Thread: What's the best place to start?

Will what ever front end I choose to go with have any impact on the display/touchscreen, should I figure out the front end first? And for 7" touchscreens I see there is a very wide difference in cost but I don't know what the differences are in usability. Maybe just paying for a clearer, more sun friendly display?

Front end usually doesn't determine what touch screen to buy and touch screen won't determine what front end to run... Front end is all in your choice of choosing which one functions to what you need it to do.

The more expensive models are usually the transflective screens, where sunlight won't glare your screen. I don't have experience with transflective (out of my price range) but the majority of users on here state they wish they would have gone straight to them instead of using the resistive non transflective screens first.

Originally Posted by detlion1643

The more expensive models are usually the transflective screens, where sunlight won't glare your screen. I don't have experience with transflective (out of my price range) but the majority of users on here state they wish they would have gone straight to them instead of using the resistive non transflective screens first.

i've got one. i started with a basic screen and later picked up the transflective screen at a hefty discount-- it is well worth it, if you can afford it. if you can't swing it, try to get the highest brightness screen in your price range-- in most cases, this will help, and have what appears to be transflective-like qualities in certain conditions.



in terms of the pc, i recommend first trying to nail down what you intend to use it for. some uses will require a beefier pc then other uses.

after that, i think building the pc portion is fine, and then moving onto the car-specific side of things(in most cases, this is just the power supply, and the screen). that way, you cna at least use the pc for other in-home tasks in the mean time.

also, that screen you linked to is really just a lilliput screen in a bybyte bezel, and the typical metra dash kit for your model car is included.. nothing that you couldn't order yourself, they are just trying to make it more convenient to order everything from one store..

Awesome input! Thanks.

For the 'better' touchscreens... can you throw me few model #'s to kickstart my research? I'm not saying they're out of my price range either or at least beyond what I'd like to spend but I'd like to have an idea. Also one thing I really haven't seen discussed is backlight control. Do the screens have their own control based on ambient light or do they have the ability that I can control it externally? I can't see this being a small issue.

For the PC (though I still want to do some more research) I was going to go a Hudson variant like an Asus E35M-xxx for example. they seen to compete very well on the power consumption side but appear to be more capable. I'm not sure what the resources required are for what all the peripherals will use. It won't need to do double duty for home use. I've already got 2 HTPC's, my main rig, a computer in the garage and 3 laptops about the house for me and my wife (though my 7y.o. daughter has laid claim to one) and I'm gathering parts for a housewide server, though I can probably find a use for it somewhere if it fails for carputer use.

My plans for the carputer are playing music (audio control), bluetooth to connect with my phone for hands free use, GPS navigation, and since the displays make it so easy - a reverse camera. I'm sure carputers are capable of more things than what I'm thinking of right now so that list may grow. I have a gist of what that kit is and you're right it is very convenient, I can do it myself, just trying to figure out if I should, though I probably will.

Thanks again!