Our dirtier, hairier sisters over at
autoblog had the chance to get up close and personal with Ford's 2009 F-150 at the Chicago Auto Show. Notable to gadget ruffians, and those of you posing as such on the suburban trek to the ice cream social, is Ford's new "Work Solutions" option. It features a Microsoft
Sync-powered in-dash computer (with wireless keyboard, Bluetooth printer, 6.5-inch touch-screen) from Magneti Marelli with built-in Sprint Mobile Broadband and Garmin GPS. It also features an RFID-equipped Tool Link system built in partnership with DEWALT and ThingMagic for a real-time inventory of your RFID tagged tools. The FWS option will be available on all 2009 F-150 XL, STX, XLT and FX4 trucks; F-Series Super Duty XL, XLT and FX4 trucks; and all 2009 E-Series vans. Couple FWS with Sony's 700 watt, 5.1channel, 10-speaker system and
Sirius Travel Link options already
announced for the F-150 and we might have to take the
Engadget Mansion mobile. Video after the break.
[Thanks, K Banton]
posted Feb 6th 2008 3:26AM
Needs a deep fryer and a fax machine for when you drive off a dock.
Seriously, I mean, if there's laws keeping people from JUST talking on the phone, I'd say the government isn't gonna let people drive around with a keyboard in their lap and printing out reports.
Especially not women, THEY don't need ANYMORE distractions as it is.
(I'd say here comes the low ranking but the site is mostly guys and I know they agree with me)
That old man should have bought a keyboard with an LCD monitor attached to it (a "notebook computer") and saved himself the $8000 option package that requires you to buy leather, vanity mirror defoggers and a moonroof.
Part 2 of that Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBupdIa_BkI
Just as long as the designers are sensible, you would assume that the thing would go into a limited function mode when you are actually driving. Either that or they'll be some classic 'drove-off-cliff-while-looking-at-naked-pictures-e-mail' Darwin Awards!
I wonder how much fun that guy is having with his crappy Adesso RF keyboard in his lap. And yes it's crap because I've owned several (replacements) and they all get interference and bug out. Just crap.
I dunno. I have one here too and it works ok. I haven't had a problem with interference with mine. The most annoying thing is that it goes to sleep and you have to hit a key to wake it before the touchpad will work.
...the world wonders why...
but seriously though, how often do you just NEED to print something WHILE driving? Hell, I forgot the last time I even needed to print anything period. Digital Age ftw! :)
If you watched the video, they outlined a very plausible scenario where the printer would come in handy.
The example given because I'm sure most people didn't watch the video was adjustments to invoices, you could edit and print them out instantly as compared to going back to the office, editing, printing and mailing to the customer.
Why is everyone so against this idea? It's a great example of technology being practical. So many of us have a navigation system these days, they're basically just PDAs running navigation software. This takes it a few steps further and makes things a whole lot more useful.
No one ever suggested that this was for use in driving. In fact, it will be limitted by the PRNDL while driving. It is for use at a work site, where trucks spend a great deal of their time.
They are against the idea because they cant imagine life outside a cubicle.
Printing in a car is important for police who get faxed BENCH WARRANTS or "no Knock" warrants while in the field.
I could see how important this is - in fact, I've been waiting for in-car computing to catch on simply because its the next logical step.
Everyone and their momma has GPS Navigation now either factory or add-on...the neext step in luxury will likely be in-dash internet capable computers.
If Apple had any balls at all, they'd have put out a touchscreen iCar system that offered GPS, Safari Internet and music with the same OS they use in the Apple iPhone.
All I Can say is WOW!
This is the future of telecommuting (in the literal sense)
Damn. Just Damn!
Ah Ford, truly the Microsoft of vehicles - made for the masses! Does it crash?
Yes...It does crash...And quite nicely....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37205751@N00/sets/72157601737970260/
Seriously though, I could see a set of features like this being extremely nice WHEN STATIONARY. THIS IS NOT INTENDED FOR USE WHILE MOVING!!! The idea is to create a "mobile office" for people who spend a lot of time on jobsites.
the point isnt to use it while driving, it is to use while parked in a remote location like a construction site or whatever.
i have that exact adesso keyboard for my htpc and i like it. it has faults but what wireless keyboard doesnt?
Although it may be intended for stationary use, I just wonder how long people will have it available before they give in to temptation and tight deadlines and try to use it while on the road. Unless there's some sort of locking mechanism while the truck is in motion (which wouldn't make sense, because what if a passenger wanted to use it on the road?), I wouldn't trust people to only use it in safe conditions.
Technology itself is great, but c'mon - will the intended customer really want to buy a Ford F-150? It's a pick-up truck for christ's sake! Put that tech into a Merc S-class or Lexus LS and you'll have a winner.
