I've got an idea - said he

[Sam Kapasi]

Deer Steer,

The reason I started on the LaCie is because it is based on a laptop sized drive.
The ones you have suggested are identical in all respects except they are 3.5" desktop drives. Laptop drives will run with low current, often running of the simple 5V that it gets from the USB2.0 port.

BUT 320GB is better than 80 GB muhahahahahahaha.

when I checked the specs of the drive steer suggested, i realised that the supplied adaptor is 12V2A. Now 12V is available in the car yes, amperage no problem, but it is not regulated - varying from 10 to 14 volts.

Perhaps I would have to make a 12V regulated supply... for this drive

Navin? A regulated supply would cut 14V to 12V exact. What happens when it drops to 11V, either due to the starter or the ICE (bass notes)

[ballkey]

Why not go all the way ?
http://www.streetdeck.com/products.php

Touchscreen, Wifi sync with teh home pc, GPS gadgetry, vehicle diagnostics, the whole workz... It's a full-blown media-center pc in a HU form factor. Though having your HU boot-up for 25 seconds will be annoying.
Wonder how well these things work.

The Linux hacker types have similar projekts going on too ...

[ballkey]

For the otherkin er.. Mac users -
http://www.macvroom.com/Macd-Ride-2006-BMW-325
Another one on a Infiniti
http://forums.macvroom.com/showthread.php?t=81
For the DIY types..
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=66390

Somebody even wrote a book about it ..
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/carpchks/toc.html

[v1p3r]

Sam, dude, we don't all get it free It costs well over 10k, and that's off the cheaper sites in the US of A. That's as much as my present ICE setup!.

[tsk1979]

Sam, regulated supply!!? Why make one. For 15$ you get 1:3 car lighter point with fuse and regulator.
So get one of those.

[navin]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

The reason I started on the LaCie is because it is based on a laptop sized drive. Navin? A regulated supply would cut 14V to 12V exact. What happens when it drops to 11V, either due to the starter or the ICE (bass notes)

Sam this is not really a problem. Powerstream and Pyramid make readymade regulated supplies for plug and play
http://www.powerstream.com/ac-1245.htm
http://www.baproducts.com/pyramid.htm

ESP has this on their website for DIYers (ESp is a good reference site)
http://sound.westhost.com/project69.htm

And here is a full forum dedicated to only car power supplies.
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=11

this is all I know, then you have google.

[jkdas]

Originally Posted by jkdas

heard IPod 80 GB is out

Video Ipod with virus out

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Sam, regulated supply!!? Why make one. For 15$ you get 1:3 car lighter point with fuse and regulator.
So get one of those.

15$ will not be with a proper regulator. See the LaCie works on 5V. I know the motorola charger costing Rs. 500/- is regulated enough to drive it. Drops in voltage, even drastic drops will not affect it, as it needs to drop voltage to 5V.

But a 12V clean supply was my question. Because of Steeroids suggestion.

And guys, I am fully aware of carputers, they've been around a while. I'm looking at a cost effective (relatively speaking) option.

[navin]

Sam even if you got La Cie in your dash you need to be able to change artist/album/track. So you do need control for that apart from the volume. How do expect to control the La Cie?

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by navin

Sam even if you got La Cie in your dash you need to be able to change artist/album/track. So you do need control for that apart from the volume. How do expect to control the La Cie?

I'm not sure of this particular model, but these things normally come with a remote.

[navin]

well if you can control volume and track/artist/etc with a remote and a display then all you need is to feed it's output to a DAC and an amplifier.

[Sam Kapasi]

It has an onboard DAC navin and the audio output is very decent. And it is controlled using the supplied remote. You just need a video device to see the navigation...

[navin]

navigation? it has navigation as well? so all you need a 4ch. amp and speakers?

Q1: is the remote ergonomic (pics).
Q2: what sort of hard disk is ths 1.8" ipod like (read as shock resistant)
Q3: Does it have a display - how do you know what is playing?
Q4: what degree of control do you desire?

Somethig like this for master volume
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-cssheWV...50&I=109JBLRLC

or for more control this
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-cssheWV...0&I=5753SIXTY1

or this
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-cssheWV...0&I=500KWE060M
mated to this
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-cssheWV...0&I=500RUXC701

and for the nutty ones (you know who you are!)
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-cssheWV...0&I=5753SIXTY2

[Sam Kapasi]

I left a link on my first post Navin. That link leads to a picture of the drive with casing (excellent build, I may add) and a picture of the remote too.

When you switch it on to a video divice, there is a graphical welcme screen and leads you to 3 options, music, movies and photos.
Post this the navigation through the MP3 is pretty easy, with all folders listed as albuks and track names within the album.
Likewise for movies.

[navin]

Originally Posted by navin

Q1: is the remote ergonomic (pics).
Q2: what sort of hard disk is ths 1.8" ipod like (read as shock resistant)
Q3: Does it have a display - how do you know what is playing?
Q4: what degree of control do you desire?

ok not an ergonomic remote atleast not very car-driver friendly, the hard disk might be a 2.5" drive and it needs a display for any sort of navigation so you do need a in dash display.

so Sam you need a display and some level of control that can be used in a car. the remote can be used to change tracks etc...but is really more like a TV remote.