What's Better Than In Car Entertainment?

More In Car Entertainment! I've been working on a car-pc system for the last little while now and after much testing it seems as if i'm just about ready to make it presentable to my Porsche bretherin. Part 1: Why this setup The answer to this is simple: It gives the user access to massive amounts of data, MP3's, videos, wifi-internet, email, GPS navigation, 8,16 and 64-bit videogame system emulation (i.e. NES, Sega, N64) as well as DVD playback and much more, at a fraction of the cost of specialized car components. 1000$ on a full car-pc system will just provide so much more than just a DVD/Navi deck (which usually start at about 1200$ for something that you would want to even put in your car). I'm talking Canadian Dollars. Part 2: Pro's and Con's PRO: - All of the above features and the infinite capabilities of a Windows XP/Linux/Mac setup on the road. - Cost effective - Unique - Gives people something to do on roadtrips - The computer case is easily removable in 10 seconds with no tools when you are at the track or want to use it in your house (that's right, you can use it in your house) - Super Compact size: as small as 6"x6"! -Standard computer parts for the most part, which can be replaced by most computer stores for minimal cost if anyting brakes! CONS: - Can't Think of Any Yet! Although Porsche Purists may stop reading now and cry blasphemy. - Oh, Requires and aftermarket amp, or at least a head unit with an auxiliary input which can route the sound to the speakers Part 3 - My Spec's so far - MOBO with integrated VIA processor, GFX processor with onboard MPEG decoding and onboard soundcard. - WindowsXP Pro Operating system - DVD-ROM/CD-RW and 80 GIG harddrive - Foldout Single-DIN touchscreen - Startup/Shutdown controller which automatically controls and regulates voltage so you don't need to worry about frying the MOBO or your battery draining to death. - And Much more! - Additional soundcard for increased soundprocessing Pics to follow, and I would be more than glad to work with anyone who is looking for a similar setup. As far as integrating to the 2002+ sound system with the fiberoptic cables, I'd have to take a look at it in person, but as long as there's another set of inputs (RCA, Audio In, Whatever) then it shouldn't be an issue since the sound processing isn't handled by the head unit but by the computer itself. Personally, I replaced the stock head unit entirly but thats not an option with the 2002+ cars as is my understanding.

Curious, I wouldnt personally do it, but why nit a $500 Mac mini? Small inexpensive, and very reliable....I have seen a few installs with this computer and the possibilities are nice....

Because personally i'm not a mac guy and i didn't want to risk compatibility issues. Also this way, when i pull into my driveway it automatically syncs my carputer with my desktop's MP3 folder, contacts, etc as my desktop is also a winxp system

Omar, Mac is the way to go...nicer interface and not prone to viruses and system crashes like PCs. As newport996 said, check out some Mac mini installs. It's so easy for it to network with PCs, but the reverse is not so easy. I'm biased though, since I've been a Mac addict since 1985! Phil

i actually used 2 want to use macs...now that they have multibutton mice and i don't play computer games anymore a mac mite be the solution.

I am biased too.....I have had Macs since the Mac Plus....and Apple since Apple II....Amazingly EVERY one of them still works....I can still surf the internet with a MacPlus....Its not very fast at all and software is obsolete....but the hardware is solid....and it just works...I was a certified repair tech and all my Mac service calls were people doing silly things like trashing the system folder, easy fix with no data loss but my PC calls were always hardware related....true failures. So for my personal machines, I just wanted them to work, didnt want to spend my off time fixing a computer....

^ what are replacement costs for mac parts?

Unless you own a show car, I'd stay away from a bunch of electronic gizmo in a car. I never understood why PS2 / Xbox were fitted to a car. I can understand Nav and a nice stereo system but why stuff stupid game and DVD in a sports car is beyond me.

most macs use standard pc parts....

What's Better Than In Car Entertainment? No in car entertainment. I have comfortable Sports Seats, a 6 speed, and PSE...I hardly use the CDR220 and keep very entertained.

I'll tell ya what's better than all that jazz: DRIVING. Leave the swiss knife systems to the SUVs and boring cars of the world.

Your system sounds pretty cool. I love tech stuff and want to be able to enjoy it in all my cars. If I had a track car, it wouldn't have a radio at all. But when I am out driving I enjoy the music as much as the engine and the handling. There is nothing better than the top down on a nice day, a road with lots of curves, a passenger with lots of curves and great music. I look forward to the pics. Kris

lol..yeah I know, but not all passengers (read: women, small kids, other weiners, etc) would enjoy the unfiltered flat-6 noise as much as me...and on a 3 hr road trip to the track or to niagra, it's nice to have something for them to do besides bug me about how they should have brought along earplugs Also...Driving thru twisties + soundtrack from any action movie (i.e. the rock, bad boys, etc) is very key.

