media center in car, what do you think of this set up? Options

[Valo666]

So im thinkin of settin up a bit of a media center in my celi, and i was thinkin this for a cheap solution. I checked a few audio shops and only found 1 in car PC and they wanted $2500 for it with a keyboard, monitor n hard drive. So i decided to look around n c what else is availbe. So i was thinkin this..7inch monitor mounted on passanger side of the center console, then in the glove compartment, mount an I-River attached to a power inverter and tapped to the screen and into my cd deck. So i would have video, music, pictures, tv(if i record it off my comp), cd and radio all runnin through my speakers and onto the monitor. It will be also good because the monitor could be seen from the drivers side and also from the passangerside by watching on the actuall I-River. All in all it would cost me around $700 for everything. $500 for the I-River, like $120 for the monitor, $20 for the cabels, and then just how ever much it would cost for material for the I-River mount. So what do you think of this??

[Digndoug]

I designed a car puter with everything under $1000.. a full out computer, the only problem is the start up every time and the operating conditions. Thats also including a tocuh screen. Id say keep searching.

[orvillescelica]

for $750 i built a carputer, that includes the 7" touchscreen, GPS reciever and software, and all the goodies a normal computer can do. Plus, im not going through the hassle of powering off an inverter, but a special carputer power supply that turns on with ignition and shuts down the computer properly and keeps the battery from draining.

I would say if you are looking for GPS, DVD, video, mp3, etc... there are better routes. But if you are looking for simple, then i think your i-river solution would be nice too.

[Hanyo]

how do you guys go about with the starting up of the OS system? I know it would be a b*tch to wait 3 mins od driving before the music starts.

and what about the touch screen, how well does the OS handle it?

[Drocay]

the screen comes with drivers.

[d3monc3lica]

Does anyone have an inverter that they would reccomend?

[Valo666]

what type of screen would you recomend?..like company, size, touch screen or not..so on..my buddy just told me he can build me one for $500 if i tell him what i want and if i get the screen n power supply

[orvillescelica]

how do you guys go about with the starting up of the OS system? I know it would be a b*tch to wait 3 mins od driving before the music starts.

and what about the touch screen, how well does the OS handle it?
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my boots up and is ready to use in exactly 1 min, 4 secs (plus or minus 5 sec). I streamlined the windows install using WinLite. It makes for a faster boot up. Some people who have done this and are then using a flash card as a HD have gotten their boot up down to 20 sec.

The touch screen is great and works perfectly. All you have to do is calibrate it and its fine

what type of screen would you recomend?..like company, size, touch screen or not..so on..my buddy just told me he can build me one for $500 if i tell him what i want and if i get the screen n power supply
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I have a Lilliput 7" and am very happy with it. Also, people like the Xenarc ones as well.

[K-ESD]

I have a powerful carPC that i built for a lil over 1000 with xenarc touchscreen. I used a hard switch 300w inverter and my own homebrew $6 turn on/shut down controller. I get in my car, fire it up, 24 seconds later my music is resumed exactly where it was. Turn off the car, take the key out and blamo carPC goes in hiberntion and shuts itself and the inverter off

edit: $1000cnd = aprox >$800us

This post has been edited by K-ESD: Jul 7, 2005 - 9:01 AM

[celicarus]

I have been doing research on this myself and i think you guys should take a look at this system at

Cappuccino PC

along with this 7'' touch screen



the pc ranges from $573 to top of the line $850 with all the upgradable options. This is a built to order machine and small enough to stick under the car seat.

Spend less than $1700 and get a great system, where you can install GPS software onto the hard drive. Game System, DVD, wireless connection, etc.

I sometimes like to do things the easy way and this system will be the easy way every, because since it is portable, take it inside the house - store movies onto the hard drive, music, games, and put back in car when you want to.

With its wireless IEEE 802.11b you can park in front of some places and use the internet inside your car.

The only modification i think i would do to this is create a power adapter where the pc will be seated for easy diconnecting and reconnecting instead of using a power inverter where wires are visable.

[prpnum1]

I have 7" Liliput touchscreen monitor, Carnetix P1900 for power, Mac Mini all for about 800 bux.