In car media PC

[insane_alien]

i'm going on a road trip in a couple of months, and instead of carrying a lot of CD's that'll likely get scratched to hell and/or used as frisbees i'm wondering if i can buy/make a music server that i can just shove in the glovebox with some extra storage to get all of my 3000 songs on it and use a FM transmitter to let me use the cars stereo for playback.

possibly some way of changing the song remotely, perhaps using bluetooth.

i'm thinking a netbook and a big SDHC card could do this job, it doesn't need graphics capabilities and it doesn't need to be powerful, just enough to play audio files.

does anyone know of any prebuilt devices for this or should i stick with the netbook idea?

oh, should probably state some of the requirements too.

1/ needs to be able to plug into the cigarette lighter for power
2/ needs to at least have the option of coming with an SSD as this thing is going to be abused in horrible ways by vibrations and jolts, there will be foam padding but its still going to be tossed about a bit. HDD's will die if used in this thing.

[notwen]

I'd go w/ a netbook or possibly the Data Evolution decTOP (http://store.dataevolution.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DT-7001) should suit your needs. Plenty of tutorials on getting Linux installed on it. Google search comes up w/ some threads w/ ppl wanting the decTOP as a in-car PC. Might be worth a look. =]

---EDIT---
Search of the forums actually brings up a forum member selling one (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1073352). =]

[insane_alien]

looks good although, i am concerned about the inclusion of an HDD. the roads i'll be driving on aren't the best(seen someone lose their entire axle after hitting one) which is why i was saying that a HDD won't last long. if this can be swapped out with an SSD then it should be fine.

[notwen]

From the comments on the site, here's the inside to give you an idea if you wish to tackle trying to swap out the HDD for SSD.

http://pair.offshore.ai/pic/

Best of luck. =]

[insane_alien]

From the comments on the site, here's the inside to give you an idea if you wish to tackle trying to swap out the HDD for SSD.

http://pair.offshore.ai/pic/

Best of luck. =]

Aha, just an IDE slot, should be able to find an SSD to fit that.

but this project still has a couple of months before i need to actually do anything so i'm going to keep looking, see if there are any better options.

[Dougie187]

Lol sorry to sound... ignorant? but couldn't you just use an iPod for this?

I guess not so much with the change the song remotely, but i think they have some wired remotes for them, at least they use to in previous iterations.

I would be worried about the battery though, unless you can find some car charger for a netbook.

[marco123]

Lol sorry to sound... ignorant? but couldn't you just use an iPod for this?

I guess not so much with the change the song remotely, but i think they have some wired remotes for them, at least they use to in previous iterations.

I would be worried about the battery though, unless you can find some car charger for a netbook.

lol. Most car stereo nowadays have an mp3 player input even really cheap ones, and with only 3000 songs any basic mp3 player around 16GB should do the trick. They charge right out of the socket. Shouldn't cost much either.:)

Cheers, Marco.

[insane_alien]

well, i could used my current mp3 player hooked up to an FM transmiter (my car stereo does not have an aux in) and its sort of built into the dashboard so i can't just upgrade it.

but where would the fun in that be, also i plan on doing other stuff with it too maybe get a screen for movies(passengers only unless i'm stopped).

this is more of 'can i do it' project than an 'its absolutely necessary' project.

[LowSky]

well, i could used my current mp3 player hooked up to an FM transmiter (my car stereo does not have an aux in) and its sort of built into the dashboard so i can't just upgrade it.


You will be suprised what car stereo people actually make. My sister's accord id "built" into the dash but they make a piece that will take care of that.

Problems with a car PC. Netbooks run on batteries, which need to be charged. Not many companies make 12V car charges for notebooks, and using a DC to AC conveter can actually create feeb back (you might hear a nice wirring noise). Best option is a iPod or MP3 player with a FM rciever.

If you really want to look at the CarPc idea check out

MP3car.com

[insane_alien]

You will be suprised what car stereo people actually make. My sister's accord id "built" into the dash but they make a piece that will take care of that.

Problems with a car PC. Netbooks run on batteries, which need to be charged. Not many companies make 12V car charges for notebooks, and using a DC to AC conveter can actually create feeb back (you might hear a nice wirring noise). Best option is a iPod or MP3 player with a FM rciever.