How many industrial types do you know that drive a Mercedes or a Lexus to a jobsite? Most Mercedes or Lexus vehicles couldn't even THINK about making it to many of the sites I drive to...And even if they did, they sure wouldn't look too pretty once they got there...
(OK, so maybe the Lexus LX or Mercedes G class might stand a chance but that's a bit beyond my budget...)
People will buy it. Don't know too many contractors driving around Merc S-class or Lexus LS...but sounds like you did not even read the article, so should expect as much.
As a safety concern (I couldn't catch the audio on the video) it may not be a bad idea to limit access to some of the Sync features unless the vehicle is in park or has the parking brake set. After all I agree that you wouldn't want people proofing reports while driving, but allowing MP3/radio access would be fine.
You are exactly right, there are limitations in place while driving. This is a mobile office, not a moving office.
This could be very useful in a business sense. As for the normal person, it's not really ideal but I could see this being a huge plus while on job sites.
Reminds me of the Simpsons episode when Homer had stuffed all sort of kitchen appliances inside his car.
I want a horn here, here, here and here. You can never find one when you need it.
This is actually extremely useful for construction and on site contractors.
Lets hope Ford's marketing doesn't fuck it up. They have great ideas that no-one seems to know about.
Electric Ranger
Hybrid Escape
Portable Washing machine for minivans (soccer moms would love this)
Great interiors on their vehicles.
Too bad the styling looks likes its designed by old men.
No wonder Ford is losing money as fast as they can burn it. They'd be better off partnering with Dell and packaging a laptop with every over-priced truck.
didn't they try that already?
Ford sucks! Chevy rocks! Yeeeeee Hawwwwww!
If you look at the photo you can tell its obviously a product for construction, landscaping, or other people that bounce between job sites. i think its fantastic and solves the problem of contractors fumbling their laptops as they try to submit changes for blue prints, print out an invoice etc. very promising technology. People that think this needs to be in a Benz or other luxury car are missing the entire point. its a mobile office solution for people that are based out of their car. believe it or not, the only thing that may help Detroit out is a successful carputer application such as this
How about insurance adjusters, the guys who replace windshields, anyone who relies on their vehicle to get them to sales appointments, etc etc. There is so much possibility for this.
So let me get this strait: We now have the option of Microsoft propagated viruses on our computers, media players, TVs, cell phones, kitchen tables, refrigerators, and *now* our automobiles?
I bet Ballmer is working on getting into the Toilet Sector somehow, also!!
Oh joy, I can see it now ==> One morning, you go out to your truck to rush off to an important meeting and when you try to turn your engine over, you instead hear:
"We are sorry, but your version of Microsoft Sync is out of date. In order to operate your vehicle, you will need to upgrade to the newest version for a discount rate of $2,000. As an added bonus, we will include the bug fixes that we should have shipped your current version with; however, this will inevitably introduce new errors in the code base of your your vehicle's computer. Thank you for your continued loyalty to our Evil Empire."
Sarcasm and artistic liberties intended!!
Imagine having to reboot your car, every other day. What if it crashes while you're driving...imagine the lawsuit. But who gets the blame? Microsoft for having a vulnerable system, or Ford for allowing it?
I think the Cool Aid sipping public in general is responsible in some way and on some level for the mess we are in with Microsoft screwing up our lives. I mean how much of the National Deficit reflects payments to Microsoft -- and recovery major catastrophic security and usability problems? I am certain that it is huge!!
If Apple were doing this, I bet you would be just over-awed. Call it an innovation. Say it's revolutionizing the way our cars work.
I don't get why your bashing MS on this. That's just plain silly.
And the only tech company that I can think of that pushes costly updates is Apple. If they're such an Evil Empire, why do people still use what they offer since there's obvious choices?
Just plain dumb bashing. Why don't you go get a life somewhere else?
I hope that guy in the picture isn't driving.
I am really surprised at the number of people who don't understand the point of this.
It's obviously targeted at contractors in need of a mobile office and don't want to deal with the risk of mounting a laptop in their car and having it stolen. It makes sense.
this is cool but.......
Can't wait for some classy Youtube material when someone drives off a cliff with a cup of coffee in one hand, cell phone in the other and laptop...well on the lap. An incoming fax when airborne would be the greatest.
People really don't understand this system and they bash it. You bash Microsoft because you are too lame to think of anything better to do with your life. Get out of your mom's basement and do something beneficial to society instead of playing video games.
That's all well and good, but...
Is that 700watts RMS or peak? 700 watt peak would be nice in a 4 speaker/1 sub setup, but a 10 speaker setup... waste of power for low volume and minimal improvement in quality.
