Carputer Screen install

[echostats]

Want linux? Try www.ubuntu.com

 

[xXaTaXx]

Want linux? Try www.ubuntu.com

As in Debian's sold-out cousin? =D

 

[VanIsleDSM]

meh.. Macs are expensive.. just because it emulates windows or whatever doesn't make it any better for me.. PCs are so available and so cheap to make one that can do what you need in the car.

 

[VPrime]

yeah i seen all those gps programs before..... but i live in canada and there are no maps included for canada

 

[xXaTaXx]

yeah i seen all those gps programs before..... but i live in canada and there are no maps included for canada

Mmmm, Canadiens! Always so picky...
Just Kidding, I went to highschool up there in Ontario. Great place, even better lager!
Moosehead.
Well, I'll keep an eye open for a converter/map pack w/ canadian maps.

Chris
...Leaving work now, it's way too nice of a day to stay untill 5:30!

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

meh.. Macs are expensive.. just because it emulates windows or whatever doesn't make it any better for me.. PCs are so available and so cheap to make one that can do what you need in the car.

VERY GOOD POINT! PCs can be had for very cheap.

 

[echostats]

get what you pay for.

 

[VPrime]

get what you pay for.

maybe thats true for actual components..... but mac vs pc does not mean your buying inferior quality stuff.
When your buying a mac, all your buying is the name (now.. since really the only hardware in a mac made by apple is the motherboard)
Plus you can run OSX on a regular PC now.... sooooooo i would rather build my own "mac" for roughly 1000 dollars cheaper than buying one with a fancy apple logo on it

 

[echostats]

maybe thats true for actual components..... but mac vs pc does not mean your buying inferior quality stuff.
When your buying a mac, all your buying is the name (now.. since really the only hardware in a mac made by apple is the motherboard)
Plus you can run OSX on a regular PC now.... sooooooo i would rather build my own "mac" for roughly 1000 dollars cheaper than buying one with a fancy apple logo on it

rofl. To each his own I guess, I use both PC & Mac daily. I'm a graphic designer by day and a computer engineer by night.

Anyhow, back to in-car mods, I can't wait to get started on mine!

 

[Smitherines]

Flip out is always an option, but some consider it the easy way out. It's much cooler to fab in a screen... (in my opinion). But don't get me wrong, I have seriously considered a flip out, for a lot of reasons, one being security. With a flip out, it tucks itself and many wouldn't know what it was.

Didn't really answer my question, I know the pros and cons to a molded and a flipout, but I was asking how a molded would look and how accessible it would be since it is right behind the shifter.

 

[VPrime]

I saw a picture once of a 1g with a "molded" type setup.. it didnt look like it would be
"fun" to use as the double din area is like a 90degree angle..
If you could use some fiberglass or some thing, and make the screen facing up on an angle, i think it would look great.
(sort of like this.. on the side view )

            \   
             \
           --/

As for shifter getting in the way.. i dont think it would be too bad if you angle the screen, as then it would be sort of like my set up.. you can rest your hand on the shifter and just press buttons on screen with no effort (i am super lazy )

 

[Smitherines]

Hahaha, yeah you definitely have a point. I'm still using the stock 1g dildo shifter, so its pretty tall. Can't make the angle too drastic since I wont be able to get that interior clip piece that goes right in front of the decks out. Ill think about it. hahaha. I appreciate that suggestion, gotta jog it through my mind for a little bit.

 

[nitroaddict88]

i just finished my car pc install....only cost me around 800 for everything including the front end (street deck) and navigation.. its a P4 2.8GHZ with 160 GB hd....no more CDs for me!

 

[VPrime]

Cool, i finished mine completely few weeks ago. Its greeeeeeeeeeat i love it.
Mine totaled around 600 Canadian (not including the bits of wire and stuff i had to buy after)
Though I already had the computer
mines an AMD Athlon 2200, 512mb memory, GPS receiver, the Lilliput EBY-07 7" screen, and Running road runner with a custom skin I made.
Works amazing great, i love every bit of it .

 

[LaN-]

Can you still see everything in the sunlight? Is the glare an issue?

 

[TrboANTsi]

ehh glare is a major issue for me only problem is in direct sunlight. some screens are brighter but you have to check the lumens. Especially in our cars teh screen faces upward. At night i cant complain..its bright.

 

[VanIsleDSM]

anybody have their carputer setup with a 6 channel amp for the speakers? That's what I'd like to do, but I have other priorities, I haven't had this dsm for a year quite yet, needs to be faster first.

