CarMac, Progress Options

[tomazws]

Over the years, I've been researching on the best way to assemble a carputer into my car. Though, I've had my mind on Macintosh and nothing will change my mind to using a PC
Recently, I just started collecting hardware needed for a CarMac. Once I get my car back from the body shop (getting its damage fixed), I will start putting these things in. Comments, recommendations, questions, criticisms all welcome.

First of all, I am NOT going to watch DVD on this thing (Well that's what I say now.......). I just like the look of the iTunes music library displayed in album covers mode. Well, plus my current CD player is not working. Purchased like 2 or 3 stock Toyota CD players and NON OF THEM WORKS. Since I wanted an OEM look, I don't want to purchase those aftermarket CD players since they all look super fancy and out of place. I want this screen to blend into the double din. I want it to look boring from the outside, and shocking when the machine is turned on.

As for the hardware, instead of using a desktop, I went for the notebook route. I want the computer to be easily removeable. Slide it in, pull it out. Below is the computer I got from searching on Craigslist last year. The computer was dirt cheap because of the display problem. That's ok, I don't need the screen anyway, gonna remove the lid later so the computer won't always hibernate.

Computer: Apple iBook G3 600MHz PowerPC / 384MB SDRAM w/ LCD Backlit Problem - $150.00 (Used, Craigslist)


As for monitor, I kept my eyes on eBay everyday searching for the best deal, I finally found this for a fairly low price:

Monitor: Lilliput EBY701 7" Touchscreen LCD - $190.00 (New, eBay)


Monitor comes with car DC/DC adapter:


Installed the newest OS X and software updates:


This is what the screen looks like in light. Semi glossy screen might have reflection problems in the car...


In night time. Screen doesn't have day/night mode. This is iTunes in album covers mode. Pretty ain't it?


Usually, to assemble a carputer, a DC/AC converter is required tapped stright from the car battery. Some might survive crank, some might not. Not surviving crank will cause your computer to restart and waste time, might even damage your files too. With a Laptop, I will never have that problem with its internal battery. DC/AC converter is also not required with the wide support of aftermarket cigarette lighter DC/DC adapters.

Computer Power: Kensington 70W DC Power Adapter for Apple Notebooks - $20.00 (Used, Amazon)


That's about it for now... Next I will need to get:
DC Power Splitter (1 cigarette outlet into 2, or even 4, 5, 6...)
Amplifier (Audio-out from the laptop is too weak)
And I'll have to mould the screen to fit it into the double-din...

I'm getting my car back late this week Hopefully....

This post has been edited by tomazws: May 15, 2007 - 12:27 PM

[macavely]

nice .. i was thinking of doing somthing like this .. but using 2 screens.. can't wait to see how this tuns out for you keep us posted..

[tomazws]

To bring an old thread back.... I FINALLY (Yes after almost a year....) dug up the parts I ordered last year, and tried to fit the screen onto our double din opening. I haven't fit the whole thing back into the car yet... Just fitted the screen onto the double din...


Note: This is a poor man's amateur n00b just-for-fun work. No fabrication, welding, molding or whatsoever.


So, I finally destroy the monitor's warranty by taking the LCD and boards out of the casing:



Thank god I didn't break anything. I am planning to mount this LCD panel onto the double din opening:



I cut out the dimensions of the LCD and tried to test fit it onto the double din opening:



Seems like the height is too tall, and the width is too short to fit onto the double din opening:



So I used an Xacto knife and cut out the plastic that is blocking the way:



And I'm going to make a panel / plate / cover / or whatever you call it from an old notebook hardcover (it's plastic-ish...):



I cut out the opening of the screen and the outer size to fit onto the double din:



The panel fits perfectly on the double din opening:



So now I'm going to mount the LCD panel, I found some of these double sided photo wall mount tape in the garage:



Cut and trimmed the tape, I put 5 tapes in a stack on the right side, and 3 in a stack on the left side to position the screen right in the middle of the double din opening.



These 3M tape actually holds up pretty strong.. The LCD is now taped onto the mid panel:



w00t!

[Shink]

Really great work. Please keep us updated with the install...looking to do the same thing myself and you are saving me loads of experimentation time.

[njccmd2002]

is ti touch screen? BTW it is nice...

[Ugglan]

That is going to be great...looks nice!
How are you planning om control this thing, touch screen? Keyboard?

