Would like to hear opinions on In-Car PC's like these here:
http://www.CustomCarputers.com
I found that a decent DVD player cost $1000+???, Why not spend about $500.00 more and get a PC with Windows XP, DVD player, Touchscreen monitor, Navigation, XM Radio, store 1000's MP3's. From there you can add your BT phone, rear view camera, WiFi, TV...pretty much whatever you want.
I would like to hear your thoughts, ideas, and recommendations.
If you think it's a looooooser, please tell me why.

Thanks,
Richard


Modified by muldrick at 11:07 AM 10/17/2005


Modified by muldrick at 11:07 AM 10/17/2005


Modified by muldrick at 11:09 AM 10/17/2005

 

hmmm....no comments at all? wierd

 

dude, that's ******* cool

that'
s exactly what I want !

check out my thread


https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1392398

 

here's why I wouldn't want one

1. touchscreens are a bitch to use in sunlight
2. car pc takes too long to boot
3. you have to be teh l33t to get them to work flawlessly
4. not enough support for linux - otherwise I would consider it - read no nav!!
5. you still gotta find room for a cdplayer slot up front IMO


Now, IF, I could get past the load time, then I would, without a doubt, go the route of the car pc.

Benefits of the car pc in my eyes:
1. ability to play any kind of media on an indash
2. flip out screens suck, a flushed in touch is soo much better
3. nav!!!
4. wifi to hook up to a hotspot
5. video games are possible
6. easily do optical output to hook up to a processor :D
7. entire archive of music ripped at high quality


So, if anyone can reliably make one boot in under 10 seconds every time and solve any power supply issues, I'm in

 

Do one of these.

http://e46.mit.edu/Custom_Computer.htm

 

Reply to Curley's post:
1. touchscreens are a bitch to use in sunlight
2. car pc takes too long to boot
3. you have to be teh l33t to get them to work flawlessly
4. not enough support for linux - otherwise I would consider it - read no nav!!
5. you still gotta find room for a cdplayer slot up front IMO

1. Touchscreens work fine in sunlight. In my personal car my windows aren't even tinted.
2. I can set them up to boot in 30 seconds (cold-boot) or use hybernate and you really reduce it to about 10-15 seconds.
3. No you don't, setting it up takes a tech, but if setup right...there are no issues.
4. Nothing supports Linux. Sorry
5. Many places to put a 5"x 1/2" slot load cd player. They're small.
6. Power supplies work fine, and have startup /shutdown controllers. PC automaticly turn on and off. From hybernate, if you want.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by muldrick &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Reply to Curley's post:
1. touchscreens are a bitch to use in sunlight
2. car pc takes too long to boot
3. you have to be teh l33t to get them to work flawlessly
4. not enough support for linux - otherwise I would consider it - read no nav!!
5. you still gotta find room for a cdplayer slot up front IMO

1. Touchscreens work fine in sunlight. In my personal car my windows aren't even tinted.
2. I can set them up to boot in 30 seconds (cold-boot) or use hybernate and you really reduce it to about 10-15 seconds.
3. No you don't, setting it up takes a tech, but if setup right...there are no issues.
4. Nothing supports Linux. Sorry
5. Many places to put a 5"x 1/2" slot load cd player. They're small.
6. Power supplies work fine, and have startup /shutdown controllers. PC automaticly turn on and off. From hybernate, if you want.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Muldrick,

Thanks for addressing those. my comments all stem from reasearch at mp3car.com - it seems to me that everyone is a bit of an idealist about carputers - but in reality it's a hell of a lot harder then most people think. For the average guy who knows his way around a computer, it's still a pretty challenging thing and it takes a lot of time to get it right.

If you can pull it off, however, it's a pretty sweet situation. I personally would be utterly annoyed by the boot time, even from hibernate. Get into your car, start it, then count 15 seconds....it's a pretty long time.

How about this for a possible way around it - can you use a security system to trigger the thing - just like a remote start. Could you have unlocking your doors fire up the carputer? If so, then we'd be onto something. When I get in my car, I want to fire it up and go right away!

Regardless - it's an interesting thread.

 

I really appreciate your comments Curley. Thanks.
One way around the boot time is like you said. The power supply works similar to an Amp. Yes, you could get 12v from the alarm system/remote door locks to turn on the power supply for the PC.
You're right about the technical part of it, it's not an easy job. That's why a friend and me started http://www.CustomCarputers.com
Sure, the first one I did was a beeetch, after doing several we are knowledgeable on how to set these up correctly from the start. There will be some issues like you have on your home pc, however less because less internet exploring, and downloads. A carputer is capable of the same things as a desktop, however less things are done on them because they're in a car, therefor it has less issues...mainly Windows crap, just like a home PC.



Modified by muldrick at 11:10 AM 10/17/2005

 

Ahh, just noticed that this was your company....

I'm really confused as to your product offering and your target market.....these comments are just my opinions on how to help grow your biz (I'm an MBA student, so we do this crap all day long :D) and to hit your target a bit better.

Are you offering turn key computers - so for example, I call you up, tell you the options I want (nav, xmradio, mp3, wirelessetc) and you do all the install and trouble shoot?

Or are you just selling components?

Or both?

It's not really THAT clear from your site what you really offer. It appears just by your site/company name that you are targeting the consumer who has heard about a carputer, wants a carputer, but has no clue how to go about doing so.

If that's the case, then you need to change the way your site is structured IMO.

For example, when you go to newegg.com - that's a site where you can buy components and it's a diy based site. It would be intimidating to my parents.

Dell on the other hand, is a package only kind of place. You start with a plat form, then you can option it how you like. There's a lot more helpful information there to understand why one option/computer is better then the next.

