The double DIN thingy really is neat but 3000$? Ouch.
Car Computer
So in my honda I have a nice GPS/DVD/Zune+Video/Touch Screen setup, which I really enjoy and works very well for the limited space.
Since the Mazda is my lets have fun with ideas car, Ive been sitting on the idea of building a car computer for it.
Just planning now but chances are I will wait for Windows 7 with the enhanced touch screen support and UI, but maybe I wont wait.
Anyways doesnt matter to much.
I also plan on use SSD for reduces heat and the health of the hard drive.
So getting to my question:
Do anyone know much about using mini/small form motherboard that offers video output to a touch screen and also sends feedback?
What type of video connection these use when working with a PC?
Things to look out for or be aware of?
Ect, ect, ect.
Mp3Car Custom Car Computers!
Edit: Looks like they use USB to send the feedback.
I would like a 7 inch touch screen that supports hdmi and has wires for AC power hookup and not DC.
This is pretty neat but im sure it would be a pain to install an OS
Guru Double Din Car Computer All-In-One 1.83 GHz, Intel Core Duo
Since the Mazda is my lets have fun with ideas car, Ive been sitting on the idea of building a car computer for it.
Just planning now but chances are I will wait for Windows 7 with the enhanced touch screen support and UI, but maybe I wont wait.
Anyways doesnt matter to much.
I also plan on use SSD for reduces heat and the health of the hard drive.
So getting to my question:
Do anyone know much about using mini/small form motherboard that offers video output to a touch screen and also sends feedback?
What type of video connection these use when working with a PC?
Things to look out for or be aware of?
Ect, ect, ect.
Mp3Car Custom Car Computers!
Edit: Looks like they use USB to send the feedback.
I would like a 7 inch touch screen that supports hdmi and has wires for AC power hookup and not DC.
This is pretty neat but im sure it would be a pain to install an OS
Guru Double Din Car Computer All-In-One 1.83 GHz, Intel Core Duo
1 - 20 of 44 Posts
there was once a guy on my honda forum that installed a car comp with a 7" lcd in his IS300.
I wasn't touch screen but he had a wireless kleyboard and some type of mouse that didn't require a surface. It was either a trackball or some type of poiter you picked up. I"ll have to look around but his was an extremely clean set up.
I wasn't touch screen but he had a wireless kleyboard and some type of mouse that didn't require a surface. It was either a trackball or some type of poiter you picked up. I"ll have to look around but his was an extremely clean set up.
how about a mac mini? 
Well I will do a touch screen. No need to type when driving, I could put a track ball in the door or something but I dont know about that.
Ive also thought about an xbox but the PS supply is so huge.
Ive also thought about an xbox but the PS supply is so huge.
I'm pretty sure you don't have the towing capacity for an xbox power supply.
for what its worth - the HP slimline desktops are pretty powerful for their size.. dirt cheap.. and support any slim pci-e vid cards incl. touchscreen versions.
i picked up 3 from woot a couple of days ago, for some bs projects i have.. they have a very small foot print, which makes them pretty ideal.
for what its worth - the HP slimline desktops are pretty powerful for their size.. dirt cheap.. and support any slim pci-e vid cards incl. touchscreen versions.
i picked up 3 from woot a couple of days ago, for some bs projects i have.. they have a very small foot print, which makes them pretty ideal.
Buy this
Complete Mini ITX Carputer w/ 1.6G Dual Core D945GCLF2 - eBay (item 200262352624 end time Oct-17-08 16:48:24 PDT)
and this
American Thunder Audio - Product Info: 8" VGA TFT LCD Car Computer Monitor with Touch Screen !
You can probablyl swap out the HD for a SSD if you really worried about it, or wait till the first HD fails.
Or you can go the fun route.
VoomPC Black Car PC Carputer Enclosure Mini-ITX Case - eBay (item 150298662963 end time Oct-25-08 10:38:21 PDT)
Intel Pentium M Mini ITX Motherboard Carputer Car PC - eBay (item 120316995747 end time Oct-18-08 23:25:00 PDT)
M2-ATX Car PC CarPC Carputer 160W DC-DC Power Supply - eBay (item 130257271891 end time Oct-21-08 22:20:18 PDT)
EDITEEEEEE - I have been thinking about a carputer for a few years now its just low on my priorities list. I still have another dash I have thinking about modding for a screen. I would say forget the touchscreen and just go with a small trackball or wired mouse in the center console to use on top of the console, then use My-T-Soft or some other on-screen keyboard software.
Complete Mini ITX Carputer w/ 1.6G Dual Core D945GCLF2 - eBay (item 200262352624 end time Oct-17-08 16:48:24 PDT)
and this
American Thunder Audio - Product Info: 8" VGA TFT LCD Car Computer Monitor with Touch Screen !
You can probablyl swap out the HD for a SSD if you really worried about it, or wait till the first HD fails.
Or you can go the fun route.
VoomPC Black Car PC Carputer Enclosure Mini-ITX Case - eBay (item 150298662963 end time Oct-25-08 10:38:21 PDT)
Intel Pentium M Mini ITX Motherboard Carputer Car PC - eBay (item 120316995747 end time Oct-18-08 23:25:00 PDT)
M2-ATX Car PC CarPC Carputer 160W DC-DC Power Supply - eBay (item 130257271891 end time Oct-21-08 22:20:18 PDT)
EDITEEEEEE - I have been thinking about a carputer for a few years now its just low on my priorities list. I still have another dash I have thinking about modding for a screen. I would say forget the touchscreen and just go with a small trackball or wired mouse in the center console to use on top of the console, then use My-T-Soft or some other on-screen keyboard software.