EDIT: Sorry, just saw thate the description for the screen says Touchscreen! Nice

This post has been edited by Ugglan: Mar 30, 2008 - 12:06 PM

[_mikeE]

That loookss sooooooooooo clean man!
Good job!

[CelicaST_CALI]

nice work!!!im thinking of putting my psp into the celi somehow...

[dtlwrc]

Great work and fantastic idea! I am looking forward for progress pictures! Keep us update!

[GriffGirl]

I feel lousy and am sick, so my head is foggy... but where does the stereo go then if you have the display in the double din spot?

[pittfirefighter]

you either have to make a custom slot or not use one at all.... i had a car pc in my old ST, its now in another 6gc.net users car.... just so everyone does know... you do not have to remove the screen from the casing... by cutting a little more plastic... you can get the entire screen and casing to fit... therefore keeping the warranty and having access to all the buttons... and if done right... the original clips will hold the screen in place...

[Culpable04]

I feel lousy and am sick, so my head is foggy... but where does the stereo go then if you have the display in the double din spot?

why would you need a stereo when you have itunes at your fingertips ?


don't forget to get a GPS antenna for GPS capability, are you planning to install one of those external DVD/CD drive ? I think that'd be perfect.

[xs94st]

looks awesome tom!

[tomazws]

I feel lousy and am sick, so my head is foggy... but where does the stereo go then if you have the display in the double din spot?

The laptop and touchscreen replace the stereo.

don't forget to get a GPS antenna for GPS capability, are you planning to install one of those external DVD/CD drive ? I think that'd be perfect.

I will definitely look into the GPS stuff (though that might make me change my mind to using a PC instead).

you either have to make a custom slot or not use one at all.... i had a car pc in my old ST, its now in another 6gc.net users car.... just so everyone does know... you do not have to remove the screen from the casing... by cutting a little more plastic... you can get the entire screen and casing to fit... therefore keeping the warranty and having access to all the buttons... and if done right... the original clips will hold the screen in place...

You are so right. But the screen you installed is a Lilliput 629! The screen I bought is a Lilliput 701 and the buttons are on the side of the LCD casing. In order to fit the entire casing, I will have to chop off the Celica center panel's clip.


BTW guys, my friend's 701 screen cracked and he bought mine. So I went to Lilliput (they're in La Puente) and bought a 619 (Similar to pittfirefighter's 629). I talked to the lady (she looks pretty nice, too bad she has a husband ) at Lilliput and she said the 701 is cheaper but the touch screen is not as good as the 619 and 629. Also, 701's TFT panel is no-brand (no wonder my friend's broke), and the 619 and 629 are Hitachi screens.

I will try to fit the 619 into my double din as pittfirefighter has suggested. We'll see how that goes.

[goferris]

won't you need a stereo to push the sound to the speakers? pittfire just put his actual headunit behind the screen i think and left it on aux.

[tomazws]

won't you need a stereo to push the sound to the speakers? pittfire just put his actual headunit behind the screen i think and left it on aux.

I have an amp in the trunk. I tried playing with it by connecting the AUX from the laptop to the composite of the amp and it worked great.

[pittfirefighter]

mine had the buttons on the side too, i think it was a 701 too... heres the thread from my install... not really any good pics though...
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=43654&hl=
if you are really careful...it was fit with the clips holding the screen in...

headunit would be used if you don't want to use just an external amp....
goferris is right and i had my headunit behind the screen because i had a $600 head unit that had a lot of really nice features for sound output like frequency tweaks, cutoffs, filters etc... so i just set it and forgot about it...

[CustomIce]

I was considerin this kind of thing using a mac mini

Looks like a good job so far dude

[Hanyo]

no you just need to find a way to add a back up camera and navigation for your mac and you will be set...

maybe webcam and microsoft street and tips?

[GriffGirl]

I feel lousy and am sick, so my head is foggy... but where does the stereo go then if you have the display in the double din spot?

why would you need a stereo when you have itunes at your fingertips ?

because I heart my Sirius!

This stuff is so over my head...

Are there two different kinds of center console trim pieces then, one single din stereo and one double-din? So the double din would be like two slots for the stereo (or monitor in this case) and one for the pocket? Or are they all double din, one for the (aftermarket) stereo and one for the pocket?

edit: Duh. I get it. Sorry. Damn cough medicine.

This post has been edited by GriffGirl: Apr 2, 2008 - 5:51 PM