAM and 2GHz processor it works fairly well (with XP, Win7 is just too much) Plus the full-height docking station is pretty handy since I can dock/undock the laptop to use a larger monitor/keyboard and some add-on cards.
Since I'm replacing the C-series box with a newer system, it and the dock are available if you'd like it. You'll have to buy a hard drive for it (need it for another project) and pay for shipping, but it works well. I'd be willing to pay it forward to a fellow GRM'er.
For the garage entertainment, I have an HP desktop and a 22" LCD display with a wireless keyboard/mouse. The CPU and monitor sit on top of the fridge out of the way of the worst of the flying dust and debris. Most of the time, I can use the wireless remote to control the Media Portal or Hulu Desktop software. A cheap set of powered PC speakers works fine to fill the 2-car garage.
