New In Car Entertainment on the Way

[RussMan]

Just though i'd start a thread on a new mod.
I've started designing a new in car ITX pc. It's basically a micro pc that will slot in where my existing stereo is located. To add to the luxury of this i'm adding a touch screen lcd to accompany this.
I've never attempted this with such a small space to work with but fingers crossed it will go ok!! I will create a proper howto guide on this once completed and imagine that the total cost of this system will be under 700 euro as I have the majority of the parts required already.
My only concerns so far are the dimensions of the system to allow proper cooling and also whether to use a solid state drive or not... i.e Standard USB key type storage or a 2.5" laptop drive. as Hard drives don;t really like to be bumped about too much.
Watch this space anyway

Any advise always welcome

[CJ]

Theres load of info out on the web abnout carputers as you've probably seen, what are you planning to use it for, MP3, video, sat-nav?

CJ

[RussMan]

Mainly for MP3's and DVD's. I can add sat nav any stage later i guess pending that i can rewire my current GPS receiver. I'm sick of having the guts of 50k songs and not having a decent platform to play them... a waste

[CJ]

I'm sick of having the guts of 50k songs and not having a decent platform to play them... a waste

50,000 songs! How the hell did IRMA not catch you this time around!

CJ

[pergau]

This sounds interesting, but I would definitely go for a solid state hard drive. I think that the vibrating through the chassis would play havoc with a laptop drive and a normal sized hard drive would eat up your space.

Would it be worth considering locating some of the kit bhind the glove box? there's a bit of space there and you could fit and protect a SATA drive there or even an IDE if you got a long cable. It might make it easier for replacing it.

How are you gouing to update the PC?

let us know how you get on

[RussMan]

All legit CJ!! Sure the IRMA are so anal when it comes to mp3's i'd be arrested for taking a backup of my favourite cd which i legally own and putting it a drawer at home for emergencies!

Pergau your probably right by saying solid state but the lack of storage isn't very attractive. Another possibilty would be to put the o.s on a 512 memory key and leave it in place then run a long sata cable into the glove box and run a 2.5" or 3.5" sata drive off. Otherwisr i'll just use my porty usb 40gig 2.5" for storage. I've been looking at some ready made units but i think this option is best.

For the updates easy i'll configure it all at home or work and when i need to update i'll pop in a little usb wireless nic and drive the car up to the front of my house.... or someone elses who hasn't bothered securing

[Daz]

Why not go for an ipod, apperently that have a new incar kit (no not the radio waves type) but one which has a holder and can plug into a stero system via the cd changer port. ment to have good sound quality aswell.

Daz...

[kevinod]

I've a similar project ongoing... on hold for the moment, but so far I've got a mini-itx motherboard, 30gb hd (cheap ebay acquisition), and toshiba dvd-rw (also ebay). Keeping my eye out for a well priced touch screen, and still need to get a case for all of that of course but all in good time...

So far I've just installed Red Hat 9.0 on it, but I'll be looking at mp3s, dvd, sat-nav and whatever else seems useful.

Kev.

[Muad_dib77]

I was considering doing a similar project - however. .there are issues to be dealt with when building a car puter.
Firstly Touch screen monitors are quite dear - secondly - the ideal media for storing large numbers of mp3s would be 2.5" Laptop harddrives - these aren't cheap when you're talking 60gb and upwards.
Also if you want to make 100% certain you have a clean powerflow to the system (to avoid chrashes and other bad things) you'd need a capasitor stuck in somewhere.
Granted if you already have most of the bits it'll work and be worth while - however it's possible to get doubledin dvd players with 6disc changer units for less that 500euros on eBay.. (these things will even play divx!!)

Maybe I'm just being a spoilsport here but....

[kevinod]

Granted if you already have most of the bits it'll work and be worth while - however it's possible to get doubledin dvd players with 6disc changer units for less that 500euros on eBay.. (these things will even play divx!!)

Maybe I'm just being a spoilsport here but....

You're right I'm sure, but add to your list of things you could do with your carputer:
- gps & navigation
- bluetooth
- organiser
- internet
- mp3s, could get a pretty large collection on there
- if someone figures out the MUT-II protocol you could very easily hook that up to the car and have diagnostics whenever you like
- could install some games on there, etc etc. possibilities are endless!

plus, its a bit of a hobby/project, you can pay your 500 quid for the dvd player, and great you can do that straight away, but thats all it can do then, you want more you'll have to buy a new one.

Anyways, I'll stop before I make myself sound even more of a nerd!

[Muad_dib77]

LOL! You're dead right though..The possibilities are endless with a car- puter where as a outofthebox dvd player - will always remain a dvd player.