Okay, I'm ready to make my next move and set up a carputer for my car. It will run as an MP3 player, dvd player, internet browser (when connection is possible) and GPS (when software is available). I will be running all this on a mac and already have all the required equipment except one part...which i need help on.

I'm looking for an inexpensive 7" touch screen monitor. Other than ebay can anyone recommend another place where I can find one for <$150? This will be my first try at getting a carputer set up and I'm not really willing to spend $250+ for a touch screen monitor (that and I dont have the funds to buy monitors at that price). Any input is appreciated.

In other news I will be replacing my HU this weekend and adding a new amp. Will of course post pics when set up is completed.

machine for carputer setup:



possible monitor:



new HU:

 

PNOY; if you are planning on running one of those new Mac "cubes" - know this; they run very hot and need adequate air ventilation when installed. I don't like 'em as the power suppy, HD, and CD drive are all in one tiny case - all that heat is bad for HD's as well as any CD's you might leave in the drive.

Just a head's up.

 

PNOY call Al & Eds in Northridge and ask for Jay. He did work on my vette and suburban in his La Crescenta store. He might be able to help.

 

thanks for the heads up. I work with these bad boys so I have an idea on how hot they can get. I plan on puting the puter under the driver seat and mounting 120MM puter fans/w lights all over the plastic frame of the seat:

 

thanks charles. I'll call them and see if they have an old monitor model in the back they would sell for cheap...lol.

 

Carputer...unchartered territory there PNOY...... Have you checked out the threads by snova031? He has a carputer set up in his HHR. I was doing homework on a carputer for my setup, there was just more questions than answers and I went for the traditional hook up...

Ng

 

ng,

I think my setup will be a lot easier. I will keep the HU on my car for radio/cd functions. I purchased a "cd-changer cable to rca" adapter and my first intention was to use that for my mp3 player. Now that I'm doing a carputer I'll connect that to the cd-changer adapter to get sounds.

The mac already has a built-in "media center" type of software called Frontrow. This allows you to gather your useful tools (itunes player, movie player, picture viewer) into a clean looking screen shown below:



It also comes with a remote as well to help get around the menus without using a keyboard/mouse. Right now there are limited carputer software for macs but I'm sure some sick ones will be released in the near future.

 

Sounds good. Look forward to seeing your setup

Ng

 

 

yes i am so very intrested in that i really reseached snovas' concept but my main thing was size of caseing with a size like that i might be able to do what i wanted, what is the model number of the mac? n why aren't you running sound off the sound card? looking forward to your write up.