Well driving with a touch screen is great! I might do the touch screen and the track ball. I have an old keyboard for server racks and had a small track ball and two buttons. Ive pulled the unit out and its about as wide as the trim for the window switch so I might also mold that in.
I also think it would be fun to take the keys for media function out of a keyboard and setup some in dash controls like Open Windows Media Player, Stop, Pause, Forward, Back.
Another question is there some type of conversion unit from running out of the computer to the amp speaker setup?
Edit: I noticed that first link has 1 pre out for the amp. Could I just split that line for two amps? 4 channel + a mono block?
I also think it would be fun to take the keys for media function out of a keyboard and setup some in dash controls like Open Windows Media Player, Stop, Pause, Forward, Back.
Another question is there some type of conversion unit from running out of the computer to the amp speaker setup?
Edit: I noticed that first link has 1 pre out for the amp. Could I just split that line for two amps? 4 channel + a mono block?
I am t3h st00pid on car stereo
AJ, for audio all you would need is a decent audio card with RCA outs. You can get a PLD from Phoenix Gold to bump up the voltage to your amp.Well driving with a touch screen is great! I might do the touch screen and the track ball. I have an old keyboard for server racks and had a small track ball and two buttons. Ive pulled the unit out and its about as wide as the trim for the window switch so I might also mold that in.
I also think it would be fun to take the keys for media function out of a keyboard and setup some in dash controls like Open Windows Media Player, Stop, Pause, Forward, Back.
Another question is there some type of conversion unit from running out of the computer to the amp speaker setup?
Edit: I noticed that first link has 1 pre out for the amp. Could I just split that line for two amps? 4 channel + a mono block?
As for amps, I would stay away from Class D amps. They are great for power, but they are pretty noisy. I would stick with some Class A amplifiers.
I would hit up teh Shack for a converter/inverter for your 110 power supply.Yeah I use to have a 1000 watt wired to my old car, we would commute from Bremerton to Redmond every day so we used it to power our laptops.
Does anyone think I should run dual batteries?
Does anyone think I should run dual batteries?
To keep noise out of your power supply, it might be wise. don't forget the isolator
I picked up one of ASUS's new EEE PCs, and am plannig to mount that bugger on the dash. 120GB hard drive running XP and 10" screen, with the ability to mod it to touch screen. All in one all for the low price of $370
Yeah Ive had a UMPC device in my car before and I didnt enjoy it. Media play back was laggy and audio with the line out didnt sound all that great.
I picked up one of ASUS's new EEE PCs, and am plannig to mount that bugger on the dash. 120GB hard drive running XP and 10" screen, with the ability to mod it to touch screen. All in one all for the low price of $370
first link completely taken from your site that you posted: FAQ - MP3Car.com
I would read through that. Also, remember, this is in a moving vehicle with a lot of vibration, even if you don't feel it, it is a large amount for electronics. Make sure the carputer you buy can handle it, so I would go with that route of buying one made for a car.
Also, what do you want it to actually do? Just play back basic videos, or do you want to control your A/C unlock your doors, and everything else? Do you want it just for megasquirt? Decide which goals are "must haves" and which are "would be nices"
also, for the OS, i would look into a custom linux installation, an example is here: Linux Automotive - The coolest car ever
It will boot up faster, and it might take a little longer, but you can control a lot more.
I would read through that. Also, remember, this is in a moving vehicle with a lot of vibration, even if you don't feel it, it is a large amount for electronics. Make sure the carputer you buy can handle it, so I would go with that route of buying one made for a car.
Also, what do you want it to actually do? Just play back basic videos, or do you want to control your A/C unlock your doors, and everything else? Do you want it just for megasquirt? Decide which goals are "must haves" and which are "would be nices"
also, for the OS, i would look into a custom linux installation, an example is here: Linux Automotive - The coolest car ever
It will boot up faster, and it might take a little longer, but you can control a lot more.
Well I would use a SSD drive.
As for car control it would be a nice to have and seconary feature. The OS does look nice but it needs to have driver support for touch screen, ssd, and the usb gps unit I have.
As for car control it would be a nice to have and seconary feature. The OS does look nice but it needs to have driver support for touch screen, ssd, and the usb gps unit I have.
I couldnt find a download for an ISO on that linux site, I did find this:
PyMedia - Python module for avi, mp3, dvd, wma, ogg processing - pycar
Im going to try installing it in a virtual environment take it for a test drive.
PyMedia - Python module for avi, mp3, dvd, wma, ogg processing - pycar
Im going to try installing it in a virtual environment take it for a test drive.
Well I got the track ball removed from the keyboard and its wiring harness seperated from the keyboard wires.
Ive got an extra driver side arm rest that I am going to try and fit it into, and fiberglass the buttons from the keyboard plastic (mouse buttons were part of the keyboard) into the trim.
Also going to try and wire in a LED to back light the buttons at night.
Taken with my web cam:
![]()
[/IMG]
Ive got an extra driver side arm rest that I am going to try and fit it into, and fiberglass the buttons from the keyboard plastic (mouse buttons were part of the keyboard) into the trim.
Also going to try and wire in a LED to back light the buttons at night.
Taken with my web cam:
1 - 20 of 44 Posts
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