View Full Version : Car PC
Ive been to I32 (www.multiplay.co.uk) this weekend. and on one of the trade stands they had one of these...
http://www.jkmentertainment.com/
Basicly its a double din unit with a touch screen.
Does sat nav. mp3. dvd. cd. telephone. radio. internet and runs on windows XP so i guess will do plenty more aswell.
I had a play with it and the screen was top notch very good dvd quality better than i have seen on other setups.
Im thinking about getting one...
Not cheep mind. £1349
Dash Rendar
11-11-07, 20:25
Looks very cool. Out of my price range though.
damn thats pricey, you should look here http://www.mini-itx.com/ for bits to make one, i did for half that price..
built my own based on mini-itx board and laptop hard-drive for less than £700 all in.
Gave up and sold it all on ebay in the end though - not exactly "easy" to use, you really have to concentrate to press the buttons etc so generally have to be at a 100% standstill - even when changing volumes and stuff. www.mp3car.com (i think that's right) has some excellent forums and useful info!
looks pretty cool, not cheap tho lol
Rob
yeah ive thaught about doing my own before but this thing is all in one unit that sits in the dash. no computer under your seat or in the boot.
the big problem with touchscreen is that you can't feel the buttons - so you have no idea if you are pressing in the right area or not.
This means you need to look where you're aiming (so to speak ;) ) and take your eyes off the road - I believe the police are trying to create new rules/laws about these sort of devices because they can be very dangerous to use.
That said - if you had a physical volume control/change track kinda thing on your steering wheel it'd be better. But that would make touchscreen virtually useless.
Neat devices though - I had sat-nav, dvd, mp3, divx, wifi, games, basically anything a PC could do, running on it!
it has volume on actual buttons on the side of the touch screen :)
dini_the_owl
12-11-07, 00:15
i saw something like this unit a while back and it was very cool. anyone got one?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270175330765&ssPageName=STRK:MEDW:IT&ih=017
be warned with the Lilliput screens - have been known to be quite unreliable.
The mechanisms on the fold-out monitor tend to be very fragile as well.
Plus that one listing is on ebay in Hong-Kong. You'll probably get stung for import tax as well.
I'm building mine at the moment.
www.digital-car.co.uk is a uk based carpc forum with lots of useful info.
I've also got one in mine, have done for a while. I know Lui has one of the in-dash PCs so you might want to speak to him; I chose to put mine under the floor in the boot instead.
the one in my link was very sturdy indeed and as it didnt slide out it didnt wobble or anything
I did mine for about £400 screen and pc....just buy a standard motheboard, with processor decent ones are about £100 tops.
Mount it in the boot. You can get a screen for around £250 and the cabling, and sat nav reciever is about £50 all in.
Done! :)
I have just bought one of these double din units for my upcoming project. It is called a G4 Infill and is a really well put together piece of kit.
I got mine on the net from a German firm (good prices and very efficient of course). They start from about £900 for the basic unit to just over £1000 for the fully loaded one I got.
I will post some pictures when it is installed.
Lilliput single din touchscreen with VGA.
Single Din Sony DVD Player/radio/cd/mp3/ipod control etc (DVD output into RCA-In on touchscreen)
PC (Custom made) plugged into VGA and USB touch screen control (in boot)
Ipod plugged into PC for use via itunes
Advantages
All the good points of a car PC without the drawbacks. Radio, CD, MP3 and DVD can be played with control from the main headunit.
Amps can be controlled from the headunit while the PC output goes into the Headunit Aux In port so no having to worry about not being able to feel buttons etc.
the minute it takes to boot can now be filled in with radio 1 rather than being bored out your skull
Disadvantages
A proper system will cost £800 even if you know what ur doing.
Thats what i am going for anyway. Already have the PC and cabling. Just need to save up for the touchscreen.
Scott =op
the big problem with touchscreen is that you can't feel the buttons - so you have no idea if you are pressing in the right area or not.
This means you need to look where you're aiming (so to speak ;) ) and take your eyes off the road - I believe the police are trying to create new rules/laws about these sort of devices because they can be very dangerous to use.
That said - if you had a physical volume control/change track kinda thing on your steering wheel it'd be better. But that would make touchscreen virtually useless.
