Linux on an XBOX for CarPC

**SnyperBob** · 05-14-2006, 12:39 AM

Interesting post indeed. Not only do you not state what sort of vehicle you drive, I'm sure you don't drive that much (which you've already stated). There are reasons I drive a 1.3L vehicle for my daily drive (re: 40 mpg). Regardless of my vehicle, I think it's funny that you said to read the entire thread - especially considering that I quoted posts throughout the entire thread.

So throughout your entire last post - the only refutative supporting claims you make deciding to go the route of a XBox is that it's cheaper. Thanks for outlining the obvious, and restating what everyone knows and has already posted.

Originally Posted by SnyperBob

But, if you're on a tight budget, I'd rather save the money than spend it on old technology that can't do more than play music, dvds, and (some) games.

The sole fact that you are 'stunting' an XBox at a car swap meet (show, GTG or what have you) is laughable. You've already pointed out that you don't drive much. You've already pointed out that 'your crew' likes XBoxes in their cars.

I'm actually enlightened by what some of the more reputable members here, have posted in this thread about XB's (ie: CDRSkull). If you have something to add to why this guy should get an XBox as a carputer, I suggest you outline it here.

Your vague comments don't help him make a decision like this....

Originally Posted by skool

I do find it funny how most people responding here aren't even running Linux..... let's hit that one up next. How many of you are even running Linux since clearly you all want the poster to buy a mini pc and run windows.

So, please tell - because I've already outlined what a Carputer can do - does Linux have over Windows. Sure, there's other means of running and setting up a CarPC, but it's obvious that Windows is the cheapest and easiest means. Either way, I've already outlined in detail how a carputer is much more efficient and better suited for a CarPC. Perhaps you, my friend, could read the thread and see this.

The Aspire comments really are interesting. Especially considering how much more difficult it is to outfit a smaller vehicle with a system. Not to mention that my 10 year old vehicle has a nicer system than whatever you drive....

It's just an XBox - no need to get all fired up about it

**oldskoolvwlover** · 05-14-2006, 01:43 AM

I am sure your 10 year old car doesn't have a nicer system, then what is sitting in my garage, but no need to get into a ****ing contest here.

The car I will be putting an xbox into I don't drive much... being that between 2 people we own 4 cars you are right, I do not drive the car in question that much. My commute car is still much nicer than an Aspire if that is the question.

If you had read the posts than you would see where I outlined the original poster may be better off running the XBOX instead of the PC, depending on his uses for the system. I think out of all your "respected" members I am the only one that asked once (note I asked multiple times) what the intended use of the system was.

Originally Posted by SnyperBob

So, please tell - because I've already outlined what a Carputer can do - does Linux have over Windows. Sure, there's other means of running and setting up a CarPC, but it's obvious that Windows is the cheapest and easiest means. Either way, I've already outlined in detail how a carputer is much more efficient and better suited for a CarPC. Perhaps you, my friend, could read the thread and see this.

The Aspire comments really are interesting. Especially considering how much more difficult it is to outfit a smaller vehicle with a system. Not to mention that my 10 year old vehicle has a nicer system than whatever you drive....

Now to say that a Windows system is "CHEAPER" you said it.... this is completely untrue, windows may be EASIER but never cheaper. How can a free OS with open source free programming cost more than windows. You can spend more on a windows distro than it would cost you to buy an xbox.

I never said a carputer wouldn't be easier or more efficient.... in every post I spoke to the concept of use and money. BTW how is it so hard to fit the components of a CarPC in a small car... in your last post weren't you talking about Mini Mobo's and cases, ohhh yeah it must be a challenge to install one of those tiny bastards into a car (I can think of at least 20 places I could hide one in an aspire, congrats). BTW you were the one that brought up the concept of the XBOX being 10 years old, 3 of my cars are 00 or newer and 1 is an 82. Nothing against old or new I work on em all.

As far as my "crew", my style has nothing to do with my "crew", car shows are car shows.... the shows and GTGs I go to are mostly european based (yeah not a lot of Aspires and Festivas there... sorry). Dude I am sure you have a nice Carputer in your car..... just face it, it's 2 different worlds, I am not trying to sit here and make fun of you for putting a PC in to a damn Aspire (**** the Carputer probably has more value than the car). Just understand that not everyone lives in your world where they need a fully functional Carputer in their car. I would much rather see someone install and XBOX in their car and realize they are out 100 (they can resell) and upgrade then spend 2Gs that a lot of people spend on GPS headunits and realize they have less options then they would with a much cheaper Carputer.

This has nothing to do with it being an XBOX, it has to do with your smart *** comments.... everyone else to this point has been cool understanding that maybe the poster doesn't want what you want out of your car. Like I said not everyone wants GPS or a touchscreen (yeah they are both nice to have, I personally would rather build multiple cars than have 1 cheap car with a crazy Carputer in it). I am not pushing my views on you.... but there is no need to trash a thread of a person that had a REAL question. You never even actually addressed the question posted.

I don't give a **** what you or anyone else wants to run......... in a endless cashflow world I would have the top of the line carputer in every car and $2000+ rims on every car. Not everyone wants to live like you and not everyone wants to live like me, no need to trash the decision here. You don't see me sitting in the Newbie forums telling everyone to go mod XBOX and make them into Carputers. You seriously act like I started this thread (note: I wasn't the original poster) to get some kinda XBOX Carputer movement going or some ****. I honestly like the challenge of doing something different, and to this point it looks like I can get everything out of my xbox I need in my car (I will be missing GPS, not a big worry for me).

