Would anyone be interested in buying a Car PC that would fit in a Double DIN and use 12V DC?

Features would be:

1Ghz processor
512meg RAM
120Gig HD
DVD / CDRW Combo Drive
7" LCD
Professional Audio Card with RCA output on board >105dB SN Ratio
GPS receiver
Built in menu system to control MP3, DVD, Divx, GPS, etc...

Also, how much would you pay for this?

Just trying to guage marketablility.

 

That would be awesome, especially if you could get it down to DIN size eventually. Anyways I'd pay $1500ish for it.

 

Single DIN size is a no go. Double DIN is really really tight. I am going to build one for myself but I am seeing if it is worth trying to strictly adhere to double DIN dimensions.

 

I have yet to see a double din that looks cool.

good luck.

 

Well really all you would see would be the LCD screen. I plan on making that fold down to access the DVD though.

 

The idea is awesome, gluck with the execution. I'd drop $1500 on one though.

u plan on using a regular OS like windows or something along those lines? If so, how would you navigate? Mouse ? Voice command ?

Good idea, lots of expandability options; integrated mobile phone access, tie it in with a Hondata sys or some other tuning device, etc, etc,....

 

Most likely a stripped down windows2k install with a custom front end. Control will be initially done with remote control but could optionally include touchscreen. Support for all tuning devices would be up to the owner and expandability would be "limited" to usb and firewire devices.

 

Actually this seems to be going well as far as working up a functional analysis of user requirements. Keep the thoughts comming guys.

 

i seen someone with a pc in their car before. very nice i'd say.

 

Clarion used to make an auto PC. Single din.
I intend to install one but mostly for MP3 storage. I will use a PDA to control it with a wireless connection. Using a Linksys access point. This way I will be able to access files while my car is in the garage.


[Modified by nsxxtreme, 2:04 PM 3/5/2003]

 

A single din motorized screen with the "cpu" under the seat or in the trunk would be bad ***

 

I just want to store audio and video files, and be able to watch all the cool visuilizations available for winamp, etc...

 

Hey, just a thought but why bother with a 1ghz processor? You oculd stick with like a 500 or so and it would do all you need. 1GHz would enable you to run some intensive apps, but what intensive apps would you want in a car? If you keep the processor down, and limit the memory you'd have a pretty good deal going for everyone using Hondata. If you could make a lower end model that would go for say $4-500 and would connect to hondata... you'd make a killing. Think about all the racecars that run hondata and have no stereo. They could replace the hole in the dash with your PC. Not only would it be functional but it would look pretty slick too.

Where would the PC itself go? If you make it somewhere remote from the screen you could make it a bit bigger... then you could use normal ram and a non-mobile processor... and everyone knows when it comes to PC's that bigger = less expensive.

Just my thoughts on the matter. Let us know how it turns out, great idea.

 

Well it'll be based of the Via EPIA platform. These boards are very small. The reason I wanted to go with that speed of processor is for Divx.

The ideal mounting location is in the double din on the 99-00 civic. Other cars with double dins or audio consoles could be tested though.

Hondata would be a big plus for the system and all those options could be added and some options could be removed for sure.

 

yes, someone has done this.. i forget who though. Also the old MMPEG mobile MP3 din radio unit thingy that uses linux runs off a computer w/hard drive pretty much (though they limit it to running the MP3 software)

 

instaed of having a fold down screen to access the dvd drive could you have a remote drive like a changer for example? just my $.02 but sounds like a good idea, goodluck with the project.

 

If you wanted to have a usb DVD drive.

 

I have put a lot of thought into this project in the past. I think it would be real cool to have. Not just for MP3's and Hondata, but GPS, games while you're sitting in traffic, in-car PC camera, maintenance log programs, gas mileage logging programs, a unit to control your stereo system, lighting system, air ride, etc. The possibilites are endless. I do agree that you should do a slower processor to cut costs. A 750 or so would be ideal IMO. If you're gonna do a production deal, you could do different "levels" with differnet options based on your needs. For MY uses, a 1 ghz would be overkill. But thats just me.

My only request is that you put in a wireless network card. That would be a must-have.

 

not to sound negitive, but the autopc or whatever clarion calls it now has these capabilities and is din sized. also AccelVision has a screen setup that runs windows (so it's a regular PC). You might want to check these out before you decide on any design since they would be your competitors

 

Already did. I am just not happy with the level of customization offered by these units.

 

I'd be interested in playing DIVX movies on a car PC. That would require 1 GHZ I'd say. It's not really appealing having another microsoft monster to maintain though. I hate the though of my car's stereo needing an OS reinstalled all the time, or crashing on me in traffic.

All you need is a micro PC behind the seat or in the trunk and an LCD screen, wireless KB and mouse and maybe a USB hub up front. It'd be quite clumsy to change music tracks and such and what about FM radio? There should be a good unlimited wireless internet connection as well. You could then use the device as a netphone. And you could look up yahoo maps or have navigation.

http://www.littlepc.com/products.htm seems to have many systems, even full blown Pentium 4 up to like 2.5 GHZ . They are small 10" X 5.8" X 2.75" All you'd need is a power inverter to run it. I'd spend too much time in my car with one of those in it. I've also seen other similar products around.

 

You have got me thinking about this now.

Having hardware that could run linux or windows would be very appealing. Wireless 802.11b ethernet Combine this with VNC, and you will have the ability to do patches, downloads and file transfers from your home pc.

I wonder how to set it up so that it will not stay on for too long. Maybe auto shutdown after 30 minutes of no activity. You could set up an alarm module to turn it on maybe if you want to transfer files in the morning, or wake on lan

 

Those are pretty cool but the price is ridiculous, $400 maybe. Your possibilities are endless if you had a pc in the car. They do have radio tuners for pc's so that is no problem. I think the biggest problem would be the input devices ( how to communicate with it). I don't see anything other than a touch screen being very useful.

I would use WOL for the car sitting in the garage. Either that or just turn the car on when you want to transfer files. I don't see this being an everyday chore, so I don't think it would be to inconvienent.

Why would you use yahoo maps? You can just buy a GPS navigation system for the pc. They have them for laptops already.


[Modified by nsxxtreme, 1:33 PM 3/7/2003]

 

You can also have a TV tuner card put in as well as FM, That is if you get the PC that actually has expansion ports, or go USB. I think Logitech makes a handheld remote mouse, you can use it with one hand while the other hand... never mind the other hand. As far as a GPS, that's more money, I suppose money can really open up the possibilities.

 

I saw a site where the guy had a ATX power down detector which which cause the PC to power down normally after the ignition was switched off.