Carputer's....lets discuss shall we.

[ForceFed]

Since no one really wants to help at "That Other Forum"..I guess I will post it here where people actually post useful info when you ask a question.

I am really considering doing a Carputer for more than one reason.

1. Access to my StandAlone EMS at any time without the need for a laptop.
2. Access to MP3 files for music
3. They just flat out look cool.

I don't know the first thing about these really..but I have been talking to some local guys about it...and We were discussing Front ends and such.
And Last night..I rode in a Car with a Touch Screen running the RoadRunner Frontend and I loved it.
I am really interested in finding out more about this and what to use.

I was planning on picking up a laptop for my tuning...But I would much rather have a Carputer setup and just be able to hook up an extra monitor when I want to tune so I can see it better.

Let's discuss options and resources...Shall we.

[daftIntrovert]

yay

I know quite a few people who have set up carputers, it's a lot of fun.

So you're going to do a double din touch screen and a compact desktop computer setup?

If you want to do it with an inexpensive laptop instead, let me know, I have laptops.. lots. --and cheap :P

The laptop route has a lot of advantages:
1. cheaper power supplies since they consume much less power.
2. consumes much less power
3. smaller
4. less heat
5. easier to remove for servicing.
6. integrated battery. It's so simple to set up startup/shutdown scripts for the laptop vs the crap you gotta deal with for a desktop.

Would you consider running linux on it instead of gross Windows?

[ForceFed]

I am totally new and open for ideas here...I have nothing to start with..co I am not basing decisions off of things I already have to use.

What do you suggest....Lets discuss.

I am trying to stay somewhay budget minded here.And I wouldn't know what to do with Linux....So I guess its crappy windows for me.
LOL!

[daftIntrovert]

windows you make Kansei cry

For linux distros geared toward car use:

LinuxICE - http://www.linuxice.com/
MIDinux (not really.. available yet) - so beautiful though : http://www.opensourcecomputing.net/i...id=31&Itemid=1

Linux Frontends:
nGhost - http://www.nextabyte.com/nanonymous/

I also just read about a really nice SINGLE DIN car computer. Full computer and screen in a single din. Plug and play

I'll see if I can dig up a link to it. If you couldn't tell, I've been considering doing this on and off for years. Since I have 25+ laptops in a closet in my bedroom the only cost would be a double din touchscreen and an amp to drive my speakers. I could get the cost of the screen back by selling my Pioneer Premier head unit or my old Alpine :P

damn now you have me researching the stuff again and wanting to do it lol.

[daftIntrovert]

Oh and of course the biggest source for info on the subject, www.mp3car.com

A major consideration is the hard drive stress whatever computer you use will endure. A normal desktop hard drive will die pretty quickly getting hammered around on Ohio streets in a not-at-all-smooth-riding Protege. Laptop hard drives aren't a ton better unless you use a Thinkpad with active hard drive protection --a gyroscope + software driver that parks the hard drive if it detects the laptop is falling or shaking.

Also, I'm guessing you'll want to do GPS?

[ForceFed]

No GPS at the moment..When this car is driven..I'll know where I am going.

[KrayzieFox]

I'd like to see where this goes .. I've always like the idea of these little gizmos.

I'm in the same boat as you dude, no Linux 4 me. Windows rocks my world..

[ForceFed]

OK..you guys are fired.....No help at all.
LOL!
Seriously...any info is appreciated...and first hand experience and knowledge on the subject would be excellent.

[daftIntrovert]

I don't know what info you want..

[XxXMonoxideChild]

theres like a 18 page thread on mazda6club that covers any question you could have. ive allready got my list of exactly what i need to buy fromt here info and how to get it to work.