Desktop computer in a van???

[highdesertranger]

I also carry my lap top in a Pelican case. I only take it out when I am using it and when I am done it goes right back in. highdesertranger

 

[SoulRaven]

Yes laptops are much more rugged, designed for mobile use, not only shock & vibration but temperature, dust.

And sip a tiny fraction of the power.

Intel NUC and similar "mini-PCs" are like laptops that way but designed for full separate monitor, keyboard etc.

My laptop died within the first 2or 3 weeks at Quartzsite.  The drive died.  ( I DID have a spare drive back in the Springs) When I go back out in a week or two, I will be taking both my laptop and my desktop .   Jimindenver gave me a few ideas, and I know I have to account for vibration.  The truth is , whenever you move, you have to do a lot of padding. When you're sitting still, you don't. I have spent most of my time out on the road sitting in one place for a couple of weeks. My desktop IS heavy, but it's power consumption is way lower than one might think.  I am planning on putting mine on my mattress, when I move.  And only using it once or twice a day.  And built an external filter case (thank, Jim)  ... also, I like HDR'S idea about a pelican case.

 

[wagoneer]

I was interested and researching using a Mac Mini in my rig has anyone else looked into this?

 

[hepcat]

My laptop died within the first 2or 3 weeks at Quartzsite.  The drive died.  ( I DID have a spare drive back in the Springs) When I go back out in a week or two, I will be taking both my laptop and my desktop .   Jimindenver gave me a few ideas, and I know I have to account for vibration.  The truth is , whenever you move, you have to do a lot of padding. When  you're sitting still, you don't.  I have spent most of my time out on the road sitting in one place for a couple of weeks.  My desktop IS heavy, but it's power consumption is way lower than one might think.   I am planning on putting mine on my mattress, when I move.  And only using it once or twice a day.  And built an external filter case (thank, Jim)  ... also, I like HDR'S idea about a pelican case.

FWIW, my MacBook Pro has a 256gb SSD rather than a hard drive as its boot drive, so unless something actually deforms the case, it'll likely not fail from accidental bumps or vibration.  I use a 1tb (I should have bought a 4tb) external USB drive when I need storage.  The external drives are quite robust, but not having any moving parts in the laptop is pretty amazing.  I also have a plastic case over the actual case, and a silicone keyboard shield over the keys.  

It's a pretty rugged setup; much better than any Windows box I've ever used.

I'm so impressed with the SSD that when my last HD died in my main Windows desktop machine a couple of months ago, I replaced the boot drive there with a 512gb SSD.  Fortunately, I'd already moved all of my data to other 2tb drives in the box, so I didn't lose anything...  but boy does it boot fast now!

Vibration and dust will be much harder on a desktop machine than a laptop.  They're just not designed to take it.  They're designed to sit on a desk.

 

[SoulRaven]

....

Vibration and dust will be much harder on a desktop machine than a laptop.  They're just not designed to take it.  They're designed to sit on a desk.

just to be clear, I am not the OP.  In fact, I hope I haven't highjacked his post. 

And PVC pipe was designed to carry water.  I have used it for many other things.  
Desktop Computers were designed to sit on a desktop.  That is true.  But we'll see if it can be used for more. 
I'll post my experience on this thread.  As a backup, I plan to carry along at least one laptop.  I also plan to dismount my media drives and put them in their own external enclosure.  I will probably invest in an SSD for a boot drive.  

Regards,

Pat