Thread: Apple iPad

All these questions can be answered just by a dev making an app for the Ipad that is a frontend and if I am not correct a company on this forum asked if this would be wanted so I think in the coming months we will see how good this can be made to run in a car environment.

Originally Posted by BIGGKATT01

All these questions can be answered just by a dev making an app for the Ipad that is a frontend and if I am not correct a company on this forum asked if this would be wanted so I think in the coming months we will see how good this can be made to run in a car environment.

It doesn't matter, all people care about is the right now, and right now there isn't a front end for iPad. Just like people can still get mad that there is no multitasking. Its just how people are.

That's true but the Ipad is an ideal solution for most on this forum. Just as people are saying the Ipad isn't ideal for an in car carputer neither is a regular carputer. You have to run tons of wires you have to fab a screen into your dash so there is no difference between the Ipad install and the regular carputer install. I had a regular carputer in my car and it was a hassle from start to finish, so now I am going to go the Ipad route. My homeboy just got his Ipad installed cleanly into his 2010 Buick Lacrosse and it looks and works fantastic, he has internet, Gps, Internet radio and Regular radio so all that is needed in time is a frontend solution. I know people want things now but it took awhile for carputers to come this far but I didn't here people saying oh theses carputers will never replace the headunit we had to wait for carputers to come this far. The Ipad just came out but it's in car use is moving faster than the regular carputer did when it was thrown in a car.

So carputers are double din units only?

On the FX my carputer is under the driver's seat, on the M, it was in a tray on the trunk, on the Sequoia it's hanging free above the center console...None of them are in any way shape or form physically integrated.

OTOH, I couldn't care less if it's called a carputer or not. I'm not a puritan by any means. Atually in my Sequoia, since I plan to use a mini-itx, a tablet and the iPad, so it's more like an orgy than a "pure" carputer thing, but I don't mind at all!

As for the reference to the iPhone in a pocket calling it a carputer. Why were the first carputers implemented? Wasn't it just to play mp3s? Back then I bet an iPhone would be a dream! Remember this site is still called mp3car.com, not doubledin-safeandhidden-oemwannabe-carputers.com...

Originally Posted by blk02si

He is my definition:

Car Computer: A computer system designed and used specifically in an automotive application, that is integrated physically and electronically to provide data to the driver or passengers in the form of entertainment, critical vehicle systems, GPS positioning and network connectivity. The computer system should be able to perform in the same range of conditions as the vehicle itself including vibration, temperature and capability. The system should be designed and installed with safety in mind and not infringe upon safety measures set forth by the vehicle manufacturer.

Example:

Uninstalled Ford Car Computer:

It's not a bad definition, but it's pretty narrow and excludes most installs on this forum. Anyone with a laptop is exclude, for example. Any computer running...well..any operating system is also excluded with the possible exception of Linux ice but only because ghost comes installed as part of it.

I agree that a bungee cord install is offensive if you are an oem type of installer, but how does it differ from someone who straps a laptop under the seat and uses a gooseneck monitor holder?

Very true Bugbyte, I get a little peeeved when I here, that can't be a carputer or this can't be a carputer or it's not good enough to be a carputer. it makes no difference to me what type of hardware a person is using for there carputer as long as it suits their needs for what they need it to do the forum members on here who have chosen to install or purchase an Ipad as their carputer have done it because it suits there needs.

For me the Ipad is the perfect option all I need is something to play my Mp3s,Movies,Internet and Navigation all of the other stuff I don't need I don't listen to fm am radio so the Ipad is perfect for most of us and as I stated before the only flaw that it might have is the gui but that is easily solved by an app.

My Ipad install at first will not be clean, seeing that the economy is what it is and my son is heading for chef school and I already have 2 daughters away at college. Some of my gadgets have to wait to be fully realized, but by September it will have a custom dash mount from Westminster Speed & Sound in Md they said they can custom fab me a slide in dash mount so then it will be clean and yes it will be a carputer.

Hey Guys, Like I said "This is my definition" of a car computer. It's not limited to double DINs, my current setup is built into my center console. I suppose I am a "purist" in the hobby as I think of a car computer as part of the car, not something I tote along with me and throw into a dock when I start my truck. To be more clear and concise, I own a custom built dedicated car computer. It's always hooked up, always runs when the engine is running, and is not meant to be removable. I think of this much like any other type of audio system I've ever owned. Others own iPads that are installed into a car. The iPad will always be an iPad no matter where you put it or how integrated you make it. There is a clear difference there. Is one better than the other? No. It depends on each persons goal, needs, wants, budget, technical skill, time restraints, accessibility to technology, etc.

