XMatrix

Hi folks, after sourcing components for my pc for 6 mths now. I believe I can now install them in my 8. I have acquired :

- OEM Nav housing
- Transflective 7" Liliput screen
- Mini PC
- Bluetooth keyboard
- 12V DC converter
- Wireless receiver

What I think I am missing is :

- car2pc aux mod (for pc sound to car speaker)
- USB GPS
- USB Mic (for voice activated controls and phone calls)

Anybody can recommend a good "car2pc aux mod "?

Also is there anybody that can connect the pc to the battery to the speaker? Would appreicate if there's anyone who can provide a shop or their experience.

MazdaJeff

I have this one. It works very well.

http://www.sylfex.com/products/AuxMod/

Where did you get the nav housing?

XMatrix

Many thankx. I bought it a salvage yard.

Emperor

I did wanted to build a car-puter too. Search for the old thread. Didn't do it due to lack of time and that i think i will not really use it often enough; though i have lots of excess parts i can use.

You do not need a usb mic. Just use a normal mic and insert it into the mic input( usually its pink). Amd use a Bluetooth GPS instead.

Silver_Z

Wouldn't it be cheaper to use a PS3?

Emperor

PS3 is selling at $700 plus right? But a simple pc can cost way less than that and will do more fuctions than only playing PS games.

XMatrix

Bro Emperor you seems knowledgeable in this. Do you know how to take out the stock screen and transfer the liliput to the housing?

Emperor

Not sure about that but if its like a LCD from a laptop; then should be as simple as un-screwing the casing. But will you have a perfect fit on the nav housing? Will you be able to secure it properly?

XMatrix

My research tells me that the stock is a 6.5", a 7" will require some cutting. I have not open it yet so cant confirm. Got to do more research. Will post some pics as the project get along.

Silver_Z

Yep... a used PC can get for way lesser than $799. But! it cant do more than the PS3. Not even a $3000 PC can do more than a PS3. what can a PC do that a PS3 cant? Burn CD or DVD, and.... anything else a Linux cant do(not much).

XMatrix

Actually, a car pc for me is meant for mobile computer; emails; faxes; phone calls; car diagnostic; TV.

Putting a PS3 will probably be inpractical unless you are driving long distances in Singapore. Maybe going around and around Singapore island?

sqflyer

Just get an ultra portable laptop or even a high-spec PDA. You can take it in and out of your car, so you are not limited to have to sit in your car with engine running (to enjoy aircon) when you have a McDonald's nearby. And you can oso sell it when you don't need it anymore. Car PC not very practical and not very resellable. I actually setup one in my car as a proof of concept a while back and realised it's not very practical. In fact, it was just a "look cool" mod to put in your car, but otherwise quite useless.

Emperor

No scratches on screen, condition is 9/10. Interested parties may email me ta wayne_poh@hotmail.com.

Short specs.

Small 990 grams. 8.9" screen.
Pentium M Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) Model 753 1.2GHZ
Mobile Intel 915GMS Express tip/chip set
Intel GMA 900 Graphics 1024x600
512mb ram
30gb
External DVD-rom CD-r Drive
Windows XP Tablet PC version (japanese)
Battery exchanged late last year
I will have replaced the old power adapter with a good aftermarket adapter which i bought in Japan for $200 plus.
No more warranty already but buyer may test item on spot. 100% working.
The link show a 1x PCMCIA Type II slot but its actually a CF card slot. So this has one SD-card and one CF card slot.

http://www.small-laptops.com/fujitsu-loox-p70r

PM offers. Min $2500. The newer model P1610 is selling at $3998; virtually same except for a newer processor.

XMatrix

PDA is definitely out of the question because of the small screen. I did consider the laptop option because I am actually using one rite now. But I found it cumblesome because of the angle you have to see, type and reply emails.

Because my job demands almost instant attention, I suppose a car pc will elminate the need to check emails and reply to my clients on my laptop (at my passenger seat).

