Who needs a stinking Slacker car dock?

[DAB]

I took my new Slacker G2 dock outside and tested it out in my Scion xB and of course it works perfectly. Who needs a stinking Slacker car dock? I have an extra cig plug in under my dash and the audio wire is already there. So this will be a simple clean install.

I am now thinking about buying a couple of these to use in the car rather than wait on one specifically for the car especially since this one works so well. Also the fact that I have a Scion xB as my personal vehicle and then another one for my company vehicle. I am set. I could just buy one and move it between vehicles, but that would get old with me quickly.

Anyone else pondering using one of these for the car?

 

[mjones73]

How well does the radio stay put in that dock? I'd just need to come up with some way to mount it, would love a dock in the car though.

 

[DAB]

How well does the radio stay put in that dock? I'd just need to come up with some way to mount it, would love a dock in the car though.

Well with the rubber matting and the fact that my dash is rather corrugated it doesn't move at all and I drove around with it for a couple of hours this morning. These wonderful rough ass La roads are no friend to new vehicles, but it stayed put in the dock. It docks pretty tight, but you do have to make sure you push it down all the way on the dock. I had no problem.

 

[out of control]

I'm really not on the market for a car dock. Nor do I think the home dock would suit my needs in the car. With that said. If Slacker produced a car dock. I would consider purchasing it just simply to show my support to the company. If the car dock had a remote I find this would be easier to navigate the device. Rather then pushing the buttons. So as I am not in any rush at all. My current set up is very basic, but works very well. Again I would probably support Slacker if they release one.

 

[DAB]

I'm really not on the market for a car dock. Nor do I think the home dock would suit my needs in the car. With that said. If Slacker produced a car dock. I would consider purchasing it just simply to show my support to the company. If the car dock had a remote I find this would be easier to navigate the device. Rather then pushing the buttons. So as I am not in any rush at all. My current set up is very basic, but works very well. Again I would probably support Slacker if they release one.

I think there are many folks though that ARE in the market for a car dock. I also think the design of this home dock is such that some may can make use of it in a car. I can't imagine them coming up with a "car" dock that would suit the layout of my vehicle better than this one. Clearly this would not work for everyone that goes without saying, but I was just interested in seeing if anyone was considering it like I did.

I am not worried about buying docks to support Slacker, I'll do that through my subscriptions. They likely don't make enough on these accessories for it to really mean much to them, other than the fact that someone bought one of their accessories.

It is doubtful they will include a remote with any of their docks, but I could be wrong about that. Seems to me that the device would have to support it and I honestly don't think the G2 does. I know some say you can do it through the dock, but I still think the device would have to support the commands.

 

[JMII]

Too bad is so wide. On your desk this is a good thing as it provides a stable base, but in my two vehicles I don't have any flat surface large enough. Most dash boards and central consoles these days seem to be curved. I might be able to modify the dock to work but something like DLO's TransDock is more flexible for car installs.

 

[mrpacs]

Doesn't look very secure.

 

[TX WJ]

Some of us drive cars with the dash there.

 

[out of control]

I think there are many folks though that ARE in the market for a car dock. I also think the design of this home dock is such that some may can make use of it in a car. I can't imagine them coming up with a "car" dock that would suit the layout of my vehicle better than this one. Clearly this would not work for everyone that goes without saying, but I was just interested in seeing if anyone was considering it like I did.

I am not worried about buying docks to support Slacker, I'll do that through my subscriptions. They likely don't make enough on these accessories for it to really mean much to them, other than the fact that someone bought one of their accessories.

It is doubtful they will include a remote with any of their docks, but I could be wrong about that. Seems to me that the device would have to support it and I honestly don't think the G2 does. I know some say you can do it through the dock, but I still think the device would have to support the commands.

I am happy that the home dock works very well for you in the car setting. That's awesome. If it works in your car with the layout like that then I guess it is perfect for you. I also agree that others very much want a car dock. I don't dismiss that. You did ask for our opinions, and I was sharing my view. It was my view only. Not speaking for anyone else. My ultimate point was I could live without one, but may support it if one was produced that I liked. So either way it does not really matter to me.

