Newbie with a couple general questions

**Downs** · 12-29-2009, 11:03 AM

Hey guys, GREAT site you have here. I am looking to start a car puter project with a mac mini.

My first question is about the screen, I happen to have a digital photo frame lying around and I'm wondering if I could use that as my monitor? It only has usb in so I would have to figure that out I guess, but there is a overlay that I hear good things about that could work with it. Would def. save some cash if I didn't have to buy a new screen.

I guess that is my first question. I am just waiting to hear from a friend about his PPC mac mini that I would be buying.

Seems most people are on intel mini's?

**DarquePervert** · 12-29-2009, 03:32 PM

You'll have to crack open the photo frame and determine what kind of input it uses, and possibly reverse-engineer an input from the PC.

You're better off just buying an LCD with VGA input.

**VmtSquad** · 12-29-2009, 04:52 PM

If you want to save yourself some time just wait until you have the $$ for a real in car 7 - 8 or even 10 inch touch screen (depending on space available).

That way you'll have more time to plan you install and Operating System Configuration.

Good luck with you project bro and welcome to the forum!!

**Downs** · 12-29-2009, 06:01 PM

VMt
thanks for the welcome man
I've realized as I read more that that lcd i have won't work
I've just found a real cheap 7 inch lcd that will work
however the not sure it works with mac at the required resolution

just got an offer on my keg fridge so may have the extra cash I need anyway

**Downs** · 12-29-2009, 06:03 PM

here is the link to the cheaper screen with RGB

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.22660

**brownaa82** · 12-29-2009, 11:49 PM

IMO the screen looks pretty good for the price. Only issue I would have is that ICE3 doesn't support that resolution natively. ICE3 if you haven't checked it out is probably the most popular/active Car FE. It supports 800x480 and stretches to fit 800x600.

Most of the Xenarc or Lilliput systems support 800x480 or 800x600 natively in the 7" models.

**Downs** · 12-30-2009, 07:47 AM

ok so is ICE the most popular FE?
I was thinking ... is it AMP might be?

that screen seems to work at 800 by 600 but it looks like its not working with mac mini's at 800 by 480

**brownaa82** · 12-30-2009, 10:12 AM

You'll get the best screen clarity if you run the LCD at its native resolution. You can run most screens at just about any resolution, but LCD/LED screens have only 1 native resolution.

**Downs** · 12-30-2009, 10:17 AM

good point brown
my last laptop was stuck on the wrong resolution forever and it was annoying as hell
looks like i wait till the keg fridge sells and i buy a lilliput

thanks

**Project07MACry** · 01-01-2010, 12:51 AM

Happy New Year, and welcome to MacCar!
To address your PPC/Intel mac mini question, your best bet is the intel mini, only because if you intend to use windows as well as OS X on your mini, intel macs natively support both platforms. The PPC mini can run both as well, but it do it slowly. Very slowly.

As far the dealextreme tv, can it pick up HD channels?!
Because as you know, analog TV is gone.
In any case, as long as this unit supports 800x480 or 800x600 resolution, you're good to go.

Good luck, and post pics!!