Inexpensive CarPuter setup

[r1ceburner]

Has anyone seen/used this kit before?
http://www.mini-box.com/s.nl/category.101/it.A/id.399/.f
For $319 you get an 1GHz X86 computer & 12vdc atx power supply. This would be an idea WindowsXP + Street Atlas 2003 setup.

They also have a 7" LCD Touchscreen display that fits in a single DIN size enclosure.
http://www.mini-box.com/s.nl/sc.8/category.101/it.A/id.403/.f
Not bad for $399. Has anyone seen similar models for similar money?

The only drawback that I see is that unless I could find a FM tuner for the VoomPC, I don't know how I could keep AM/FM capability.

 

[dbzeag]

There is ( or was) a USB FM tuner from D-Link that I know a lot of carputer people use. You could try that.

 

[chuyler1]

If you are serious about this, get on www.mp3car.com and start browsing their forum. If the items you listed above are in-fact a good deal, I'm sure someone on that forum has seen it and can give you some pointers.

Don't forget to check out StreetDeck...
http://www.mp3car.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=51&products_id=152
It's more expensive than your suggestion but it's a plug-and-play solution to carputing.

 

[splitvizion]

let me get this right, I can by a mac mini and hook it up to this in dash touchscreen monitor and I will be able to use in my vehicle. Plus, I will be able to input a external DVD source(lets say an XBOX 360) and play movies through the screen.

 

[chuyler1]

Yup. The Mac Mini is a great all-in-one solution for just $500. It comes with a DVD drive so you'd only need the XBOX if you wanted to play video games.
However, you also need a power supply (which is covered at www.mp3car.com). You also may need a tuner and other accessories depending on what you intend to do with your carputer.

I've been considering one for my next audio upgrade...but getting audiophile sound out of one isn't as easy as you would think.

 

[r1ceburner]

Yup. The Mac Mini is a great all-in-one solution for just $500. It comes with a DVD drive so you'd only need the XBOX if you wanted to play video games.
However, you also need a power supply (which is covered at www.mp3car.com). You also may need a tuner and other accessories depending on what you intend to do with your carputer.

I've been considering one for my next audio upgrade...but getting audiophile sound out of one isn't as easy as you would think.

You are correct about computer sound quality. Although, many of the mini-itx motherboards offer SPD/IF and or optical sound out....so at least if you have a head unit that supports digital sound, you could get away with that and avoid CPU processing noise and ground-loop hum.

The MacMini is also something that I considered using...even to the point that I could clear out the area where my ashtray is and mount it there...which would give me access to the Slot-load DVD drive. The only problem with the MacMini is that there is really not much you can do to increase the cooling to the unit, short of pulling off the sides of the case or drilling tons of air holes.

 

[chuyler1]

The new Intel-based Mac minis also have optical outputs..but the head units and/or processors that support optical input are few and far between. There isn't a cheap solution...yet.

 

[dbzeag]

Yup. The Mac Mini is a great all-in-one solution for just $500. It comes with a DVD drive so you'd only need the XBOX if you wanted to play video games.
However, you also need a power supply (which is covered at www.mp3car.com). You also may need a tuner and other accessories depending on what you intend to do with your carputer.

I've been considering one for my next audio upgrade...but getting audiophile sound out of one isn't as easy as you would think.

Aren't a couple of people on the MP3car boards in SQ competitions and they built their carputer just for that purpose? I actually think you can do better than a regular head unit because a stretch of USB cable will have less degredation than RCA (if you have a USB sound card).

I don't think it is as difficult to get quality sound out of a carputer as you think.

 

[dbzeag]

PS, my USB Sound Blaster MP3+ card has optical in and out and was $20 after rebate.

 

[chuyler1]

The competitors are using optical output with a processor like the Alpine H701 (I think that's the model number) which combines optical input with 5.1 surround sound, and a pretty decent eq and crossover.

The Alpine processor requires a dummy single-din controller or an Alpine head unit....so the Carputer is simply a place to store music files and has no contribution to the sound quality of the system.

My idea of a carputer would be to completely replace everything in my car except the amplifiers and speakers...but the software simply isn't available for that and the soundcards which are affordable have issues running off 12v DC.

 

[Q2CDIS]

ive got a in-car pc and its only the size of a single din unit also has 80g harddrive, dvd player, windows xp.. 7" touch screen... its not bad n it still cranks a good 148 DB...
these a pic of it.. the pc is under the screen..

 

[Katya4me]

What system are you using?

 

[splitvizion]

I have an Alpine CDA-9830 fiberglassed into the area that is designated for the Navi.System in the Mazda 3 since I didnt get the system with my car. I am looking to get the mazda 3 install kit that replaces the factory HU and use the in deash touch screen setup with a Mac-mini. The XBox will be after. What exactly do I need to run this mac-mini setup. Are their any extra perrifials / software that needs to be installed beyond the drivers that come with the touchscreen. And will all of the touchscreen features be funtional. Thanks for the info.
Anthony

 

[splitvizion]

I just want to be able to play DVDs, video games, and be able to use the mac-mini as a mobile in car laptop. Mobile internet when in designated hot spots. The mac-mini is bluetooth enabled. I should just be able to connect in hot spot areas like Barnes N Noble while sitting in their parking lot. Is this coorect.

 

[chuyler1]

Again, go to www.mp3car.com ...there are numerous threads and howtos specifically covering the Mac Mini.