If you really want to look at the CarPc idea check out

MP3car.com

12VDC to 12VDC adaptors aren't hard to make, they're called wires. it think i can handle that challenge with a knife and some electrical tape.

[LowSky]

12VDC to 12VDC adaptors aren't hard to make, they're called wires. it think i can handle that challenge with a knife and some electrical tape.

So you dont mind hacking a $400 netbook into your car's electrical system... smart idea. :rolleyes:

Dont foget a good fuse and use a stable 12 volt line as when a car is cranking it is producing 16 Volts or higher if you go that method. Oh and dont forget to set the PC to auto turn off and turn on when you stop or start back up.. kinda anoying to have to wait for the thing to boot up too so use Hibernate as much as possible.

[insane_alien]

So you dont mind hacking a $400 netbook into your car's electrical system... smart idea. :rolleyes:

Dont foget a good fuse and use a stable 12 volt line as when a car is cranking it is producing 16 Volts or higher if you go that method. Oh and dont forget to set the PC to auto turn off and turn on when you stop or start back up.. kinda anoying to have to wait for the thing to boot up too so use Hibernate as much as possible.

well, i was oversimplifying somewhat, but still isn't a difficult task, the work of 5 minutes.

[handy]

Lots of people use MiniITX motherboards for the job. There are a good range of tiny cases & DC to DC converters & PSU's that can stabilise the voltage & are timed to have a delayed start after you have started your car's engine.

The VIA MiniITX boards were really the only choice for a long time but now Intel has produced a more powerful & much cheaper Atom powered competitor:

http://www.mini-itx.com/reviews/atoms/default.asp?page=6

With other companies now making better quality MiniITX boards than Intel (as usual), they also use the Atom CPU.

You will find lots of how-to's for building MiniITX based car computers if you do a search.

All good fun, if you like that kind of thing.

[Edit:] Some people use PS3's & the like also, which could be worthwhile if you already own one.

[diablo75]

You can build your own using the advice from this book (http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596008710/). Although I've read the whole thing and to be honest, you'd save money if you just bought an MP3 player or a netbook and had a car stereo with an aux line-in on it. Even better, a stereo that can accept USB flash drives; no need to even burn CD's.

[handy]

You can build your own using the advice from this book (http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596008710/). Although I've read the whole thing and to be honest, you'd save money if you just bought an MP3 player or a netbook and had a car stereo with an aux line-in on it. Even better, a stereo that can accept USB flash drives; no need to even burn CD's.

It's true, if you're not into playing video & setting up a GPS display, the only reason you would build the thing is for the creative challenge, as opposed to just buying a music player set up for your car.

[insane_alien]

You can build your own using the advice from this book (http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596008710/). Although I've read the whole thing and to be honest, you'd save money if you just bought an MP3 player or a netbook and had a car stereo with an aux line-in on it. Even better, a stereo that can accept USB flash drives; no need to even burn CD's.

yes, well, the only reason i'm not looking for the easy route is because

1/ i have plenty of free time just now
2/ the credit crunch hasn't really affected me and i have plenty of cash sved up
3/ bored.

[handy]

yes, well, the only reason i'm not looking for the easy route is because

1/ i have plenty of free time just now
2/ the credit crunch hasn't really affected me and i have plenty of cash sved up
3/ bored.

Your are the perfect candidate for a build yourself car media PC. :D

[gletob]

http://www.mini-itx.com/store/

[andras artois]

Off the Arch forum but very related to what you want.

LINK. (http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=60661&p=1)

[insane_alien]

little update, i have decided to go with a netbook due to the simple fact that it can function as an emergency computer if i don't happen to have my laptop on me.

what's the deal with netbooks these days? i haven't been following them at all.

basically the one i want will use an SSD(doesn't really matter what size as long as it can hold the operating system), linux(not decided which distro yet) and have the capability of accepting SDHC cards(this is a must as this is what will be storing my music).

Bluetooth would be nice as well but far from essential.

haven't acctually measured the bit where i'm going to fit it yet, should probably get round to that.

[darthlaidher]

if u just want music then just buy u a mp3 player n plug it into your radio simple as

[insane_alien]

if u just want music then just buy u a mp3 player n plug it into your radio simple as

did you read the thread at all?

