[devarshi84]

Would you buy a car-pc? If yes

1. What would be your budget?
2. What features would you want built in?
3. What will be the different uses for you?
4. What else would be important?

I know a separate thread exists but that is for a DIY project and I need to get a normal public opinion.

[fb1]

Yes

1)20k MAX
2)GPS, Videos/Songs, Bluetooth
3)?
4)?

[devarshi84]

is that it? one doesnt neet a car pc for gps, videos and bluetooth afaik.

I thought email, internet, streaming, podcasting and other uses would be included.

[jkdas]

20K max and it should do things that a normal desktop can do

AMD please

[v1p3r]

You get nice small laptops for that much. if you can hook it into your amp, and get one of those internet connection cards, it would be so cool.

[devarshi84]

a laptop under 20K?

with bluetooth, gps, card reader, PCMCIA and other features?

are you sure?

[v1p3r]

No, just BT and PCMCIA slots. Or USB atleast. Those small Sharp/Toshiba ones, and I've seen a couple of Samsung ones too.

[devarshi84]

Can I have some google links to check them out?

[v1p3r]

Sharp Muramasa Mebius CV50- Subnotebook Reviews by Mobile Tech Review

This is expensive though. I've seen one my friend picked up for US$ 500.

[devarshi84]

this one has a transmeta cpu (almost extinct), no bluetooth and no pcmcia. but still costs 1900. (when it was available)

what did your friend get?

please remember, no offence here. Just need some info.

[v1p3r]

Can't remember. It has a DVD drive, R too I think, WiFi definitely, and it's small and white.

[devarshi84]

would soeone be satisfied with an inexpensive notebook pc or does car pc make more sense?

[rajagopal_j]

Personally a car PC would be a better bet for the following reasons.

- The laptop screen would not be used much. (even a 12' screen costs much more than a 7' screen). You are paying for it, the money can go into something else, like more RAM/HD space

- mini-iTX/nano-iTX/pico-iTX are much smaller than a laptop
- saves space
- also very easy to fix to the car
- easier to find a good location inside the car

- Most laptops are made to withstand a single shock wave. Like a small drop on to the table from your hands etc etc. On a bad road they wouldnt last a very long distance without special help

I would pick a Caputer with a mini-iTX board, barebone etc. nano and pico boards are still pretty expensive.

BUDGET
I would budget about 30-40K for everything, including a touch screen, the software which goes into it (centrafuse and its likes), connecting kits for bluetooth, Wifi, LAN, ICE etc etc

FEATURES (in the order of importance)
- ICE integration
- Bluetooth
- record voice calls, which I would take while driving (using a handsfree ofcourse). so that i can go back and refer to those parts where i didnt pay attention because of traffic
- Wifi, to use a hotspot in a Coffe shop or some such hangout place
- Mebbe a wireless touchscreen, which will let me use the carputer as a tablet PC, without having to actually carry the PC but just the monitor. (Exploring this feature to see if any such products are available or the feasibility of building something like this)
- GPS and Navi
- A front camera to record the road while on a roadtrip (currently using a sony DV cam both on bikes and in the car)
- a rear camera, to both help while reversing and also to record traffic during a road trip
- OBD

[devarshi84]

hmmm. nice detailing there. Did you dream it up or are planning to do it up?

[kousik]

In http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/ there are a few threads going on installing a car pc. Some people source all components and build from scratch: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/18216-car-pc-setup-install-some-fabrication.html
Someone used a laptop: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/21737-my-first-car-pc-install-research-planning-stage.html
A midway painful way is to get a pre-assembled one I am trying to: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/27713-irides-ipc-lx-car-pc.html and estimate will be between 30K-40K depending on spec.

Kousik