Hey -

I'm loving some of these A/V installs people are posting, and it is getting me to thinking... could an install be done to totally replace the factory head units with just a LCD touchscreen? Then you could run it to a small computer stored somewhere else in the car. I was thinking something like a Via Mini-ITX computer with just enough power for MP3s and such. You could drop in a small 20-30GB hard disk and have your whole MP3 collection accessible through the screen. You'd have to find a player program that made touchscreen operation easy (big enough buttons!), but it would be kind of cool.

Any ideas? I just think it would be a very slick look with a screen and nothing else...

My first post, go easy on me!
RDaneel

 

I think it's a pretty cool idea...a head unit-less system....but you would still want still want some physical ***** and such for volume, input, etc. If you could somehow interface the steering wheel controlls for that it would be awsome. Don't forget an xm card in that system either .
I can see it now....XP media center automotive edition...

 

Oh yea, add in a wireless network card and you could probably copy in mp3s strait from your home system...

 

Check out one of my sponsor's boxed rigs, you'd just need to add an FM tuner under my apps....

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justme - good call about having easy volume control - though I envision the software having very large mute and volume buttons that stay accessible when music is playing. I wonder how hard it would be to flush mount the touchscreen and tie it all in to the computer. I've put in my own speakers and HU before - but this is a whole 'nother league!

It wouldn't take much PC to run the system - I have a home theater computer with a 650 P3 that runs perfectly for DVD playback, MP3s, and wireless internet access... If the touchscreen works with normal VGA cable up to 25 ft. cable runs are possible IIRC. USB can have a pretty long cable, too, so you could mount the CPU in the trunk (maybe under the rear deck). If you had a DVD-ROM you could even do DVD playback. The software to run it all is the problem. I've found excellent software for music playback on my HTPC, but it isn't set up for touchscreen operation, and the buttons would probably be too hard to use. I wonder what the Xenarc stuff is like...

While it seems to be a lot cheaper to get PC type components than to pay over $1000 for a car head unit and screen, you still have to drive amps and speakers, so that becomes more difficult. Maybe this is just not possible with current tech...

 

I dont know much about amps. but it doesnt seem that hard to me.. dont amps take like rca style inputs? most sound cards although 3.5minijacks can have a converter plug to make them rca.. and if its a decent one they have up to 7.1channel output.. seems easy.. so you got front input from soundcard to front input on amp.. rear input from soundcard to rear input from amp.. sub output from soundcard to sub input on an amp... and thats it right? that even gives you some surround sound action for dvds.. heh

 

steve - you're right, I was just being pessimistic about the audio out capabilities of some of the tiny PCs out there.

I was poking around the mini-itx site, and there are interesting computers based on the Epia and Eden platforms. You could probably get one of the small case models, like the Chyang Fun E-Note (11.25"x4.5"x15") that has a PCI slot, and put in a basic audio card (~$20) with multiple outs. Wired up to normal amps and speakers, it would probably work well. If you mated it to a touchscreen in the double din opening, connected via VGA and USB cable, you would have a pretty solid system. You could even get that device that allows the steering wheel controls to work via IR and have a serial port IR receiver on the PC to allow control that way.

You'd have to then go into the trunk (glovebox probably doesn't have enough ventilation (while closed, at least)) to put in a DVD, but it would be a great way to have a massive MP3 storage device with a slick interface and DVD playback capabilities. Nav and all could be optional.

Hmmm..... anyone want to try this out before I do (a year till I even get a G35!)?

RDaneel

 

OK, one more post on this for now - check out this computer - it has built in video (anemic, at best, but probably ok for DVD playback), sound (including the ability to use the three 1/8" jacks as 4.1), USB (for monitor and maybe Wi-Fi) and power supply. It costs about $600 at the one store I checked out when configured with 800mhz proc, 256mb ram, and 40gb HD.

<img src="http://www.checkercube.com/store/Mini-Checkercube/Images-c136/c136-45d-black-600.jpg"</img>

Thoughts?

 

That could work...looks right and cheap. So when you say usb for the monitor do you mean vga(9-pin)+usb for control or do they have monitors that use usb for graphics?
What about power? Most systems look for ac power, right?

So what kind of htpc do you have by the way? I was looking into that but none of the units (xp media center systems, creative labs digital vcr pvr card, etc) seemed to have slick pvr capabilities like a tivo. In the end I got a tivo series 2 with lifetime service subscription, "home media option" (to listen to mps and view pictures off my pc) and a linksys usb wi-fi adapter for ~$600 altogeather. I still plan to put togeather a good htpc when it becommes better supported by hardware/software though....

 

justme - I meant USB for the touchscreen, and VGA for the display - sorry I wasn't more clear. Now that I have read more about the Opus PSU, that appears to be the best way to feed the comp, which would mean not going with this case design. Oh well... more things to consider.

Af for the HTPC, I put together a system out of leftover components so I could have DVDs, MP3s, and internet access on my downstairs TV. I strongly support your choice of a TiVo over a HTPC for PVR duty, no PC application comes close to the functionality and "can't bust it-ness" of the TiVo. Plus, with a little hacking, you can still export video off the TiVo for backups to DVD.

The HTPC is still great for me, though, because I wanted a DVD player with a hyper-accurate picture - and a DVI connection. My TV loves DVI, and a simple PC with a P3 650, Radeon 9000 w/DVI, and TheaterTek software looks FANTASTIC! Plus, I have 4AM Music Console for a slick MP3 player, and all the normal PC stuff. It was a fun project, once I got over some video card issues (card turned out to be defective), and I even splurged on a custom aluminum case that matches my stereo equipment. Fun stuff...

 

It know it's off topic but your HTPC sounds awsome! That's what I wanted....better dvd picture....my progresive scan pioneer player is OK with tons of picture controls and filters but it still looks pretty crappy. My tv only has componenet in though and my "leftover" pc was only a P2 400 so I wasn't sure if it would be up to the task. Plus I wanted good pvr.
When I was looking I did like the ati radeons but I had a heck of a time finding a case that would look right in my entertainment center. Do you have pictures of yours?
Soon I'll get something setup....till then the tivo is ok....the mp3 player interface is pretty nice but lacking playlist features. I've converted my entire cd collection (about 300-350 disks) to 256k mp3s now and it is SO great to be done with the disks at home...I can't wait till I'm done with them in the car too!

 

rdaneel,
check out mp3car.com, it's a forum dedicated to in car computing. I've been lurking over there reading up on carputer systems already installed. check out this one, it has the factory radio removed and Xenarc touchscreen bondo'd in place:

http://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/1734601.phtml






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