[darthlaidher]

did you read the thread at all?

no i just read your first post.

why would you want to waste money when a mp3 player would be just fine.

edit i just read your other post.

maybe one day you will be like me and have video
http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr89/darthlaidher/mycar.jpg

i think you could put in a after market head unit in that has the ability to play mp3's for cheaper than what your wanting to do any way.

[insane_alien]

no i just read your first post.

why would you want to waste money when a mp3 player would be just fine.

how about you go read the thread eh? i've been over this and don't particularly feel like reiterating it.

[darthlaidher]

no i just read your first post.

why would you want to waste money when a mp3 player would be just fine.

edit i just read your other post.

maybe one day you will be like me and have video
http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr89/darthlaidher/mycar.jpg

i think you could put in a after market head unit in that has the ability to play mp3's for cheaper than what your wanting to do any way.

how bout using refresh ehh

[insane_alien]

nah, i'll stick to my plans

and i can't really be blamed for missing an edit you did while i was typing a reply.

don't be 'that guy'

[darthlaidher]

nah, i'll stick to my plans

and i can't really be blamed for missing an edit you did while i was typing a reply.

don't be 'that guy'

im sorry you are already "that guy"

besides i gave you my opinion if you dont like it tough simple as that. go ahead waste money, i hope its yours and not your parents money.

[notwen]

If all you're going to be using this for(mainly) is the media playback in your vehicle and since size limitations might affect your options, you may want to look into one of the original Asus 7in(700 Series) EEE Netbooks. Majority of the netbooks being offered nowadays range from 8.9in, 10in to 12in.

Random Netbooks:
ASUS Netbooks (http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=24&l2=164) (7in-10in)
Dell Netbooks (Mini 9 (http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-9?cs=19&s=dhs&ref=homepg)/Mini 10 (http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-10?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&ST=dell%20mini%2010&dgc=ST&cid=39987&lid=1042975&acd=52183,8,0,74149438,618456203,1235663765,,13603 968,2715222261))
Acer Aspire One (http://www.aspireoneuser.com/acer-aspire-one-specification/)
MSI Wind Series (http://www.msimobile.com/level2_productlist.aspx?id=3&page=all)
Lenovo S10 (http://shop.lenovo.com/us/notebooks/ideapad/s-series)
HP Mini (http://www.shopping.hp.com/mini/)
Samsung NC10 (http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/subtype/subtype.do?group=computersperipherals&type=mobilecomputing&subtype=mininotebook)

I'm sure I'm forgetting some, but here's just some possible considerations. =]

[insane_alien]

yeah, the EEE PC 700 series looks good, 9 and 10 inch ones seem like they'd be a bit on the big size for where its going to get mounted.

seems very low power but hell, 99% of the time it'll just be functioning as a jukebox and the other 1% as a word processor/spreadsheet/wikipedia access so its not going to need anything major.

the lack of bluetooth on any 7 inch model is a bit disappointing but i'm sure i have a USB adapter from my old laptop lying around somewhere.

and yes it is my money, haven't been able to squeeze money out my parents since i started working at 14 which was 7 years ago. and 'waste of money' is subjective. I consider cigarettes to be a waste of money but its a damn profitable business.

[darthlaidher]

yeah, the EEE PC 700 series looks good, 9 and 10 inch ones seem like they'd be a bit on the big size for where its going to get mounted.

seems very low power but hell, 99% of the time it'll just be functioning as a jukebox and the other 1% as a word processor/spreadsheet/wikipedia access so its not going to need anything major.

the lack of bluetooth on any 7 inch model is a bit disappointing but i'm sure i have a USB adapter from my old laptop lying around somewhere.

and yes it is my money, haven't been able to squeeze money out my parents since i started working at 14 which was 7 years ago. and 'waste of money' is subjective. I consider cigarettes to be a waste of money but its a damn profitable business.


i dont understand why you would want a netbook in your car when a ipod touch would do the job. jukebox,video, word processing.

but fair enough spend as much money as you want the economy needs people to spend lots of money.

i'll just chill in my car with my ipod hooked to the radio and bump out the beats.

[notwen]

i dont understand why you would want a netbook in your car when a ipod touch would do the job. jukebox,video, word processing.

but fair enough spend as much money as you want the economy needs people to spend lots of money.

i'll just chill in my car with my ipod hooked to the radio and bump out the beats.