LOL Not to knock the engine sound, but I just did a trip from AC back to NYC this past weekend (with the headunit down) and I was about to kill myself after the first hour. The engine is sweet no doubt, but cmon, the tunes are a MUST. I don't believe anyone that "just listens to the flat 6" blah...

No one is saying that listening to music in a car in a sin. However, why must a sports car be loaded with video game system? Save that for a limo or SUV please.

Seriously, WHEN would you NEED an extensive in-car entertainment sydtem? Tunes, yes, definitely. It can make the driving experience better. And it doesnt have to be a realy high end system either. Just enough to provide background music that isn't garbled or screechy while you drive. After the drive, and you get to where you want to go, you get OUT of the car, and go to your in-house extensive entertainment system. Why would you hang out and be entertained in a parked car? (Except for the obvious with the fair sex in a secluded spot).

Well I think he described his scenario...give him a break.....why are there so many that are so judgemental???? He said his wife and or kids like to do things on road trips....soooo he is accomodating them by having an entertainment system....It really is no bigger than a touchsreen and a cd changer...so its not as if he is doing too much and it happens to play video games, etc....Its not my cup of tea, but I do have Sirius radio, DVD player(that I have used twice in 2 years), touchscreen, Navigation, iPod intergration....I also commute 100 miles a day in my car and I am in the music biz so I need to have some of those things....All of mine are in one neat unit that you would never know its there....And its may not be when we NEED something but when do you NEED 300+ HP???? or 2 Porsches in one household??? Some would call that excessive....but give him a break, he is just sharing with us what he is doing to HIS Pcar...more power to him and if it makes his ownership a better experience for him and his family, then mission accomplished....Rant over....sorry, I had to vent...

Make sure to call your insurance company and let them know you're putting that in. Some insurance companies won't automatically cover aftermarket equipment unless you add in a rider. Sounds like a fun mod. GL.

for long cruising, yes to the music but for the twisties, hell NO

I hear you ! In fact I think its the best way out and the most flexible way out too. We should make a project out of this (document it, photographs, wiring details etc). About the mini mac ... its not a bad idea. The newest mini macs use intel processors and can run windows XP too (with "boot camp"). $500 too. Basically you could buy it for the form factor and always run windows on it. I think it'll be easiest with windows to integrate the GPS and other services. What about power consumption and the display ?? About wiring ?

check out this guys mini install in a GTI.... http://www.tunertricks.com/blog/index.php?p=40

It is always entertaining how these threads always seem to turn toward "Why would anyone want to upgrade the audio." I really enjoy having the most state of the art electronics in my cars. I do however want a very clean install, which you seem to have accomplished quite nicely. I posted a topic a while back related to cupholders that I installed and within about 6 posts the thread turned into whether you should be listening to the radio, pretty entertaining. We are always interested in more pictures! Kris

wow thats pretty cool.... that would make sitting in traffic interesting

Would be nice to have a good wifi capability that could sync up a permanently installed iPod to the home network and get podcasts and updated music. My biggest fear of doing mods such as the one you are thinking of is that you might change the car in a way that's tough to restore if you want to restore the car back to stock. But then, I don't know too much about taking door panels off and on and digging under the carpet stuff.

this is the best idea I have ever read on rennlist (okay almost!!)...a MAC mini...this is the way to go!! Hook up a great set of speakers and install a small computer screen...and you have the passengers quit for the ride...okay I won't install this in my P but in the X5 this is the way!! Thanks Newport for this idea..and you are right about apple computers eventhough the last quad core I bought had to be replaced 2 times within 4 weeks because of technical issues.

It isn't really that hard at all, the door panels and rear speakers are a bit time consuming to re-wire but you can also just cut the stock harness out and work with that if you were so inclined. Cutting the carpet in the trunk can be avoided entirly: there's enough holes and whatnot to work around with. The Porsche already has tons of grommets in the trunk to run wires to the dash. Picks will be up tomorrow, i'm just tidying things up a bit.

ok...here are some ****ty pics. I havn't tidied up the wires but it gives you an idea of how much space it actually occupies, which isn't very much cause my trunk is ginormous.

here is what the front end looks like, i prefer using this rather than the normal windows XP user interface because the buttons are nice and big so you can work them without taking your eyes off the road. http://www.thequiltcupboard.net/mobi...creenshots.htm

I like having everything in the trunk with disconnectable connectors so that i can take them out before turning laps...the amp and the computer toghether are probably 10-15 pounds..20 at the most i guess (80% of which is the amp's weight).