In-car computer?

[oldschoolvdub]

Does anyone here have a full on computer set up in their car? I have been thinking really hard about attempting this. I just don't want to run into anything on the way and not be able to do it. I build desktops frequently, but now want to try something else... Any ideas or comments?

I think the main reason I want it is for MP3's and GPS...

[blueabdjetta]

i wouldn't mind getting a really small labtop from japan and somehow using the whole glove box for the comp.

[ManaSteel]

i hear theres possibly issues with heat.

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

The Intarweb is your friend, and Google is it's emissary......


http://www.gotfrogs.com/carpc.htm

http://home.broadpark.no/~ebolsen/carputer.html

http://carputer.org/tiki/tiki-index.php

[oldschoolvdub]

yea, google is an essential... It kinda sucks no one on here has one... I would like to check one out in person... I always think it would be wierd having a keyboard in your car... like, where would you put it and stuff.

[mexmini]

I think someone posted an audi a4 with an onboard computer in it, not too long ago..not sure if it had internet but did have a touchscreen, it looked very clean.

[Slapshotnerd]

had one 5 years ago, on my old car. Never finished my dc-dc power supply, so i was just using an inverter hardwired into the car.

i had a 4disc cd changer running MS Dos (yup, DOS bishes!) with a keypad for control and a 4 line LCD screen as the output.

sounds like you're leanin towards a pc based LCD-output setup...

i can help ya with the details if you'd like.

www.mp3car.com

[ncttrnl]

Its actually alot easier now than it used to be.

You can get a single board computer that is fanless and runs about 500-800mhz with a dc to dc powersupply and compact flash ide adapters and all that for like 600 bucks. Just look around, embedded systems are getting pretty cheap and you can find linux distros that are designed to boot in no time with support for a basic media PC.

[oldschoolvdub]

Is it a special screen? I have a little 7" TV screen, would I be able to use that? I think it's made by micro or something like that.

[Slapshotnerd]

partsexpress.com has lots of LCD screen options

[ncttrnl]

Alot of people se the liliput touch screen and mold it into the center console with bondo. Then you don't need a mouse or anything since its all screen based. I think its only lie a 250 dollar unit. You just have to take the front bezel off and make your own surround for it. Its alot of work but so is anything else custom.

I wanted to do one that used an aftermarket head units with a fold out screen. I figured I would just need a way to control it and I would run the video through the screens aux input. I was looking at using an hula pointer. Its an industrial pointing device. It fit exactly where I wanted it and everything. Problem was that it 200 bucks or some insane amount like that so I kinda dropped the car computer idea since I had no clue how else I would do it and wasnt about to spend 200+ on a fancy mouse. Without a good plan, all you get is wasted materials and a lower quality finished project.

Maybe when the car is back together I'll revisit this idea

[madajb]

Problem was that it 200 bucks or some insane amount like that so I kinda dropped the car computer idea since I had no clue how else I would do it and wasnt about to spend 200+ on a fancy mouse.
Could just use one of those laptop usb thumb-balls.
-ajb

[Slapshotnerd]

another input option would be to use an IR port and a regular TV remote. there's multiple plug in options for Winamp that allow this...

[protijy337]

The Intarweb is your friend, and Google is it's emissary......



your a goon aren't you :)


also look here

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1253830

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1571761

[DTolo]

Have you heard of Drive soft? SOmeone at work was tellin me about it. maybe google it.

[Audiboy464]

Hey, i'm building a kit (I posted about it: http://socaleuro.com/forum/showthread.php?p=32014). Please visit my site @ http://www.joshtbernstein.com/sfv/carcomputer.php or IM me. Also for alot of help (ALOT!) check out mp3car.com I think you will find anything you ever need there. Enjoy!

[TwentyValveB5]

My buddy's doing a "Carputer" setup from HP... apparently it runs on AC and DC, has a 1GHz Celeron and 256MB RAM, and has XP Media Center or something. There's also another media program that he's using... all this with a 7" touch screen (VGA+USB to the computer) that will remove the need for a mouse or anything. I'll try and get some pics from him. He said he got everything on eBay for ~$600. Not too bad if you ask me!

Too bad it's all in a Prelude... Although it's turbo'd and has over 200fwhp... It's acceptable.

[Audiboy464]

That's really cool, if you can get me some info on that i'd like to see that! All I can say is what i'm selling is meant for the automotive environment, not sure about that HP Setup though. That's still cool and tell him if he has any questions he can feel free to IM me @ Audiboy117. Hey come on a turbo prelude is pretty neat.

[TwentyValveB5]

yeah a turbo prelude is pretty sweet... it would hand me and my 90 our collective a.sses! I'm pretty sure I'd outhandle him though... Anyhow, the HP is actually called a "Car-puter" so.... yeah. We'll see how it turns out when it's done!

[Audiboy464]

Interesting, I have not heard of that! If you can get a model number or something that would be good.

[TwentyValveB5]

You gotta get some eBay/Google skills... ;) here's a link (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=51118&item=5160005658&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)

[Audiboy464]

That's just a standard computer they are saying you could put in the car, like you could do with a laptop. Still neat though and what great price!