"Carputer" How do I make one?
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Huntersville, NC, USA
"Carputer" How do I make one?
I was lookin around at differant types of headunits and came across the Eclipse AVN5435. I dont want to pay that much for the unit. Is it possible to make a car-computer that offers the following.
This is what I want:
Double Din sized touch screen
CD player
DVD player
FM radio
Navigation System
Has anyone done this before? Im just looking into some differant options, and seeing if its really worth it
This is what I want:
Double Din sized touch screen
CD player
DVD player
FM radio
Navigation System
Has anyone done this before? Im just looking into some differant options, and seeing if its really worth it
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 613
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From: Chandler, AZ, USA
Re: "Carputer" How do I make one? (Boarderx192)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Boarderx192 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was lookin around at differant types of headunits and came across the Eclipse AVN5435. I dont want to pay that much for the unit. Is it possible to make a car-computer that offers the following.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I don't know how much the Eclipse costs, but it's certainly possible to build a carputer that does all you want and more. The problem is cost and time: it won't be cheap, and it won't be easy. A 7" touchscreen LCD by itself will cost at least $300; then you need the computer (probably an EPIA unit because they're small), a DVD-ROM drive (a Panasonic slot-loading model would be best, but they're pricey), various hardware bits like a shutdown controller, and then you have to deal with installing all the software and getting it all to work together.
Also, if you want it to look nice, there will definitely be a non-trivial amount of fabrication work to install it: making brackets, possibly a little fiberglass, etc.
I don't know how much the Eclipse costs, but it's certainly possible to build a carputer that does all you want and more. The problem is cost and time: it won't be cheap, and it won't be easy. A 7" touchscreen LCD by itself will cost at least $300; then you need the computer (probably an EPIA unit because they're small), a DVD-ROM drive (a Panasonic slot-loading model would be best, but they're pricey), various hardware bits like a shutdown controller, and then you have to deal with installing all the software and getting it all to work together.
Also, if you want it to look nice, there will definitely be a non-trivial amount of fabrication work to install it: making brackets, possibly a little fiberglass, etc.
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Greenville, SC, USA
Re: "Carputer" How do I make one? (Boarderx192)
I read in some magazine how a shop is installing one of the new Mini Mac computers in the dash. It's a double-din size; very clean looking with one slot for a CD/DVD. That wouldn't have a display, however it may give you an idea.
You can always find a low-profile case PC or a "cube" using a micro-ATX board and stuff it under the seat. You can get an FM tuner card for radio. Find a slot-load CD-DVD player, and patch the video to a monitor mounted on your center concole area/dash area. This would of course involve the need for a power supply and maybe a trackball and small keyboard for inpu. You can also install a wifi PCI card and surf Honda-tech in front of Starbucks or something!
I think the car-computer combination is going to be huge in a few years.
You can always find a low-profile case PC or a "cube" using a micro-ATX board and stuff it under the seat. You can get an FM tuner card for radio. Find a slot-load CD-DVD player, and patch the video to a monitor mounted on your center concole area/dash area. This would of course involve the need for a power supply and maybe a trackball and small keyboard for inpu. You can also install a wifi PCI card and surf Honda-tech in front of Starbucks or something!
I think the car-computer combination is going to be huge in a few years.
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