My only concern about looking at your picture above is.....the pins at the docking point. The dock has no plastic support around the base of the G2. I would like to see more support for you. I would be afraid to hit a bump, or something when pushing buttons. It could jolt the player while bending pins or something while getting displaced from where the portable should render on the dock. That is my only concern. Pushing buttons while driving can be tricky sometimes if you want to be safe on the road. I just hate to see you break pins, etc on a expensive portable with a inappropriate dock. Do you think that is possible ? Or are my thoughts nonsense ?

 

[DAB]

You did ask for our opinions, and I was sharing my view. It was my view only.

I don't think I dismissed your view, just stated that unlike you that many others would indeed like to have a car dock solution. Your view is for you only I fully understood that as that is all any of us can speak too in reality.

My only concern about looking at your picture above is.....the pins at the docking point. Do you think that is possible ? Or are my thoughts nonsense ?

No it isn't possible, because the connector is a solid piece of metal which pushes inside the G2 and the pins are down inside that part. So it isn't like the dock is just sitting on pins. It is sitting on a solid piece holding it tight in place.

Like I said in my original reply to you, this isn't going to be a solution for everyone as some have pointed out the base it too wide or they don't have a flat surface for it to sit on. I am fortunately that my xB has a very flat open surface for the dock to rest on. The bottom on the dock has a rubber slide resistant matting and with the corrugated dash it sticks like glue.

Check out the connector as you can see it is just one solid piece, not just pins sticking up.

 

[DAB]

Doesn't look very secure.

Is it crash resistant? Probably not! LOL

But it doesn't move an inch when driving the car. It is no worse than having a Garmin stuck to your windshield or PNP sat radio stuck to your dash. None of these things are really crash resistant. The main thing is that in my application that it doesn't move around on the dash and stays put. If I decide to actually do this in my cars, I will likely secure it to the dash using some 3M tape much like the Xpress dock now.

 

[out of control]

I have a Scion as well. Love it to death by the way. Anyway I'm sure we have the same type of dashboard material. I can also confirm it keeps things from sliding with the material it is. So I can relate that his dock is not moving. I believe it anyway. With some of the other more standard dash material I could see it possibly sliding. My dash is a little different in my xD, but the dock would certainly work if I wanted it to. I guess in this case the Scion pays off even more. For that unique dash material.

 

[SatRadioRules]

As soon as I opened mine, I took it to the car....no place for it....yet....love the dock for the house. Will put the second in the office.

 

[oncesir]

I actually modded my old Xm roady vent mount to work with the belt clip. The clip locks into place on the mount and is just as secure as the roady was. The vent in my Subaru is higher up on the dash which makes reading the smaller display on my G2 much easier. Thankfully, I'm good with a dremel.

 

[DAB]

I have a Scion as well. Love it to death by the way. Anyway I'm sure we have the same type of dashboard material. I can also confirm it keeps things from sliding with the material it is.

Yeah, you gotta love these Scions. I still love mine just like the day I bought it which has almost been a year now. WOW, how time goes by so quickly.

I actually modded my old Xm roady vent mount to work with the belt clip. The clip locks into place on the mount and is just as secure as the roady was. The vent in my Subaru is higher up on the dash which makes reading the smaller display on my G2 much easier. Thankfully, I'm good with a dremel.

Sweet that sounds interesting... Got any pictures to show us? I'd love to see it.

 

[oncesir]

Here is what it looks like when installed.

I used the dremel to file down the tab that usually holds the Roady to the dock. Then I eye-balled the size of the tab at the bottom of the slacker belt clip. I used the dremel once again to make the hole in the dock the same size as the tab.

This is the tab that locks down on the hole in the dock.

When I install the slacker it locks into place. It only moves if the dock moves. I squeeze the belt clip for removal. Its not the prettiest but for free it cant be beat.

 

[DAB]

Wow that works really great! You got a sweet setup there.

I finally got around to actually getting my home docks installed in both my vehicles. I am really satisfied with this setup.

 

[TVGenius]

Hopefully they'll keep the same dock design for future players too, so the docks aren't such an issue and can be available from the start. I'd kill for a G1 car dock.

 

[Music_Rube]

oncesir...that is a fine looking dock setup you have! I envy you right now! :bigthumbup:

 

[oncesir]

If someone buys a few of those vent mounts I'd be glad to mod them. Its pretty easy.