Video: Ford offers 2009 F-150 with in-dash computer, printer, EVDO, GPS, and RFID tool tracking
By Thomas Ricker 
posted February 6th 2008 3:26AM
posted February 6th 2008 3:26AM
[Thanks, K Banton]
posted February 6th 2008 3:26AM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
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.