in car computer

[eleblanc]

Has anyone ever setup a computer in there truck/car. Not a laptop. This company sells everything you need to put a computer with a touchscreen lcd in car. I wonder how windows works out with a touch screen? maybe there are some theme out there making things easier when using a touch screen?

this is the place

Logic Supply - Leaders in Mini-ITX & Small Form Factor Solutions

here are some image of mini computer case, some does even run on 12V, in fact they sell power supply with input voltage from 6 to 32 volts. Pretty awesome

automotive systems;
Automotive Systems

You can have mini wireless keyboard. remote WI-FI antenna.

touch screen lcd;
LCD Displays

 

[Bogo]

I thought about it a number of times, but decided that using a laptops and PDAs were a better way to go in the long run.

 

[BulletHead]

get a pioneer F series, lots of hacks and mods on avic411.com. it runs windows CE. i think someone on there was trying to get it to work with a wireless internet adapter.

 

[Toshi38]

I built a car computer a couple years ago in my old car. All i did was find a used laptop with a broken screen, removed the screen and purchased a touch screen of ebay. total cost 300 bucks. I also had a USB gps and it worked great. At that time I ran windows XP on the machine.

More recently I built a car computer style setup using a normal motherboard and a 12V switching power supply I found online. This I ran linux on with a portable gps (this was for a school project not an in car computer but the principles are still the same)

 

[spatialminds]

I've had a car computer in my truck before. Right now I'm using a UMPC, but the car computer worked great. I liked that I had MP3s, AM/FM/Satellite Radio, Navigation, movies, and CDs in one unit. Kept the dash nice and clutter free.

 

[Red Beard]

I've done it. I used a Apple Mac Mini with a Xenarc Touchscreen. However, the front ends for Mac just isn't there yet and sometimes its easier to find that one song with what they got, but changing songs on the go is nice, especially when on shuffle. Its been off road tested, and its nice!

There is someone else on here that has done it. Check mp3car.com:
MP3 project for Land Cruiser. Done - MP3Car.com

Unfortunately, the photos are no longer hosted.

My setup is getting re-worked. I never thought about the amps and voltage all that stuff. My 80 Amp Alternator is NOT enough to power headlights, engine, windshield wipers, blinkers, computer, screen, and radio on a rainy day. :\ Don't even mention the KC lights. So I'm trying on a solution that would work for me.
I don't have any current pics of my setup. There are some old ones in my ROTW, linked in my thread.
I can give more info if anyone would like.

 

[elctrcmotors]

Cool, I didn't know that this was possible, but it sounds awesome if you can support it.

My setup is getting re-worked. I never thought about the amps and voltage all that stuff. My 80 Amp Alternator is NOT enough to power headlights, engine, windshield wipers, blinkers, computer, screen, and radio on a rainy day. :\ Don't even mention the KC lights. So I'm trying on a solution that would work for me.
I don't have any current pics of my setup. There are some old ones in my ROTW, linked in my thread.
I can give more info if anyone would like.

What happened when you tried to keep everything running at once? What gave out first? The computer? The engine? Or would it just not start?

 

[Red Beard]

Its cool when it works!
When everything was running at once, the computer would cut out first for sure. Then engine has never cut out on me yet, even with all 6 KCs running at idle. The computer DC/DC regulator that I bought has a auto shutoff that will put the computer to sleep if the voltage hits <10.4 volts, so that happens here and there and the computer will just give up. I'd really like to change that number, to like 1 volt, because my voltage goes up and down all the time, and the computer is running off an aux battery.

 

[switches81]

Interesting discussion. For those of you who use the in-built system, what would you say it offers that having a laptop system wouldn't?

I think centralization was mentioned as one benefit. But in a way, isn't a laptop hooked up to the car's sound system still centralized, just not as compact?

 

[spatialminds]

If you have a laptop hooked up to the car stereo then you have two systems instead of one. The laptop takes up a fair amount of room, usually in the passenger seating area.

The carputer usually has a special power supply that is designed for use in the vehicle. It turns the computer on/off (or in/out of hibernation) with the key just like a normal radio would.

I have a UMPC now, instead of the carputer. I like it because it is small enough to be mounted on the dash but is still has a 2-4" wider screen than most dash mount GPSs. It is semi-ruggedized and sunlight visible which works better than most laptops or GPS units. It is easily removed from the RAM mount so I can walk it over to the picnic table or campfire in the evening when we are planning the next days route. I can also lock it in my drawers (like a tuffy box) when I'm hiking. Oh, and it's touchscreen so it's a little easier to use than a traditional laptop. All three work great (carputer, laptop, UMPC) and each has it's pros/cons.

Still, a carputer works really well and if done right looks/feels/acts just like it is a car stereo instead of a computer.

 

[machinebearings]

Thanks for laying out some of the pros and cons of each option. This discussion has got me really interested in pursuing this myself, when I can save up for it. I think a carputer actually will save a lot of time and money in the long-run, especially for trips and running errands.