Opinions Needed

[huafist]

As some of you are probably aware, I'm in the middle of building a '91 TSi AWD project car. In liu of a standard CD player and palm pilot for a logger, I've opted to integrate a laptop into the car. I came upon the problem how to control the state of the laptop (on/off, boot time, etc). Being the inventive individual I am, I've came up with a solution. I've built a serial device and written software for it to control the laptop's power states. If the car is turned off, it places the laptop/carputer into standby mode, and when you turn the car back on it wakes it back up.

My question is, do you guys think there's a decent market for such a contraption? I know there are lots of people putting computers in their cars on a daily basis, and to the best of my knowledge a plug and play device to control the power states hasn't been done before.

Thanks for the input gang

 

[Defiant]

Sure. After all, they use Photoshop, and that's $600 a throw. And I know everyone's paid that for it.
It's a little surprising they still aren't just building computers into cars, instead of $1200 worth of GPS, another $2000 for DVD players, another $1500 for a sound system....

 

[Gpers]

I actually saw an episode of one of those car shows...car & driver or horsepower or something....whatever it was on SpikeTV and they showed a company that installs full computer systems in cars. Its going to become a thing now. I dont remember the name of that particular company....but Moblinx is another. Check out their demo car section (http://www.moblinx.com). They're not cheap....but give it some time.

PS: And check out these guys (http://www.carcpu.com).

 

[spades_gsx]

i definetly see it going in the direction of one cpu to control everything. i think that you definetly have a good idea. with all the people running loggers and stanalone systems especially if they are daily drivers I'm sure you sell more than a handful. not just to the dsm community but to the whole tuner community.

 

[BLUEBLOTCH]

I agree there is most likely a market for it, alot os how you market it based on the success. Hit up Sport compact and those otehr mags once you have an actual product. Also go to retailer like summit racing ETC.

 

[spades_gsx]

I agree there is most likely a market for it, alot os how you market it based on the success. Hit up Sport compact and those otehr mags once you have an actual product. Also go to retailer like summit racing ETC.

actually what you could is contact any and every co. that sells standalone systems and ask them to offer it as an add on for their system.