In-car MP3 computer system and more...

[mazda20]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Nd4SpdSe:
<p>HAHAHA, your kidding right? The second time i opening a laptop it cost me $600. Unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing, i recommend stay away from that idea.<p>Besides, the cables for the lcd are small and wont widthstand any tension, delicate and hard to work with, and who know the side effects of extending a wire a few metres that is usually no more than an inch long.<p>As for performance of a cheep laptop, it depends on what you are doing. Me i like good performance and upgradability, i've changed the video, sound, hard drive, cd, cpu and memory in the 5 months that its been in my car, i upgrade and move parts around<p>besides, can an El Cheepo laptop do this:

(Thats Need For Speed 6:Hot Pursuit 2, BTW)<p>[ March 26, 2003: Message edited by: Nd4SpdSe ]<hr></blockquote><p>No I am not kidding! It could easily be completed with a descent used 300mhz or so laptop with a cd-rom. (no dvd needed unless you want it). A nice size HD would be great, but other than that the rest is pretty standard especially if you decide on a striped down version of Win95 like this setup. As far as the loss in extending the wires well, I have ripped apart my fair share of laptops and I would think that it would be better to start where the adapter mates with the MB. Not to directly splice and it could easily be extended the length of a standard vga extension cable which is what 3-4 feet. That is just enough to put in under the dash or under the seat. And with a laptop you don't have to worry about an AC/DC Convertor in your car.

[mazda20]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MP3Guy:
<p>Youngin This was installed 3 years ago... there were no Car MP3 players on the market.<hr></blockquote><p>I won't take the term youngin offensive if your in your forties plus, and serving in the Marine Corps right now. Otherwise, it was observation rather than a reflection of age.

[Nd4SpdSe]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by BumpNGlow:
Do passenger's complain about the monitor being there?<hr></blockquote><p>i dont know, i havent had a passenger in my car since i got the touchscreen installed<p>
Kick @#$ Mazda, if you have experience with laptops and a 300Mhz laptop will suit your needs, thats thats alright, thats the neat thing about carpc's, they're always different setups cause the users has different wants/needs.

[Justin Evans]

There are quite a few alternatives to such a large system but then again three years ago technology was not quite where it is today.<p>I am impressed with you CPU set up MP3Guy but would offer this as an alternative to those who just want music and lots of it!<p><p>KENWOOD KEG

[BumpNGlow]

and movies? and games? and GPS? Add all that in and compare prices.

[Absath]

ok, so i fairly grasp the concept of wiring speakers to my deck. i've never had a system that went beyond that basic setup.<p>I just ordered a 7" lcd screen that i plan to mount in my car. my plan is to start off with a simple ps2 under the seat (only system i dont own...) for games and dvd's. eventually i'd like to put a computer in the trunk.<p>the computer aspect is no problem... i'm A+ certified, and know my way around a motherboard. my question is this: how do you hook up the computer's sound cards to the car's speakers? and how can you run both the dash cd deck and the computer to the same speakers? and how can you differentiate?<p>-Abs

[Nd4SpdSe]

Easy, but you need to choose the right deck before you do it...<p>I choose a Pioneer DEH-8400P. Any of the "P" series decks have the expansion port on the back, its used for CD Changers, XM Add-On, And many other stuff including an Audio Input Box that has 2 RCA (Left and Right Channel) Inputs from any source; Mp3 Player, Walkman, PS2 or even a computer.<p>In the deck theres an AUX option (which you must enable cause its disabled by default). Once you enable it, its added to the SOURCE option on the deck, do you scrool through it like: "TUNER, CD, AUX"<p>Also, and im really looking forward to this, theres another box that does Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding (with a build in amplifier). Useful if you have a DVD-capable deck, but the higher up model (one of two models) had optical in, which my sound card has optical out. SO when i get that, i'll be able to do 5.1 surround with the car's speakers, or 4.1 until i get a center channel.

[Absath]

ahh i gotcha. so i get the deck that hooks up to the audio input box, which hooks up to the computer or ps2 and im all set? <p>the audio input box and the ability to hook it up to the deck is the key then.<p>-Abs

[Nd4SpdSe]

exactly!

[Absath]

ok well, i just got a 7" lcd screen... it has a 12v power connection for the cigarette lighter... could i just strip that wire and hard wire it to a 12v line in the dash?<p>-Abs

[Nd4SpdSe]

yep