Computer for MP3's and DVD player

endlessRacingz · #1 (**permalink**) 01-31-2004, 05:02 PM

I plan on making a mini-itx computer and maybe fabricating my glovebox to hold it so i can take the computer and its case out whenever i felt like it (ie so it doesn't get stolen). Thus getting a touch screen flip out in dash monitor and just fabricating a DVD-Rom drive into the dash. (These aren't too expensive) or just using the ones attached to the actual computer.

What do you guys think? Only problem I have is if i want to listen to the radio.... I haven't thought of how to make the computer have a tuner and use the cars antenna.

330ti · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-2004, 06:13 PM

Get an MP4 portable player. Get 80 mb of Music and video as well as optical out.

endlessRacingz · #3 (**permalink**) 02-13-2004, 06:14 AM

I mean the whole thing is the limits are all there with the mini-itx computer. I could simply just later add a GPS card to the computer and have a GPS system with teh software and all for about $100 or less. The portable MP4 player wouldn't be able to play DVD's or anything. Which is one option I definantly wanted. Plus with a computer I could get emulators from all gaming systems and have them all on the hard drive. The limits are endless.... even wireless internet connection.

kreepin · #4 (**permalink**) 02-19-2004, 03:08 PM

I was thinking about doing something simular with a comp in the dash. it would make it alot cheaper as far as dvd and video games systems, and internet. plus you could keep stand alone software on there. my ride will be a work in progress for the next 4 years probably becuase i just started my first year in college and money is tight. so i dont plan on doing this anytime soon. if you do it, post pics and let me know how it turns out. as far as touch screens go, they are not as good quality. i was thinking about putting one of those mouses with the roller ball near the thumb instead.

endlessRacingz · #5 (**permalink**) 02-21-2004, 08:26 AM

Well I am in college I am only a freshmen as of now, and yea my money is very tight, so I am saving up slowly. My college is costing me $30,000 a year....... Wish my damn parents would pay for it.

Yeah I'll definantly have pics up when I get the system done.

Yeah your right touch screens aren't the best but pioneer just got a pretty nice one out, but its still way to expensive for my taste. Yea I was thinking about hiding a track ball or maybe you know that laptop built in mouse thing that lil pad you slide you finger on? Well either one of those and have it kind of integrated in (ie. cut a hole and mount it as if it were stock). But everything is still in the planning stages.

kreepin · #6 (**permalink**) 02-21-2004, 10:51 AM

sounds good... i got the idea from someone that had done something like that. I was surfing the net and came across this bmw that had a tower in the trunk, and had a touch pad like a laptop. so i know it can be done.

endlessRacingz · #7 (**permalink**) 02-21-2004, 01:52 PM

Yea I have no doubt in my mind it can be done, infact its quite easy to do. The only problem is $$

laocoholic · #8 (**permalink**) 02-21-2004, 09:18 PM

i had the same idea to do that a while ago. but like everyone else money stopped that idea and i also go to college. i got as far as buying a slimline dvd player for laptops and was goin to find a spot to put it in the car. maybe ill finish it when i get my taxes back. check out http://www.mini-itx.com/. they have some awesome rigs.

endlessRacingz · #9 (**permalink**) 02-22-2004, 06:19 AM

Haha way ahead of you been there done that hehe. I'm really trying to decide weather I want to get a mini-itx platformed computer and build it to my liking then perhaps fabricate the golve box to hold it. Or to build one of those tiny platformed atx platform and place it in the trunk.

Z0RR0 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-01-2004, 05:12 PM

Several things that came from me thinking about this...
BIG screen. We're talking 10-12" minimum. 6" as the usual in-car ones are too small. For the mouse thing, I'd suggest a Gyratio (or Gyration... can't remember) wireless mouse and keyboard (goes for like 120 canadian bucks). Cool thing is that the mouse doesn't need to be on a surface. Move it in the air, and the cursor will move accordingly, it works PERFECTLY. I use it everyday on my puter, and it's perfect. That's what I'd use.
Watch out for heat from the PC. I have a laptop, and the thing overheats a LOT. I wouldn't consider it putting it in the glovebox.

This is how I'd do it. Get a laptop screen (12"+) that unfolds from the roof, put the tower in the trunk, and the wireless mouse anywhere you like

.

Ended up not doing it because my car is a truck ... and it's too damn rough for a pc ... (my thought ...didn't want to waste a reasonably powerful PC...)

endlessRacingz · #11 (**permalink**) 03-02-2004, 05:15 AM

Well in todays world its relatively cheap to make a powerful PC and yeah I can see about the whole truck thing. I was thinking if I did put it in the golvebox I would fabricate the air conditioning to cool it as well as teh several fans I would put inside. The tower won't be big in fact it won't be a tower. I might end up putting it in the trunk except I am afraid how I am going to setup my speaker system with an extra computer tossed in. Also I would have to get looooong cords to be able to get the PC and the needed connections to the front.

Another reason for the glovebox location is so I could acces the computers actual DVD-rom drive and such in order to just put the DVD's in that way. While I would settle with the 6.5" mini screen afterall who cares if only me and the passenger can really see it, haha. Thanks for the ideas on the mouse and keyboard though.

I also liked teh glovebox so I could easily disconnect the computer and take it inside with me under certain circumstances.

Z0RR0 · #12 (**permalink**) 03-02-2004, 08:43 AM

More than only the passenger and driver being able to see, you won't be able to select crap. I plug my puter on a 46" big screen, and I can't read the file names and such. Just not enough resolution. That's why I feel the only way to go is a computer screen ... unfortunately, that's the priciest solution. On E-bay, screens (without controllers, though) usually go for pretty cheap.
As far as sound, perhaps you could plug it as an FM station (like the aftermarket CD changers) ... and I'm pretty confident some radios have a line-in or something to plug straight in.
Check out www.sounddomain.com if you haven't yet, they have a lot of stuff for sale and a lot of members rides with different setups...

On the other hand, some portable DVD player might be able to read mp3s (if none is available today, some will be soon!) and be all integrated and simple to use.

BTW, this is the mouse and keyboard I was talking about -> http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...=&newdeptid=18

endlessRacingz · #13 (**permalink**) 03-02-2004, 09:55 AM

Yeah I know what your talking about but I already have the system planned out. pretty much. I wanted to get a CD player / in dash 6.5" they have usually 1 or 2 inputs. Thus I'd have my Mp3's at hand. Plus I know what you mean by resolution and etc. I have already begun to construct a flash formatted program that would be used on the screen its very lage and easy to see and also quite attractive photshop gives great results sometimes :-D as far as DVD's go they look fine on them its not like I want to have my home entertainment system in teh car, I just want a little something for some long trips or what not and to access all my MP3's and stuff wihtout the need to swap DVD's also all my Div'X movies wihtout CD's also. Plus a GPS navigational system is cheap for computers, you just buy teh card and software for around $60 so the possibilites are almost endless.

Eric · #14 (**permalink**) 03-03-2004, 05:54 PM

www.mp3car.com

endlessRacingz · #15 (**permalink**) 03-04-2004, 05:15 AM

Ah interesting site. As for their software, I definantly like my own, customizable and such with added detail to personalization. Yet there forums might be of help.