I think your site could do a better job of leading people down the road of putting together a package, then option it to get the most revenue from them. For being carputersfordummies.com, I'd say it's still fairly intimidating for someone.

I'd write the site so that you give a blurb about who you are, then I would draw out a simple diagram to let people know what components are necessary for a carputer and why - the computer, power supply, screen, input and output. Also let them know what's possible, etc. I think you need some more education on the site.

If you really want to attract the people who are timid and don't want to go the DIY route, I think you really need to setup your site to reflect packages to your customers.

Just my $0.02 from a rambling student who is bored at work on a friday

Good luck with your biz, and I really wish I had the time to work on a carputer, b/c I think the technology has gotten really good right now. I just don't feel like ripping my dash apart - AGAIN - to build another custom fiberglass bezel, etc..

btw, your "home" button on the top nav bar is not linked up at all....

 

Thanks for your opinion and suggestions on the site. I do appreciate it.
Sent you an email.

 

You could use hibernate then use you car alarm remote to bring it out of hibernation. That would speed up boot time. 15 sec doesn't sound like much to me, damn your impatient .

And yes your product listings are horrible if your trying to sell to the average consumer.

The one thing that really sucks about carputers currently is radio reception. It's horrible, this is the only real draw back I see.

I'm an EE and am going back next term for my MBA

 

I'm in my last 6 months of mba school - it's not a good time

I'm so sick of school!! That and I work over 40 hrs a week, plus have 3-4 consulting jobs - i'm busy!!

 

something like that has been out for a while, a pc in your car at least.. if u have space for a large touch screen or at least a large screen its worth it. reading lets say a title of a mp3 on a 6" screen wont b cool.. but then u realize that a laptop with afew connections could do the same, costs the same if not cheaper and be more portable.. only thing is u will look like a cop.

 

I have the 7" screen in my car, I can read the titles just fine. I use one of the front-end software programs that allows me to access my MP3's, Nav, and XM. The software is "touchscreen friendly" meaning; larger buttons, and text is readable. Screens are available in 7", 8", 10", 12" and 15". Of course the laptop doesn't have the touchscreen either, or audio, the "laptop could do the same"??? Yes, it could (kind of)...if you want wires hanging all over the place, no quality audio, no touchscreen....No, far from "the same".

 

i think they are awesome.some of the guys on the rx7club use them http://www.mp3car.com with this setup you can load fc edit(apexi power fc) and display realtime info of all of the sensors on the screen. you can also make changes in tuning on the fly.oh and you can get the complete set-up with 100gb hard drive,touch screen,dvd burner,etc. for about $1500

 

I came up with about $1800.00. We have a system for under $1500.00. http://www.customcarputers.com/CfD%20Mini.htm
You can dowload the OBDII software, but you'd have buy a cable.


Modified by muldrick at 11:06 AM 10/17/2005

 

Crap, had to change our name

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by muldrick &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Crap, had to change our name </TD></TR></TABLE>
why?

 

Well........Dummies on us, because that's a copyright phrase...the "fordummies".
Should've at least checked that, thought about it, but didn't check it.

 

http://www.mp3car.com

I think thats a better site.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by muldrick &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well........Dummies on us, because that's a copyright phrase...the "fordummies".</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ya now that I think about it that is those books.
C++ for dummies ect.... they have a whole line of books.

Well your a dummie

You must have got a nasty letter..... think thats fun go try to register the word targa or anything with monster in it. Monster cable tried to sue Disney once because of Monster inc. LOL Diney bitch slapped them back into the hole they crawled out of.

 

Wasn't a bad letter, they gave me time to change everything too. I would've expected legal action, but they were nice

"Wiley Publishing, Inc. (“Wiley”) owner of the famous and
well-regarded FOR
DUMMIES® trademarks recently became aware of your registration of the
above-referenced domain name. You may be unaware that use of the phrase
FOR
DUMMIES® or a similar formative of this phrase as a domain name or
company
name infringes and dilutes our famous trademarks, and such use is not
permitted under state and federal trademark laws. Wiley values its
rights
to its trademarks and seeks your cooperation in the termination of any
further infringement of those rights.

Accordingly, we ask that you take steps to immediately terminate any
and
all use of http://carputersfordummies.com/ and that you permit
the
registration to expire.

If the site should remain active after October 20, 2005, Wiley will
take
the necessary steps to cease your unlawful activities
including, if
necessary, initiation of ICANN proceedings to have the site
disabled.
Continued activity of this site will now be considered willful
infringement
of Wiley’s trademark rights, in light of the notice provided
by this
letter.

Please contact me if you have any questions. Wiley appreciates your
cooperation in this matter and we look forward to your immediate
response.
The foregoing is without prejudice and Wiley expressly reserves all its
rights and remedies.

Sincerely,xxx"

 

that is the coolest thing i have seen in a while. its just about what i was planning on spending on an avic n2, but better! ill have to get ahold of you to talk about this sometime

 

Eh, just go with this thing:
http://www.megacar.com

 

Two things. http://WWW.MP3CAR.COM Pretty cool stuff some of those guys are doing. Quite a bit of junk too...



Or, you could say expletive PC's, because Microsoft is garbage, and run one of these. It seems no coincidence that it is almost identical to a din size, and there are a few navi programs out there also. Oh, yeah, and this is reliable, and costs $499 new, $379 SHIPPED for a refurb at http://www.apple.com . Add yourself a 7 inch lilliput touch screen, available ALL OVER ebay for about $200 shipped, use a gyration wireless mouse/keyboard (if you don't know what it is, read up http://www.gyration.com ), and your navigation software, and power supply, you are well under $1000. And this is reliable. And is cool, because almost NO ONE does it!!!

My 32 cents...