Ok so I am thinking about taking the plunge

**Valhalla** · 06-30-2006, 02:56 AM

I've been thinking about doing a carputer for some time now and it seems that now is the time to start planning and maybe work will start by christmas (or at least parts will be arriving)

I recently converted to apple as my primary computer (MacBook Pro) before this I was thinking of building my own computer and installing it into the car. Now I am considering mounting a Mini in there and calling it a day.

But first I have a few questions.

1) Probably the most important, have the touchscreen drivers been updated to worth with the Intel chips?

2) GPS/Navigation, while I have never had it in my past cars (even if it was an option) I didn't have it, now if I am installing a computer I might want to include it in the build. So the question is are there any products out there for the apple that are any good at this, that are also Universal and running with the Intel?

3) I would be completely replacing the stock head until (and hope to not reinstall in under a seat.) So does anyone make a good FM radio receiver for the Apple, that is easy to use either in one of the front ends you guys have built or a pre-existing program that can also play music and CDs? I might go XM at some point, but for now I'll stick with FM.

4) I have steering wheel mounted controls and while I plan of having a touch screen. I was wondering if there was anyway to rig these buttons to give the apple command either through direct connection or the remote control? (there are 6 buttons there now, vol up vol down channel up channel down change source and favorites/change are what they do now)

5) How hard would it be to remove the slot load drive and relocate it to outside the case? (This would go into the dash for CDs) or would it be a better idea just to grab an external drive for this?

Thanks guys

**pepsibobby** · 06-30-2006, 07:08 AM

all of what you want to do besides removing the drive is possible.
1) Yes the drivers have been updated for the intel
2) GPS exists but its not as great as if you were running a PC
3) you can get the RadioShark, a USB FM receiver that has its own interface in OSX.
4) This is one of the hardest parts but it is still possible. It would take several little bits and bobs to get it to work, almost not worth it in my opinion if you already have the screen.
5) Very, well not to get it out, but why? just buy a USB CD/DVD reader and be done with it, dont go and blow your warranty with that.

**iamgnat** · 06-30-2006, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by Valhalla

1) Probably the most important, have the touchscreen drivers been updated to worth with the Intel chips?

Yes. Lilliput and Xenarc use the same driver, which is available. Those are the most common TS monitors in use. If you want to go with another screen, you'll need to look into that carefully before buying it.

2) GPS/Navigation

I don't follow it closely since i'm not interested, but it is rather limited and (to the best of my knowledge at this point) not built into a front end yet.

3) So does anyone make a good FM radio receiver for the Apple

RadioShark is what those that want FM seem to use. AMP has support for it, I can't remember if Harmony does or not.

4) I was wondering if there was anyway to rig these buttons to give the apple command either through direct connection or the remote control?

That all depends. It depends on if someone has already cracked how to read your controls or if you are up to some reverse engineering. It depends on if someone has built an interface that the Mac will read, or if you are up to building and interface and writing code to make the Mac read it. And finally it depends on if your choice of frontend allow for a way for you to trigger the functions you want either by Notifications or AppleScript.

5) How hard would it be to remove the slot load drive and relocate it to outside the case? (This would go into the dash for CDs) or would it be a better idea just to grab an external drive for this?

No more so than any other computer with a slot load drive. But it is probably simpler to buy an external one and use it instead.

-dave

**thinkinblue613** · 06-30-2006, 05:12 PM

Valhalla, I am also in the same situation as you are.

Converted Windows user, I have a Macbook Pro as well and I am thinking of installing a mac mini into the Tahoe we have here. What car are you planning on installing yours in?

I haven't started it yet, still in pre-planning stages on what to buy and how to do it since I am completely new to all this stuff. But I have a friend who has experience in this, just getting parts wouldn't be hard. But I also want to use the steering wheel controls for volume control and stuff. I hope to get it done by next year if possible..

**Valhalla** · 06-30-2006, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by thinkinblue613

Valhalla, I am also in the same situation as you are.

Converted Windows user, I have a Macbook Pro as well and I am thinking of installing a mac mini into the Tahoe we have here. What car are you planning on installing yours in?

I haven't started it yet, still in pre-planning stages on what to buy and how to do it since I am completely new to all this stuff. But I have a friend who has experience in this, just getting parts wouldn't be hard. But I also want to use the steering wheel controls for volume control and stuff. I hope to get it done by next year if possible..

I'm at the same stage as you pre-planning and day dreaming again. A year ago I would have done a PC, but since I have a mac I'm slowly noticing I'm becoming one of those annoying ones. I honestly have started getting annoyed at windows even in the rare instance where it is working properly. My Desktop has only been saved by Suse Linux.

As for what I play to install it in I have a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 (not a dualie though) but the whole quad cab diesel stick shift type deal.

One more question at the moment. Does anyone know if any OBDII programs that work with the apple? If anyone has any experience with Dodge OBDII let me know, I hear rumors that even if you take the truck to Cummins (the people that made the engine) they can't really understand what is going on, cause of something dodge did.

thanks everyone for your quick responses to my questions, I jut hope you guys aren't going to be dying to see results any time soon.