Is it possible to use a 4" auto LCD as a monitor?

[sjaguar13]

I want to make a portable computer. I got a rack mount case, but I need a monitor. Would it be possible to use those LCDs that are mainly used in cars as a monitor? Would the resolution be too low?

[RJ]

If all you want is watching video, it'll be fine.

But otherwise, forget it. You won't be able to read a thing. Not only that the resolution is too low, the arrangement of the LCs is more like on a TV rather than a PC monitor.

Actually, when my TFT monitor was shot, I wondered that myself. . and tried it. My camcorder has a 4" (or 3". . not sure now) display. When you click on the link you'll see a pic (it's 1,42 MB big, so if you're on dialup it might take a while ;) ) in which you see my camcorder as the monitor.
I have to admit the TV settings were wrong at that time, so all you see is a B/W pic that even looks like 2 pics overlapping each other at different positions, but unfortunately I didn't take a pic with the correct settings, and now my digicam is broken so I can't make a new one.

My camcorder's LC display is not really good as a monitor. . . (http://mitglied.lycos.de/thegeek/bilder/camcorderlcdasamonitor.jpg)

Anyway what you can see is Windows explorer and Media Player. Maybe you see enough to see how few you see. . if not just let me know and when I visit a friend next time I'll make a new picture so you can see better how useless the monitor really is for anything else than video.

RJ