This is just as much for the project as it is for the end result.

[darthlaidher]

This is just as much for the project as it is for the end result.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8948838&type=product&id=1215819593385
something like this would be cool in a car i dont think it has word processing though

[insane_alien]

that wouldn't work for me.

1/sirius/XM radio is going bust so that functionality is useless
2/HDradio doesn't exist over here, we have DAB
3/don't own an ipod and don't plan on it
4/to get that in my car i'd have to replace the dashboard pretty much entirely
5/its worth about half as much as the car is.

I've actually just went and ordered an EEE PC now(i already have the radio transmitter on its way).

[darthlaidher]

that wouldn't work for me.

1/sirius/XM radio is going bust so that functionality is useless
2/HDradio doesn't exist over here, we have DAB
3/don't own an ipod and don't plan on it
4/to get that in my car i'd have to replace the dashboard pretty much entirely
5/its worth about half as much as the car is.

I've actually just went and ordered an EEE PC now(i already have the radio transmitter on its way).


so your saying you got a crap car and your wanting to put pc in it lol wow nice.

1. its xm satalite radio ready which means you can have it if you want to subscribe to it. you dont get it when you buy it.

[insane_alien]

so your saying you got a crap car and your wanting to put pc in it lol wow nice.

are you ever going to be constructive?

we already know you think it is a waste of both time and money.

[notwen]

Unless you're here to provide useful information to this thread, why even bother posting? You seem to just want to recommend what YOU would do, while op has already made it clear he is not wanting a standard 'receiver + ipod' setup for his automobile.

[darthlaidher]

Unless you're here to provide useful information to this thread, why even bother posting? You seem to just want to recommend what YOU would do, while op has already made it clear he is not wanting a standard 'receiver + ipod' setup for his automobile.

im rather pissed at the treatment mr insane has give me so yeah ive took it up with him in private message.

so yeah you can back off aswell.

[bapoumba]

Sorry here, I'm closing to take the time to review the thread.

[bapoumba]

Okay, I'm not up for a cleaning, yet. Please remember that this is a project the OP wants to set up and have fun with without major rebuilding of the car. Please refrain from posting if the only input is going to be negative side comments, thanks.

Thread reopened.

[notwen]

that wouldn't work for me.
I've actually just went and ordered an EEE PC now(i already have the radio transmitter on its way).

Nice, keep us posted.

[insane_alien]

Got my FM transmitter this morning(first time in years a delivery has actually shown up this early its not even 9am).

eating breakfast just now but i'll be testing it out with my mp3 player on the drive to uni.

EDIT: at uni now. the transmitter is much better than i expected comes through nice and clear considering its going through a short range FM transmitter and some dodgy car speakers :P

[insane_alien]

EEEPC arrived today, going to replace the Xandros instalation it came with. any recommendations for a distro? i'll probably try a couple before i settle on one. it has the 8GB SSD if it matters.

[notwen]

EEEPC arrived today, going to replace the Xandros instalation it came with. any recommendations for a distro? i'll probably try a couple before i settle on one. it has the 8GB SSD if it matters.

EEEbuntu (http://www.eeebuntu.org/) & EasyPeasy (http://www.geteasypeasy.com/) come to mind for custom distros made for the EEE machines. =]

[insane_alien]

EEEbuntu will be the first one on then.

[insane_alien]

okay, its finally all set up.

I tried a bunch of eeepc specific distros but like eeebuntu the best, that whats on it.

GUI is disabled and autologin is enabled(not much point in having graphics if its going to be sitting in the dash most of the time with the lid closed) although enabling the Xserver is possible if i need to use it as a laptop.

it autoconnects to my home network when in range and rsyncs with my server to get any updates to my library and will shut down 1 after that if it isn't getting power from the car. This means it usually updates when i get back from somewhere, i can update it before a journey by turning it on and waiting for a bit, doesn't take too long unless theres a massive update. in that case i'd just take the SDHC card inside and do it the old fashioned way.

haven't got a remote for it yet but i usually just play my music on a global random anyway. if a passenger wants the change the track they can open it up and pick a track(may run a GUI for this because my friends would run screaming at a commandline).

thats pretty much it. works perfectly (except when driving past a big electric motor for a pump due to interference at a plant i was visiting yesterday)