Need a PC for my new car??? Suggestions

[Uncle_Unix]

I need to install a full featured PC computer in my car

Need to access the Internet to do office work
Must boot fast (perhaps flash hard drive)


Any suggestions on top of the line stuff is greatly appreciated

Uncle_Unix:evil:

[zereaux]

i say just build one :up:
http://www.mini-itx.com/

[tCMetaLFReaK]

^^^^^ x2

I was gonna do that myself...

[zereaux]

same here, just too lazy...

[Uncle_Unix]

i would build it but I dont have the time
rather spend the money on the best product I can find

[zereaux]

then go here:
http://store.mp3car.com/

[cyclotron_burst]

^^^ Best place to go......I bought all my carputer equipment from them when I had the mac mini in my xA

[UV7]

What all are you looking to do with the system? Are you planning on running everything from it, like a full multimedia system, or are you just looking to have an available internet terminal in the car?
If it's just a basic internet terminal you're looking for, why not get a small laptop, drop in a Ubuntu Live CD, boot that and go?
If you're looking for more than that and are looking into a full car-PC, stay away from any of VIA's latest motherboards! VIA's idea of R&D and Product Test is similar to Microsoft's "stick it in the field and let the consumer worry about it" concept. The closest thing they have to product support is ViaArena, which is nothing more than a user portal that just echos problems over and over. I'm currently running my 4th board from VIA and having random unresolved issues. There won't be a 5th!
I've been building car-PCs for years. If you have any questions regarding a setup, just ask.
I'm currently eyeballing MSI's Fuzzy 690T as the basis for my next build-up.
http://www.e-itx.com/msi-fuzzy-690t-ms-9804.html

[vettereddie]

Here's my setup, works very well. To mount the display, just cut a piece of metal a little bigger then the dash hole, then make a smaller hole the size of the screen. I used a dremel with a cut-off wheel.

- Re-furbished Mac Mini from Apple - $400
- Carnetix P1900 power supply w/ Macpac adapter cord - $100
- Xenarc 705tsv 7" touchscreen - $300
- Apple bluetooth keyboard - $79

This is fed into the inputs of an Alpine CD player. The remote and Front Row Apple software are great for driving, big font display and no stylus needed. The screen is only 800x480 though, so you may want to look at a bigger and higher res screen. Not sure where you're looking to mount it.

The carnetix will put the Mac in sleep mode when the key is turned off, so there is no re-boot needed. There is a volt sensor too where it will shut down before critical. It has drained my battery if sitting fore more than two weeks. I can still unlock but can't start without a jump when that happens. It can be disabled to shut off every time.


http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/4446/carputer001la2.jpg

[Uncle_Unix]

Thanks guys

Vetter

Like the minimac a lot, great setup.

[Uncle_Unix]

why not get a small laptop, drop in a Ubuntu Live CD, boot that and go?



I'm already running Ubuntu Jaunty Jackalope on testing ;)

[UV7]

...with a name like Uncle Unix, I figured you HAD to be running Ubuntu on something!

[mmmpshh]

Here's my setup, works very well. To mount the display, just cut a piece of metal a little bigger then the dash hole, then make a smaller hole the size of the screen. I used a dremel with a cut-off wheel.

- Re-furbished Mac Mini from Apple - $400
- Carnetix P1900 power supply w/ Macpac adapter cord - $100
- Xenarc 705tsv 7" touchscreen - $300
- Apple bluetooth keyboard - $79

This is fed into the inputs of an Alpine CD player. The remote and Front Row Apple software are great for driving, big font display and no stylus needed. The screen is only 800x480 though, so you may want to look at a bigger and higher res screen. Not sure where you're looking to mount it.

The carnetix will put the Mac in sleep mode when the key is turned off, so there is no re-boot needed. There is a volt sensor too where it will shut down before critical. It has drained my battery if sitting fore more than two weeks. I can still unlock but can't start without a jump when that happens. It can be disabled to shut off every time.


http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/4446/carputer001la2.jpg

thats a nice setup.