We all have a common goal in mind when doing this stuff and everyone has a different approach. For me I require integrated HD radio, dedicated GPS hardware, and 4 channel line level output to interface with my factory amps/system, none of which the iPad offers. So to me the iPad could never really be a car computer since it does not fit all my needs.

It's all a matter of opinion I suppose but I still just don't see the iPad as a car computer. Its just an iPad in a car. To further elaborate my point consider this: If you take your iPad out of the car , cool you have an iPad to use in the home, at the coffee shop, while walking, etc! If I take my car computer out of my car I have something relatively useless since the car computer needs the car itself to be purposeful. Some may see this as a serious downside but you have to take the good with the bad.

Blk02si, I completely understand your side of this conversation except for the fact that the system that I had installed in my 07 Dodge Durango I could take it out of my truck an take it in the house and use it as a home pc.

So if we use your logic all the carputer is is a home computer in the car. and if I am not correct most of the parts can be used in a home pc. You see it can go both ways your saying that the Ipad is just an Ipad but a carputer is nothing more than a home pc placed in our cars that's the point we turned home pcs into something that could be used in the car.

I am in no way trying to belittle your point of view I am just trying to get you to see how someone that doesn't want a whole lot of hassle trying to get something to run in there car is coming from.

The carputer I had installed was some work to get in and setup and no matter what I did it never completely ran smooth I believe it was a windows thing ( hate it ) but anyway it took 65 sec to boot and it constantly crashed . The Ipad on the other hand boots in relatively no time and it does most of the things my old setup did and more.

So I guess it's to each his own but I do beleive the Ipad can be called and used as a carputer.

Originally Posted by blk02si

Hey Guys, Like I said "This is my definition" of a car computer. ...... Others own iPads that are installed into a car. The iPad will always be an iPad no matter where you put it or how integrated you make it. There is a clear difference there. Is one better than the other? No. It depends on each persons goal, needs, wants, budget, technical skill, time restraints, accessibility to technology, etc.

Originally Posted by BIGGKATT01

So I guess it's to each his own but I do beleive the Ipad can be called and used as a carputer.

Originally Posted by jr4284

So far I am very happy with the iPad as a carputer. It was significantly easier to get up and running than your traditional setup.
For the lighter carputer user, the iPad is a fantastic solution and is unequivocally a carputer in my mind. It's just an added bonus that it's also an iPad and you can pop it out of your car and use it anywhere else too... something other carputers can't do.

I understand both points of view and I guess I'm not as opened minded about this issue as I could be, but I've only seen one iPad install that's truly integrated into the vehicle and given it doesn't multitask it doesn't pass my definition of a carcomputer in that one key component is "automation." Most of the old heads here know I have two mottos "Lazyness is the mother of invention" and "Computers don't improve efficiency, automation does". My car computer like my home computer has to be able to take some of the burden off me to meet my needs. And yes its all about the end users needs so I guess I oughta cut the Apple fanboys some slack - if it meets your needs call it whatever you want. It could never meet my needs because I want a PC (so there I finally just came right out and said it).

I'm probably the closest to the middle ground as anyone can get since I've decided over a decade ago that I prefer A TabletPC install. And yes, I love the convenience of removing the tablet and taking it fishing, camping, or around the world twice; but once docked into the car its a totally different animal - it has 9 USBs connected to everything from OBDII to TPMS to Valentine One to fusion brain controlling windows electrical systems and telling me the pressure in my air tanks, even logging my travels (data and video) internally as well as externally on my home server. All of this is running concurrently, if a tire goes flat at the exact same time as the radar detector picks up a signal I get warnings about both! Everything I want to be notified about is in one location - my TabletPC screen.

My system is extensively automated. IF X, Then do Y. Silabs will switch radio stations when one starts losing signal. If I'm not listening to the radio on the PC the cars antenna stays down and when I do it goes up "automatically". In my convertable, if it starts to rain when its parked, the top get put up and the windows close. And the list goes on and on. Sure one day the iPad will be able to do some, maybe most, possibly all of my automation tasks; but its nowhere near there now or anytime soon. So for my needs, I'll probably be in a rest home before apple gets to the point where I'd consider it.

I'm definitely no purist, but I'm not ready to call it an equal to the PC quite yet.