Neat devices though - I had sat-nav, dvd, mp3, divx, wifi, games, basically anything a PC could do, running on it!
thats why i used a Griffin powwermate http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powermate/
http://www.disabledhands.com/_images_DSC05461.jpg
i also made a custom housing for a Xenarc touchscreen, starting witha toyota double din fascia, and then extending it to house the screen and headunit.
from this http://fargosys.com/assets/images/double-din-back.jpg
to this http://fargosys.com/assets/images/stage-1.jpg
to this http://fargosys.com/assets/images/stage-4.jpg
and finally fitted http://fargosys.com/assets/images/complete.jpg
thats why i used a Griffin powwermate http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powermate/
http://www.disabledhands.com/_images_DSC05461.jpg
I've seen one of these before, and was contemplating one but my question is - does it simply consist of a rotary controler, or does it have aclick function to allow you to set it up with a few functions at once? i.e. it operates volume, then you click and it controls tracks etc?
i also made a custom housing for a Xenarc touchscreen, starting witha toyota double din fascia, and then extending it to house the screen and headunit...
Thats great, looks real oem!:)
Very nice job :)
As I have the buttons for the heated seats, active spoiler and TC there, I hacked up one of the mounting kits designed for an impreza to fit into mine - it's got some small gaps that I've not yet got around to filling in.
I've seen one of these before, and was contemplating one but my question is - does it simply consist of a rotary controler, or does it have aclick function to allow you to set it up with a few functions at once? i.e. it operates volume, then you click and it controls tracks etc?
Thats great, looks real oem!:)
yes it has click functions, ie a click, long click (push and hold) cleick and rotate (left or right)
I have just bought one of these double din units for my upcoming project. It is called a G4 Infill and is a really well put together piece of kit.
I got mine on the net from a German firm (good prices and very efficient of course). They start from about £900 for the basic unit to just over £1000 for the fully loaded one I got.
I will post some pictures when it is installed.
Buddy
Can you fill me in with the details, where did you get yours from? What are the specs and what comes with the package?
Regards
imi
I am contemplating using a laptop as the CARPC and then investing in a touchscreen.
I think I will keep my Alpine Headunit for the reasons already covered here.
Fargo - I really like what you have done with that dash...I wonder whether it is possible to do something similar with the supra dash (to fit a single DIN Headunit - and a 6.5" - 7" touchscreen)
What do you think.
For the rest of you all who have installs - can you please post the pics of your installs..
Regards
imi
Better off just fitting a flip one IMO.
Not much space behind the supra dash.
Scott =op
Better off just fitting a flip one IMO.
Not much space behind the supra dash.
Scott =op
Correct, there is almost no space behind. I struggled when I installed mine back in 2004... A lot of work rebuilding the panel and even more trying to get to the panel to fit properly. Using a Xenarc 7" touchscreen, it was fraction to deep and the panel didn't fit because of the large plastic bit used to hold the radio cage.
Bugger - I was hoping for an OEM look install :(
What Touchscreen would you recommend then?
Anyone in London that can help with my install?
Lilliput single din touchscreen with VGA.
Single Din Sony DVD Player/radio/cd/mp3/ipod control etc (DVD output into RCA-In on touchscreen)
PC (Custom made) plugged into VGA and USB touch screen control (in boot)
Ipod plugged into PC for use via itunes
This is exactly what I have decided to do.
I have built my CarPC this weekend based on a laptop (winXP / Centrafuse trial)
Need some help with the following:
- What USB GPS would you recommend?
- I am using Centrafuse - looks good. Any other software out there for the front skin?
- What software are you guys using for Navigation?
- I am thinking of mounting the laptop under the passenger seat - is this a good idea?
Can someone in London help with the install perhaps next weekend?
I am looking into single DIN touchscreens at the moment and into the Griffin powermate to see how that can be utlisied.
I am contemplating using a laptop as the CARPC and then investing in a touchscreen.
I think I will keep my Alpine Headunit for the reasons already covered here.
Fargo - I really like what you have done with that dash...I wonder whether it is possible to do something similar with the supra dash (to fit a single DIN Headunit - and a 6.5" - 7" touchscreen)
What do you think.
For the rest of you all who have installs - can you please post the pics of your installs..
Regards
imi
i dont see why not, be glad to lend a hand, if your local to me (uxbridge) then pop over and i give it a go, still got the liquid plastic stuff, obviously the dsah will need a respray after it finished. the headunit cage will not be used in any case, so even if the touchsreen doesnt quiet fit flush, then we can basically stick it to the hole and use the liquid plastic to smooth in the edges to give a 'moulded' look..
Need some help with the following:
- What USB GPS would you recommend?