Now, as far as the in car computing goes... FANTASTIC! Anyone that does in-home or on-site services could benefit greatly from this...
I'm an always-on-the-road sales guy, and I love the idea... to bad I've already beat them to the punch with my tablet PC and a little ingenuity. I agree with a couple of folks above... I'm more than a little nervous letting microsoft attach it's software directly to my car. But if this were a stand alone option (preferable on non ford vehicles) I'd consider it on my next vehicle purchase.
It is a great system, especially the cable-lock in the bed. That should be a stand-alone product offered. I know someone who would love this is a huge plus for many contractors, but it really should be able to sync up to existing laptops.
The sooner they can get Windows 7 out, the sooner they can rid them selves of the evils of Vista aka the Win95 of our time.
Sorry, wrong page. I meant for my comment to go to the windows 7post.
I remember win95 as being quite great for its time. It sure was an improvement over 3.1. I believe you meant to say that Vista is WinME 2.0.
Vista really has gotten much better since its release, however, it still feels like a beta product. The big problem is that XP has had time to mature into a great product.
Windows 95 in comparison to 3.11 and Windows NT 3.0-4.0 (Later Win 98), was very instable and was prone to BSOD just from simply moving the mouse or launching a program that worked fine on NT or 3.11.
I think alot of guys at construction sites have already been doing this - Ford is just waltzing in just now.
I've seen enough double din computer installs done properly in pretty much every type of vehicle on the road, that this might invite a wrench through the screen.
How long you guys think that keyboard is going to last? oh wait, can I use my own? USB? Bluetooth?
People don't have sense enough NOW not to talk on the phone or text while driving. This is something we don't need.
I have been driving with a laptop with internet card from Verizon, printer and GPS for several years. When a customer calls me from 200 miles away and needs a quote faxed to him or other information, I pull over and send it. I have also had to print invoices at the customers location, and send wiring diagrams to someone else who needed it now not in 2 days when I get back to the office. I know several other outside sales people who do the same thing. The only thing new with this is that it is an option built into the vehicle. Personally, I like my setup better, and I am sure it is far less expensive.
Dangerous idea and I predict many problems with it such as vehicle crashes due to playing with the gadgets while driving. Dangerous.
If I were in the market for a new vehcle, I would definitely look at one like this. I travel daily to see multiple clients. I work in a rural area where broadband is necessary. I go to see new cients almost daily. GPS is great. I record most of my information on a laptop and usually do it sitting in my vehicle---not driving (for those who still classify common sense by sex). I frequenty need to provide written materials after my assessments completed during a visit. A online printer, in the truck...yes! I would save time being able to inventory my tagged equipment by computer instead of manually. And of course, we need a vehicle to go over the rough roads, down gravel roads and thru thedry creek beds! Who would have figured this is a rural home health nurses life. I love it!!!
US COMPANIES CAN'T MAKE A DECENT RUNNING, RELIABLE CAR BUT THEY CAN SPEND ALL THAT TIME AND $$s ON STUPID, INANE ADD-ONS. THIS IS PRECISELY WHY COMPANIES LIKE HONDA BEAT THEM IN ALL SECTORS. INSTEAD OF PUTTING ALL THEIR TALENTS--ASSUMING AMERICAN DESIGNERS HAVE TALENT, INTO MAKING A BETTER CAR AT A LOWER PRICE, US COMPANIES DEPEND ON ADD-ONS AND OPTIONS TO SEE THEM THRU THE MUCK. ALL BUSINESS PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE LAP-TOPS AND WI-FI. WHY BUILD ONE INTO A TRUCK. I JUST BOUGHT A HONDA ODYSSEY EX-L. THE ONLY OPTIONS WERE COLOR (YOU PICK THE OUTSIDE COLOR, HONDA PICKS THE INSIDE; FOG LIGHTS; AND THAT'S IT. WHEN YOU PICK THE EX-L VS THE EX, YOU AUTOMATICALLY GET SUNROOF; HEATED OUTSIDE MIRRORS; SPECIAL V-TECH ENGINE WHICH SHUTS DOWN 2 OR 4 CYLINDERS ON THE ROAD TO SAVE GAS; REAR VIEW CAMERA; 6 CD PLAYER; X-M RADIO; 7 SPEAKERS; HEATED SEATS; LEATHER INTERIOR (THE "L"); REAR MIRROR WHICH DIMS; SEATING FOR 8; AND A HOST OF OTHER ITEMS. THE DIFFERENCE IN COST, EX vs EX-L WAS ABOUT $2000.00. ON A CHRYSLER MINI-VAN, ALL THOSE ITEMS ADDED UP TO ABOUT $6000.00. GO LAP TOPS.
