Planning out my install, 1 Question!

**slidesear** · 07-19-2007, 05:46 PM

Great Site! I am looking forward to carputing my car. I will try to offer help here as well, as I am experienced with computers, as a new comer to the car computer, I have only one question

I currently have a Multimedia Headunit with RCA inputs vid/aud. I'm aware that using composite to display Video will result in crappyness, nonetheless I only want to use Windows MCE right now.

I might go with the full VGA/Touchscreen thing later but right now I am enjoying my headunit too much.

In Hand:
Compaq EVO (1.6 P4m, 1GB Mem, 60GB HD)
Docking station

Question:
Is there a way to get WindowsMCE to start media center automatically, and send it out on the RCA, when windows starts?(I ask this because I know MC can send a composite video signal out, rather than a high res VGA one, might be able to be somewhat viewable)

Thanks for reading!

**tn6478** · 07-20-2007, 10:06 AM

That right that is all depending on your unit. Will it push that signal out when the system comes on.

**slidesear** · 07-20-2007, 12:41 PM

Well I was going to wire something up to where the laptops' button is turned on when I start the car, I'm sure that's an easy task. My question actually was more geared towards if WindowsMCE will start up with MC started, and when MC is started can it down the res to make the display somewhat readable.

**crooper** · 07-20-2007, 04:52 PM

In Vista MCE, it's under Tasks/Settings/General/Startup and Window Behavior

**slidesear** · 07-20-2007, 05:03 PM

Thanks! Does anyone know how good it will look through composite? I know when you hook up a Media Center Extender from your XBOX lets say, and have it hooked up via composite, It shouldn't look that bad? (wishful thinking)

**fooshizn1x** · 07-25-2007, 07:04 PM

hook it up to your television and then make the decision for yourself. Just imagine it a lot smaller... If its hard to read, manipulate and use while looking at the TV, it will be that much more difficult on a smaller screen. Aside from that, how do you plan to control it without a touch screen? you could use a mouse and keyboard, however while you drive, those are not an easy nor safe item to mess with... just more to think about. Enjoy your install

**slidesear** · 07-25-2007, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by fooshizn1x

hook it up to your television and then make the decision for yourself. Just imagine it a lot smaller... If its hard to read, manipulate and use while looking at the TV, it will be that much more difficult on a smaller screen. Aside from that, how do you plan to control it without a touch screen? you could use a mouse and keyboard, however while you drive, those are not an easy nor safe item to mess with... just more to think about. Enjoy your install

I was thinking of using a Media center remote, but yea it looks shi77y. Hard to let go of my Alpine IVA-W205 and a MRA-F350. How does the best laptop sound card compare to the SQ of the alpine/processor I currently have? The best part of doing the car computer thing to me is getting GPS for like 90 bucks, in my case I have to get the blackbird unit that I can dock into the Headunit, but its ~400-500.