thew

Ok,, its comming .. I am going to be selling a plug and play carputer kit very soon.

give me a list of needs and wants.. and what you dont want to.

I have 2 prototypes now. so i just want a good idea of options peeps want.. ie.. hardrive size?
ect.....

Omicron

Screen that integrates where the Nav screen would normally go; plenty of inputs so I can tie a CanScan (or similar) "Gauge pack" into it and display on the screen while driving; connection/integration with the factory stereo so I can play MP3s and videos. That's a start. :D

DemonRX-8

I've actually been rethinking my carpc strategy. Now I'm thinking more about just getting a tablet PC that I can use in the car and out. Just looking for one with about a 10" screen so it's not too big but still usable as a note pad when I go to meetings and site visits.

thew

well one way i am thinking is to make a combo Avelectronics and Carputer box.
it would mount in the pass thur. or where ever you like. It will have a DVD rom that you can get to from the Pass Thru, and all the other stuff, USB , EthernetUsb thub data drive, Wireless . .. this can then be tied into the AV Nav switch system and you can have the best of both worlds.

MY adapter will be all VGA cable based. I will add the VGA connecter to the AV box and the nit can go right in to my Plug and Play Video Harness..

But what i need to know is how much money is an all in one AV/Carputer box worth to you all ? or would you rather have just the Carputer . IE a good Laptop Modded in a shock proof case that can slide out inyour trunk and then will be tied into the Factory LCD. ?

Omicron

Start with the LCD panel, that mounts basically where (and how) the Nav screen does. How much would that cost? Then we'll talk about the rest of the system...

z00m-z00m

touch screen :D

thew

I can get you a LCD unit that you can mout there.. but why ?

unless you want touchscreen?

bochawa

I think you'll want to have a touchscreen solution available for those of us that don't have the nav option on our cars.

truemagellen

there are touchscreen solutions available already for non nav owners...I bet thew could get them for you (don't quote what I said )

hey your in Janesville? I'm going to madison next weekend for Halloween...I'm installing a video in just in time so my GF can watch movies and play xbox on the way there (I used to go to U of W Madison)

bochawa

tm: I grew up in Madison and graduated from UW.

I've seen the nav tray from canzoomer, but was wondering if thew had any leads on other methods. It'd be nice to be able to hide the carputer display when not in use, like the stock nav display.

8is>enuff

The best idea might be to offer two different versions (nav and non-nav). This way you could base one around an independent screen with touch screen or whatever (use your imagination). The other one would be the AVE unit and whatnot (I personally am looking for something like the XBox hack, but would consider this option if the price was right and the options were in addition to the added features). This way, you could cater to people who already have a screen (me) and use the factory NAV screen, and you could also base a better product for those without the factory NAV system.
Two similar results from two different situations, with the same result.
I'm interested in where this is going.

8is>enuff

independant <-?

thew

ok.. thats easy.

thew

waiting on parts now.. hope to have some pics soon

mrthundercleese

Only thing holding me back from a car-puter setup is the lack of a solution to mount a touchscreen monitor where the stock HU controls are. This has been mentioned in other threads on this subject. I need to keep the hazard lights button and ac controls. All others can go away. Thats my dream car pc :D .

epitrochoid

make it do everything a chipped xbox can do for about the same price..

xbox - $150
chip - $50
av box - $450
PIE - $100(?)

about $750. add a little more to mount the D pad and select/back buttons in the tape panel on the head unit, which I'd want to do also. Of course I'd pay more for a full RGB connection and more for the extra benefits of a PC over just an xbox. My main requirement would be to play MP3's and have a cool visulisation on screen while playing. tuning programs, DVD, and GPRS internet access are cool features, but if the price is drastically higher than the XBMC setup I'll happily go without them.

also an issue with the carputer is the I/O. I don't feel like stashing wireless I/O devices in the car, and I don't really care for touchscreens.

thew

Good cause thats what i am building..

i should have my Motherboards here on tuesday.

truemagellen

actually your missing a HUGE part of the equation a hard drive...atleast $100 right there if you want decent storage

also installation of modchip if you cant do it

epitrochoid

yea, forgot to include a drive...there's enough 80-120gig ones laying around here I didnt even consider it. mod chips are easy to install, if you cant put one in you shouldnt drive an rx8 :D

thew - if i decide to go XBMC could you hack up an xbox controller and mount it in the Tape panel? you do good work with the V1 display...

truemagellen

epitrode show me the way (some sites to help me mod it, I've got a 250 gig hd, I need a modchip that accomadates that

thew

and yes i can mount that there.. NP.

Nemesis8

iTrader: (3)

Hummm

OK, you mentioned VGA to the AV Box. I thought the AV Box only had Composite (RCA) and S-Video, if you order that option.

thew

will no.. the AV box has a vga.. or RGB output. I will be converting the connecters to a standard vga connecter for easy of build. But yes.. as far as input the AVbox has 3 rca and 1 svideo inputs. it out puts RGB and rca.

epitrochoid

any chip available on the market today will allow you to use a drive larger than 120gigs. www.xbox-scene.com

Zaku-8

If any of the following should go into a new thread...

1.) is it possible to source a monitor that will fit right into the stock NAV display mount.. but will accept both the stock nav input as well as VGA?

2.) As far as your original question:
a.) mounting in the pass thru would be great... I was thinking the same thing but would it include something like rubber mounts for vibration issues?
b.) multiple serial and usb ports/controllers... for data input/logging, touchscreens.
c.) HD size from my perspective would be for value over absolute size... whichever offers best value over 20-30gigs, as long as there's a dvd drive.
d.) I guess modular design if possible... some people want larger hd's
e.) also if possible, dual display capability. I dunno if this is available for mobile carputers