 

[VPrime]

Yeah glare is terrible. I am thinking of getting a "tinted stripe" (cant remember what they are actually called) on the windshield, I think that should help a little.
Though I can live with it.
There are also some "new" expensive screens that make sunlight use much better.

i dont have a "amp" set up just yet, but its in the plans (currently using AUX in from the head unit, hidden in glove box)
Though if you go to www.mp3car.com you can see on their forums this is not a difficult task. I was just to lazy to re wire my speakers, and to poor for a new amp

 

[nitroaddict88]

mine is set up using a 4ch amp for the 4 speakers. then a 2 ch for the sub. just plug in from the head phone port to the amp and bada bing it works flawlessly.....the sun is my enemy. can barely make out the screen in direct sunlight, i want to find a coating or something i can use to help block it/ tint my windows

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

A lot of posts, but no pics! I'm curious to see these carputer setups in DSMs!

 

[VPrime]

I dont have a camera, but will try to borrow one and grab some pictures of it running (probably in my garage so they can be seen Maybe also a video if I can.

 

[delta448]

I toyed with the idea of using an old dell I have sitting around collecting dust. I am waaayyyy behind on the logistics you guys are talking about though.

I am pretty lost as to how this is all set up, haven't kept up with technology too well lately, could anyone spare a sec to explain the processes involved with a carputer install?

1) Power supply from a 12V input PSU or a power inverter to ordinary PSU?
2) Where to find necessary components (ex: a small touchscreen, pot-hole-proof drives)?
3) Mounting the MB, PSU, (keyboard?) where and how to? Custom MB casing?
4) What kind of programs are safe to run, (-like datalogging in DSMLink, winamp or iTunes, possible to set up wireless internet access?) or will some programs consume too much power to be worth using?

 

[VPrime]

Ill give a "quick" simple answer to your questions, more info can be found at www.mp3car.com

1) I Am using a 12v DC-DC power supply, not an inverter. Many people do use inverters, but I prefer the DC-DC power supply because it has a built in start up/shut down controller (key/ign. act as power button) and will keep the computer alive if i crank the engine.
Down fall is, the wattage and the price. my 160watt was 89dollars (pretty cheap compared to what other online stores sell them) but if you want some thing more power full it will cost you.

2)Every thing can be bought from ebay. For the screen MAKE SURE ITS VGA! If its an "RCA" type monitor it will suck for quality when hooking it up to a computer. plus touch screen will not work right(if at all)
For hard drives, well I am using a regular computer hard drive, no problems yet (only been 2 weeks though) but some people report issues eventually. There are solid state (no moving parts)drives which cost a bundle. Some new motherboards also let you boot off USB flash drives, or flash cards.

3)Well this is really up to you. currently my set up is ugly.. I have a regular PC tower in my trunk. Eventually I will make a small case for it, but right now im to lazy . You can also buy many many many premade cases.

4)Well any thing you can run at home, or on a regular computer can be run on a carputer. it is a regular computer after all. my "front end" which I see instead of windows(unitl you minimize it) is called Road runner. you can find more info on it at www.mp3car.com (software section>front end>Road Runner)
I also have a wireless card in mine and can connect tot he internet when there is wifi available. Some people have hooked their cell phones up to the carputer to get free internet any where through that (again check www.mp3car.com forums)
power consumption is more of an issue of the hardware you chose, rather then software.

If you go to www.mp3car.com and go on the forums you will find LOTS of info. a quick search on there and You will get all of your questions answered.

 

[blindboarder_02]

Not sure if anyone checks this thread anymore, but i was wondering how well the units held up over time. Has anyone had a tragic computer killing incident? I've been thinking about Ubuntu for my car and just trying to get a good idea of what to expect. Ive read every article I could find on it, but I want DSMers advice and experience on this. good or bad

 

[brandonwh64]

Not sure if anyone checks this thread anymore, but i was wondering how well the units held up over time. Has anyone had a tragic computer killing incident? I've been thinking about Ubuntu for my car and just trying to get a good idea of what to expect. Ive read every article I could find on it, but I want DSMers advice and experience on this. good or bad

These are alot easier and cheaper to build today as they were back in 2007. I have built one for a friend of mine and it consisted of a acer aspire one netbook with broken screen (55$), USB hub (10$), 7inch touch screen with VGA,USB connector (50$ USED), GPS USB with Garmin free software (30$ NEW), USB FM Radio with antenna (25$ NEW amazon) .

He built the bezel and I setup the hardware below the console. He still uses it today and it does quite well for music, GPS, Internet (Via Phone dock), and FM radio. Total cost 170$ for hardware and I do not remember his cost for making the bezel.