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hi, I have a $400 max budget for a computer system in my car. It is currently running off a laptop. (Not daily driven) I have been looking into getting a Mac Mini or VoomPC setup. Can anyone tell me some pro/con on Macpc and how you set it up? I am trying to get all these in the coming week. I only need is the system and psu, my car is already prewired for carpc.
You can't do it for $400. The PSU is $100, leaving you with $300 for the Mini. If you get a Mini, you need the Intel Mini because you'll need to run Windows for the Nav solution. I haven't looked lately, but if you find Intel Mini's for $300 or less, let me know.
The pro of having a Mini is you can run Windows if you want, you can run Linux if you want, you can run OSX if you want and the hardware package is excellent.
However, you can run all three on your current Windows machine. So, the choice of running a Mini comes down to whether or not you have a compelling reason to run OSX. The best frontend for OSX is ICE3 which is a nice FE but not as flexible and doesn't have as many features as the Windows front ends.
The main feature you will have to deal with is a very basic one - navigation. The best nav programs run on Windows. You'll need to run Windows on the Mac using Virtual box, Fusion or Parallels. The latter two cost about $80.
If you are a Mac user, the pro will be that your car PC is a Mac. It all works like the Mac, is simple like the Mac, and usually reliable like the OSX you already know.
Unless you're going to use a mac front end like ICE3, there's really no point to getting a mac. One, because mac generally takes longer to boot into windows. Two, its more expensive, and lacks support compare to PC. I love mac, but i have a windows carpc, because mac support isn't quite there yet, price is expensive, hard to find HW/SW. As I always tell people, why buy a mac if you're going to use windows anyways.
[QUOTE=Bugbyte;1384924]You can't do it for $400. The PSU is $100, leaving you with $300 for the Mini. If you get a Mini, you need the Intel Mini because you'll need to run Windows for the Nav solution. I haven't looked lately, but if you find Intel Mini's for $300 or less, let me know.QUOTE]
I have all the software wiring etc...
I am only looking for mobo, case, psu
Perferably a,
Dual Core Atom w/ ion $155
m2-atx $70
voompc2 $70
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$295?
You mean you want to make a Hackintosh? Because in your original post you said you wanted a Mac Mini - which at best will be $300 for a recent one. And the M2-ATX won't work with the Mini. You need a voltage regulator like the Carnetix P1900. $100. That's $400 right there.Quote:
Originally Posted by atrixstars
You didn't mention whether you had a screen or not. If not, add $150 for a new one.
As you can see, the main reason for a Mini is the hardware package. It has Bluetooth, WiFi, DVD, HDD and Mobo in a tiny package that will fit nearly anywhere. It's a great hardware package and very durable.
But if you want don't need the hardware package, it is cheaper to go the PC route.