As long as I can find the driver I need.... I should be able to run everything else, including hi-speed wireless. Works for me, may not be "cool" to you, but I still like throwing in Forza to play around with my friends while I am sitting at a car show or GTG.

**Tidder** · 05-14-2006, 03:50 AM

Hmm... I didn't read the whole thing.

CDR - Why not relocate one of your Xbox's USB ports and throw in a DVD remote up front to control it? Forget about wireless controllers. The batteries in the remote last a long freakin time.

That's what I'm planning to do with the wife's car. We're gonna throw a modded box in there with no DVD as well. 250 gig Seagate 3.5" hdd. I still can't bring myself to use a dang laptop hdd. I'm gonna use XBMC on it, as the dash. Usually I'd go with UnleashX, but I gotta think simple for her. Boot straight to XBMC. I've got a butt-load of those PS-One screens, I'm gonna put them in the headrest and one up front. I do think a reworked M1 would be a good PSU for it. But there are also DC to DC solutions made specifically for the xbox. I'm pretty excited about it. No GPS though...

**SnyperBob** · 05-14-2006, 04:06 AM

Originally Posted by Tidder

Hmm... I didn't read the whole thing.

Lol - you didn't miss much.

This sums up his entire post:

This has nothing to do with an XBOX

Does anyone have anything else to add. I don't want to hear what you *should* be able to do with the right driver. We'd like to hear what is currently possible.

I wonder if you could load any of the current Linux frontends onto one of these boxes, and have it perform.

So far - I'm feeling CDR's setup. The carputer controlling the XBox sounds like a winning combo. Just wondering how well this setup would run over http.

Tidder - did you ever get the warranty replacement for that Epia 800?

**oldskoolvwlover** · 05-14-2006, 05:21 AM

LOL.... I'm still wondering how many Aspires are actually on the road, once against I think this was about USING an XBOX and it's potential, not what it will do less than a paid for (yeah I know you think Windows is "cheap") windows box.

Since you are such a bad *** why don't you even answer to the whole windows being cheaper than linux. Regardless of platform you did say windows was "CHEAPER" I know it is cheaper to shove a damn computer into a ford than a real car, I still want someone to explain to me how windows could ever be cheaper than linux (on any hardware) it would seam to me that open source will always be cheaper (unless you get your software illegally, windows is not cheap as a base not to mention additional software). Please explain to me sir, I am very proud that the Carputer czar ignored that question in my last post to him. Please teach us all how to run Windows for less than linux ohhhh great one.

edit: ohhh yeah my only concept with the "right driver" was my broadband wi-fi (still unsure of the driver for the phone I am using). Other than that, there is Linux drivers for touchscreens..... liliput has linux drivers (and that's the lower $ option). My direct concept was only speaking of my specific wi-fi operation, which if the driver functioned properly (this is based on linux not on the xbox) would allow blue tooth operation for the phone. Once more for you this is only based on Linux operation with the specific phone I use (has nothing to do with it being an XBOX).

**SnyperBob** · 05-14-2006, 06:15 AM

Originally Posted by noob

Please teach us all how to run Windows for less than linux ohhhh great one.

Didn't we already answer your questions days ago. Read the thread again...

Ok so you make a gps driver, piece of cake. Im sure there is serial to usb drivers on debian. Now you have 2 numbers in your computer, latatude and longitude. Easy as you say. The trick is doing something with them.

How do you get maps?
How do you render maps quickly and efficently?
How do you make routes?
How do the routes know where one ways are?
How do you know where addresses are on the maps?
How does it determine when you are off course?
How does it determine where POIs are?
How do you make the interface pretty?
How do you make the speech engine?
How do you do all this on an xbox where the developer support community is pretty small?

Thats at least 1,000 hours of coding/testing there. If time were worth $15 an hour that project costs $15,000 dollars.

Its not easy making that software. And its even harder to port one from windows to the xbox. And the demand is slim to nil - xbox is going out of style and the only people that want xbox gps software is 20-30 mp3car people like you who aren't willing to work at a part time job an extra 8 hours to get superior hardware.

Once again, your post is veering further away from the topic being discussed.

Back on topic: Does anyone know what else is feasible, and already been done on an XBox. We already ruled out that even tho Windows can be run/installed, the low system memory makes it very impractical.

Can anyone confirm the touchscreen driver comment - or do you have a link to more info on that School? Funny, people can get GPS running on a Nintendo DS, but not the XB.

Uh Uh Uh, You didn't say the magic word !

EDIT: Looks like the PSP is going to have GPS soon too. lawl

**S2K12** · 05-14-2006, 06:43 AM

Originally Posted by SnyperBob

How would a 10 year old console system

10 years? yer what?

**SnyperBob** · 05-14-2006, 07:09 AM

What? Ok - yes, it's a 5 year old system, but still that's damn old in the realm of electronics.

**SnyperBob** · 05-14-2006, 07:51 AM

I can't find any info on installing/configuring a touchscreen on an XB. I used to own a modded XBox, and sold it when I learned it couldn't do as much as a carputer. If it is possible to run a touchscreen, that'd be huge.

How do you add a touchscreen? Would you install it the same way as a touchpad/joystick? A simple 'modprobe xpad' loads the driver, run the 'jscal' program to calibrate the screen??