- I am using Centrafuse - looks good. Any other software out there for the front skin?
- What software are you guys using for Navigation?
- I am thinking of mounting the laptop under the passenger seat - is this a good idea?
I am using the Sirf III, they are pretty much all the same so any one should do it really.
For the front end i am actually just using mediacenter. I had a look at centrafuse though and i will probably have another go at it in the future.
I used Autoroute2007 for the navigation. Very few options on this surprsingly.
Lappy under the passenger seat sounds fine. If you wanted you could buy one of those desktop power pack things and hardwire it into the car. That way you can easily take the laptop out etc.
Scott =op
That £1300 unit in the first post is using CentraFuse as a frontend.
That's one hell of a markup for a double din PC with $260 worth of software and a few bits'n'bobs. :blink:
EDIT: Here's an alternative for you Imi - add a single-DIN touchscreen, GPS and free software and you're away. :)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Car-Computer-Carputer-Car-PC-1-5GHz-1-GB-40GB-XP_W0QQitemZ320231954663QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320231954663
i dont see why not, be glad to lend a hand, if your local to me (uxbridge) then pop over and i give it a go, still got the liquid plastic stuff, obviously the dsah will need a respray after it finished. the headunit cage will not be used in any case, so even if the touchsreen doesnt quiet fit flush, then we can basically stick it to the hole and use the liquid plastic to smooth in the edges to give a 'moulded' look..
Thx for the offer - I am in Feltham so pretty local. I will come to you - no probs.
Here is an update on where I am so far with this....
Ken.
Last night I bought the following:
- Laptop power
- Extra USB Hub
- Bluetooth Adapter
- GPS
- Rearview CAM
- Griffin
I have completed my SAT-NAV and FreeICE setup on my IBM laptop carpc and build windows XP to a hiberantion setup (8 sec to resume - and hibernation after 1 min on battery - when the power is killed)
I would like the power button for the laptop to be placed somewhere on the dash...so either the power button on the laptop will need to be hacked OR we hack the power button on the port replicator.
I am shocked at how CRAP the monitors on the market are....especially the in-dash touchscreen ones. The only one that is semi-decent seems to be the Xenarc - but seriously speaking - all that money, no motorised bay and i think it sticks out of the single din bay.
I am seriously dissappointed at the screens that are out there. It will ruin the interior.
I like the idea of mounting the screen flush into the dash like Fargo suggested (looks OEM and good anti-theft)....but I really need my alpine headunit as a sound amp and radio device.
It would be ideal if we could get a touchscreen to fit in the dash AND the alpine Headunit....not sure if this is possible. I dont mind if the screen is a 6.5 or a 7.
http://fargosys.com/assets/images/complete.jpg
Open to suggestions.... :(
P.S: Do I really need another soundcard for the carpc or the inbuilt soundcard is good enough.....I am not sure about this one.
hmm that might be a squeeze getting headunit and sceeen there, maybe ifyou get the dimensions of the screen you can make up a mock screen from cardboard and have a paly with positions, it may work out that the screen will have to be tilted a bit to get it all to fit, what about loosing the TRC and active spoiler buttons, that would give some extra room.
i got my screen from cartft.com they are a german based company, here is a 7" TFT screen that i used http://www.cartft.com/catalog/il/106 and only 279 euros and measures 195x121x35 mm
Without having the TC and AS buttons you might have half a chance of getting it in, i wouldn't fancy it at all tbh.
The flip out touchscreens are pretty crap tbh. Have you thought about mounting one on the dash? Like a telescopic arm thingy one? I know its not ideal but at least you could take it with you.
I'm happy with my Touchscreen but its cheap quality and doesn't look the best. You get what you pay for though.
Scott =op
Fargo and scott, thx for the replies.
Fargo:
I dont need the trac button (disabled anyway), active spoiler can be mounted somewhere else (right side)- I do have a turbo timer that can also be mounted elsewhere.
Would your screen fit if all those buttons were removed - cause that would make the install look so much better.
Alpine mounted on the top din slot and then the bottom two for the screen.
Scott:
I am looking at this pic of your car
http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/vbpicgallery.php?do=big&p=5445
See how the screen sits out, this is what I want to avoid if possible. BTW: what screen is that one? where did you get it from and what are your experiences with it to date.
Scott:
I am looking at this pic of your car
http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/vbpicgallery.php?do=big&p=5445
See how the screen sits out, this is what I want to avoid if possible. BTW: what screen is that one? where did you get it from and what are your experiences with it to date.
