Seeall about it here

Took me 4 painstaking months to finish this project going tru every detail and hiccup. The objective is to install an incar PC while still retain its stock looks.

 

Now that's good to have.... Which os ??

 

this system is running on xp, it dosnt matter what os, u dont need vista all u need is a reliable and fast os becos u'll be using a front end as its shell. front end is a shell made suited for car pc, big buttons etc...

 

WOW! inovative! i want one. email sent.

 

What about a MAC mini ? would the touch screen still work ??

 

nicely done. do you have built in wifi? might find some hot spts in the city. i'd like to have this done as well. excellent work.

 

Nice info Thanks for sharing

 

Nice setup!

 

no problem all u need is touch drivers,

for mac u can use TouchWare 5.3

 

no wifi built in in this board, but u can add usb wifi receiver, or get pcmcia

 

Hi Singapore folks, I have been emailing WarmFreedom about the setup. He's a brilliant guy who has setup the car pc in his 8.

Because he is located in Penang, for those interested to setup a car pc in the 8, I would suggest can we pool some $ together to get him into Singapore to fix it up for us?

 

After using the Mac in the 8 for more than a year now, i feel i wouldn't do it again.
It's now being used just for MP3s, DVDs and movies now.
Not internet friendly with the 7" screen. Too small.
I have since got a macbook and if I need internet access, just park and go to Macdonald's, get a coke and fries and surf.

Anyway, here's the link to the Mac OSX pics.
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...1&postcount=86

 

yah, if you do it in the car, its so cramped and hot and must on the aircon, then waste petrol. cause the rotary drinks petrol like water when idling, then center console will be hot... bla bla bla. just use a normal PC at home or work. easier.

 

Having a car pc is not all about browsing the net. becos it is, like u said difficult.
a computers' usage are so wide, u have to seperate their functions into categories, browsing the net is definately a home activity, so is typing out a letter, so is editing photos...u get the idea...

in-car computers cater well for in-car activities, like GPS navigation, OBDII readout, car tuning, mp3, movies, bluetooth handsfree for handphone, carry personal files wherever u go, capture pictures and record videos and audio, if u r online, u can u can run automated data download/upload to your server, u can control how your car functions on specific locations on specific times...got remote engine start? great, remote start ur car, copy files from to your car to home over wireless network then remote engine shutdown

so u get the idea, diffrent usage for diff situation, like whats the point of using a road navigator with a desktop sitting at home?
a computer base are the heart of future cars, the point of having computers is it

 

Eh... still must wait for it to boot up right?

 

yup. but not shutdown and reboot its hibernate and wake.

wake takes about 20 secs, after u start engine, put on safety belt, get into gear, its fully loaded.

hibernate takes 20+ secs but it dosnt mater becos ur not going to stick around to wait.

 

Seems like there will also be 2 groups of people who are for or against the car pc. It really depends on what you are going to use the pc for. For activities that required extensive usage of computer power and time, you definitely will not be doing them in a car for obvious reasons.

For me, it is the constant attention of my job and the convenience instances like being able to book online cinema tickets while on the way to pick up my gf for a last min movie that makes a car pc better than bringing out a 2 Kg laptop on a lazy Sunday.

 

Bro Xmatrix,
I'm not discouraging you, but my Mac Mini is more like an expensive iPod now.
Not using the GPS anymore cos won't get lost in S'pore. The screen too small for internet. I didn't run my bootcamp XP for ages, hence no OBD and no other frontend except Front Row running now. I did use hibernate mode, but it left my battery dead one day, so now it's proper shutdown and bootup, but OSX boot up is very fast.

 

Dont worry bro. You are just giving your 2 cents worth that's all.

 

Car PC is the future!! But make sure PC faster than car. lol!! Running XP on P4 with 256mb ram and IDE drive is just not feasible. In a small country like SG, before your application starts, you reach your destination liao. Best is to get C2D6600 with 4gb of DDR2 1066mhz, and 2 HDD at raid 0. Hmm... a bit overkill also. lol!!