For years I have used my laptop in my car using a Jotto desk (same as cops use). Why not use a regular laptop with all the features for a fraction of the cost? An inexpensive inverter provides 115V via the lighter socket for the laptop and a printer.
Your wildly inappropriate use of caps notwithstanding, you are clearly not a member of the market to whom this is targeted. Which is fine, but Ford actually has vehicles in the segment that you talk about that would serve your argument much better than the F-150. Please save your troll bait for articles about those vehicles.
First off the synch system does run the the vehicle it is completely separate from the vehicles operating system.
Second thing is there are no light trucks out there with same capabilities as the Chevy's and Dodges much less the FORDS (after all who does Toyota compare their trucks to?).
And people wonder why FORD is in trouble...Designing an accident waiting to happen...I can see the lawyers lining up to sue as we speak...:-)
This is stupid, old news. Any 'real' businessperson would have had mobile printing and computer capability for years. My husband and I are independent truckers, and have had a working mobile office for 6 years, including internet, mobile printer, etc...
Having it 'in-dash' is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. It's like saying, "Hey, I want to have more accidents and do stupid crap while I'm driving!"
Ford is the best trucks year after year. The computer etc. might help when caught in traffic or a lunch break extension etc.
you guys are seriously brain-dead Microsoft-feasting zombies if you can't see the value that this adds, or the convenience of integrating it all in the dash (limiting functionality while driving is trivial and will almost certainly be included). This is actually a great bit of innovation from Ford that will separate them from their competition and keep them king of the hill in just the market that makes the F-series so wildly popular.
RTFA and/or WTFV before commenting. PLEASE.
Henry would be proud..
This concept has obviously been dreamed up by some designer who has never worked outside of an office. They should have asked a real professional construction project manager whether or not this was a viable product before wasting money on R&D. I am one...and having my computer bolted into my truck would not function in the real world of construction.
First thing, your day doesn't end when you get out of your truck and you're to tired to spend time syncing up to your laptop so you can continue working in your hotel room/home office. My laptop is loaded with all kinds of software including AUTOCAD which is impractical to view on a small built in screen that you can't move around to get it out of the sun so you can see the screen. Most days I take my laptop right into the project site to review plans and work out details while looking right at the problem. What am I supposed to do with this marvelous wonder by Ford, take the dash out and drag it inside?
And, as far as the invoicing thing goes, the only subcontractors who immediately submit invoices for immediate payment are usually the ones who can't afford a laptop, let alone a laptop with a new truck mounted in an empty harddrive bay. These guys have been known to submit invoices to me on scraps of paper and napkins.
I'm with Tom. This is nothing new. We pros have been doing high tech business out of our vehicles for years. We can print, browse, and send email/faxes from anywhere, not just the front seat of our truck. I would never purchase this option. It's just not "real world" practical. Ford needs to spend more time designing a tougher truck instead of playing with gadgets. I just bought a new F150 and it's crap. I wish I would have stuck with Chevy. Drove it for 14 years into every jobsite imaginable and then gave it my son who is still driving it a year later. It had room in the seat for my laptop and my dog. The Ford barely has room for the poor dog. "Built Ford Tough." HA
Don't you know the Lawyers are jumping up and down with glee, over the first Law suit when someone is driving this thing and hits someone?
first of all... STOP WORRYING ABOUT SAFETY!!! it will NOT be usable while driving. even Ford's factory navigation systems are "locked" while the vehicle is moving. if you want to change destinations or any other setting, the vehicle must be stopped first. the only thing you can do while moving is adjust volume, change radio stations, etc.
second... this is NOT amazing, NOT anything new, and certainly NOT an innovation. people (like me) have been installing computers in their cars for many years now. it used to be a niche hobby, but now you can buy commercial bolt-in systems that are cheaper and more powerful than this rubbish Ford/sync system.
third... it's not even a real PC, it's a low-power / feature-limited "sync" based system. you can't just put any program you want on it. you will be limited to whatever they include with it. I wouldn't call it an in-car computer, it is at best an in-car PDA (but even a PDA can
Ford could have created their own Linux-based system to keep costs down (like ASUS did to create the affordable EeePC), but instead they conspired with Micro$oft to make this system. M$ will make big profits from this overpriced and underpowered system. Apple would be no better, in fact it would be even worse, it would probably cost even more. Apple is no better than M$, in many ways they are even worse. at least M$ doesn't force you to buy their overpriced hardware just to use their overpriced software like Apple does :/
I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FORD ALL MY LIFE,LIKE TO HAVE MORE POWER.AND BETTER MPG.
I agree. That's why I traded my F-150 for a Mazda 3 [Axela] hatchback.