Thats not the screen i have in the supra although it does look similar from the front. Turned out the new screen didn't have any mounting holes on it so i had to basically tape it onto the stereo and then mount the stereo in place. Again, this is not ideal but it does mean that i could make it a little more flush. The trouble is you can't go too far in as then the screen won't tilt back enough to see.
The one i got is a lilliput one. I think they may do a couple of different ones. I struggled a bit to find a 7" touchscreen with VGA output and USB input for decent money. Think it cost me around £250 from carcomputers.
Scott =op
You can see here that its pretty flush...
http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/attachment.php?attachmentid=71911&d=1204641231
Scott =op
thx for the post.
I am thinking about fargo's idea of creating space for the screen. I dont think it would fit.
check out the attached pic of my dash.
Here is my dash.
http://lh4.google.com/ihshaikh/R_LcEr1rHrI/AAAAAAAAACE/94daRkWqyKU/s400/Screenwontfit.jpg
OK, all three of these screens look like nasty cheap quality products. however; i guess for the timebeing it will do as I am struggling for options.
Option 1) - Non-Motorised - but swivel type screen (good for the supra - I guess)
http://item.b-billion.com/XDX/XDXP070ID/photo/large/front.JPG
http://item.b-billion.com/XDX/XDXP070ID/photo/large/rotat.JPG
better looking of the other two - would have been ideal if it was all black.
Option 2) - Motorised - all black, very discrete (good for anti-theft)....no swivel - will it be an issue for the passenger.
http://item.b-billion.com/XDX/XDXP070_A/photo/large/front.JPG
Options 3) - Motorised - same as 2, clock is a dummy one...can you believe that. :blink:
http://item.b-billion.com/delong/DL0701A/photo/large/gallery_pic.jpg
Hmm, how much are you looking at for those ones?
I prefer mine tbh lol.
http://www.digitalww.com/store/prodimages/GL701_open_sml.gif
Scott =op
All the ones that I posted range from 140 (non-motorised) - 170 (motorised).
What do you think about the swivel mounted one....I know it is not motorised...so less chance of anything going wrong (KISS - keep it simple stupid) approach.
yours, I like, looks a bit bling bling - without any anti-theft, I am not 100%.
what say you?
I think the swivel one looks huge but for functionality i think it will be hard to beat. Thats one of the problems with mine, it doesn't come out far enough so its hard to get the tilt on it perfect.
The anti theft thing doesn't really worry me tbh. There aren't many thiefs around that would be able to tell the difference between that and a standard monitor. Its not really worth the hassle for them to steal a monitor, not worth anything ;)
The stereo fascia always comes off
I wish there was an all in one single din player. That would be amazing! Or even a double din all in one lol, would help it look a little less cumbersome.
Scott =op
Imi, your option 2 one is the exact screen I have mate. :)
Here's a few more pics of it mounted as promised. (Excuse the bit of sticky tape over the round control. I found the light a bit too bright on a long night journey the other week.)
Because the screen can be tilted, you can set it right back against the dash or tilt it down to reduce glare.
TBH, the lack of svivel doesn't bother me. Lin can't map read to save her life so her not being able to see the Nav screen is actually a blessing. ;)
IMI have a look here, http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=43158&hl= guy is selling my old unit, but mroe importantly is selling a 7" or 8"
Imi, your option 2 one is the exact screen I have mate. :)
Here's a few more pics of it mounted as promised. (Excuse the bit of sticky tape over the round control. I found the light a bit too bright on a long night journey the other week.)
Thx to the pics the Ken posted, I went for the same screen (only black buttons - so as to be discrete).
Laptop is built and all the bits are on order.
I will PM one or two of you guys to check your availability to help with the install. That would be greatly appreciated.
I think the laptop will need to go in the boot where the spare wheel sits....I'll smother that area with spongy packing material as to build a cushion / however need to leave enough room for the kit to breathe.
sound good?
Guess What
I ordered the screen on the 6th.....I GOT IT TODAY.....WOW
Thats bloody quick service.
It looks alright for the price I paid. certainly no Alpine (build quality).
I wonder whether I can use my PC to power it up just to see what it is like.......
All the bits for my Car PC have arrived, I have nearly completed the software setup of the carpc on the laptop.
will be going in next week.
CARPC installed....pics and feedback to follow.
http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?p=1932047#post1932047
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