XMatrix

Can I suggest you put your ad at the buy and sell column so that my thread would not be mislead as a buy and sell ad?

sqflyer

I don't think there's a problem with viewing angle and typing on a laptop if you are willing to move to the passenger seat. Using a 6.5-7" screen above the centre console won't be that great either because of the small screen (lower pixel resolution) and glare. For instant attention, a PDA phone or blackberry is much better than laptop, hands down. Besides, how do you expect to use your car PC to make phone calls as you mentioned earlier?

XMatrix

Ohs maybe I be more specific. Normally I put my laptop at the passenger seat while I type from the driver seat. I do that because I will be driving for appointments and the laptop is always on incase my clients or secretaries need help to solve problems. So the most suitable place to put my laptop is at the passenger seat. Besides stopping by the road side just so I can answer all emails that come in every 5 mins doesnt make sense. Once the car pc is installed, I will be using voice - activated software for simple typing. Of course complex navigation to website have to be done manually with hand.

As for the screen size, the OEM nav housing holds the biggest 7" that is concealable from preying eyes. That cant be help on the size. As for pixel resolution and glare, the liliput transreflective is the best choice at this moment with excellent resolution and anti-glare screen.

A PDA phone or blackberry does solves one problem of instant emailing but doesnt do quite well with internet and TV.

As for the phone calling using PC - here you are :

http://zoran-horvat.de/PhoCoWeb2/content.aspx?id=what


So you see, careful research does make wonders

sqflyer

Well, the car pc was too impractical for me. I would take a laptop/PDA phone anytime. All the best and have fun with yours.

coupe07

bro, singapore is very small only, more so if u r driving the rx8.... Sending emails a few minutes later after u rch ur destination shld be ok....unless its life n death...

toking abt life n death, meddling wth ur car pc while ur driving makes u a serious road hazard...

i have a tv, dvd player in my car.... even i myself tink its dangerous with only these 2 functions oredi.... a car PC???

Silver_Z

Just fyi, the PS3 is more than just a gaming console. It is a Linux machine. You can do anything you could with a PC on a PS3. And play PS1,2 and 3 games that u can never do on a PC. So it is way superior than any PC in terms of functionality. With a price of 799, it is more powerful, compact and looks better than any PC. But if u dun need such powerful system, u can use a used PC, which is slightly better than today's PDA. This is only for information purposes, you decide what you like to put in your ride.

Btw, I wouldn't recommend the use of such equipment on NS highway or long distance. It is great for slow poke singapore traffic, where u spend more time stationary than moving.

Emperor

Actually. Xmatrix. What you really need is a personal assistant.

Silver_z. You are really a ps3 fan. No doubt a ps3 is highly desirable and useful in its intended way (play games). All it have to do to replace the PC is when it runs microsoft's softwares (i am not a microsoft advocate btw)

XMatrix

Yap, that's correct. I will be only typing the emails when the car is stationary. Foolish doing anything other than driving while you are driving. Since I will be using voice-typing, it will definitely be hazard free. Think talking on the phone via bluetooth headset.

"i have a tv, dvd player in my car.... even i myself tink its dangerous with only these 2 functions oredi.... a car PC???"

Do you watch TV while driving?

XMatrix

So you saying that a PS3 machine can do emails; surf internet and watch TV?

XMatrix

Yap I know that. That's why I hired not only 1 secretary - I have 2.

ngkenny

why don't you use the voice typing software on the laptop instead? Then you save all your trouble and money....

Xmatrix...do you really need the car pc if what you really want to do is just to answer urgent emails when you stop? Like a bit overkill imo.

I have tv, dvd, ipod, ps2 in the car....sometimes too scared to even touch any of them cos it is really quite fun but distracting.....then if i really need to answer any emails....my mobile phone can do that also...just pull over at the side....answer the email quickly...job done.

anyway...can see that you realllllly want the car pc installed.....dun let anyone stop you from doing so. (although all of us already say no point)...if you suceed, i am sure some of us will be very impressed, but if you failed, at least you've tried.

Quite a few bros also advised me not to put in the ps2....but i went ahead with it still...and i like it...