Drivesoft Buy or Build

**wantone2** · 10-06-2004, 12:02 AM

I think i posted this in the wrong place before. I will try here.

I saw pimp my ride the other day and I did not get the name of the company that in stalled the computer in the scion. Then again I did not look for it much. Recent I received a copy of car audio mag and they were on the cover and a five page article on their system (don’t know who's *** there kissing but I must be the right one. Then again the product may sell itself as it is doing to me)
http://www.drivesoft.net/thumbnails/cam1.jpg
http://www.drivesoft.net/thumbnails/cam2.jpg
http://www.drivesoft.net/thumbnails/cam3.jpg

So I started searching the net and found them In many places. I wanted to see what was being said and get some more info. I was going to buy one after seeing a demo at a car audio store but then I saw this site with people making their own kits etc and software like mediaengine etc. Basically I am lost now. It seems like a difficult job to put it together and there system was $2550. Don’t know what to do. I see some people talking good about it here am some saying other things.

They were on MTV and now on car audio cover which I get in the mail along with 160,000 copies that goes out to people and car audio stores around the country, from what the book claims anyway. Basically now that I see that the company is legitimate I just need to decide if I will buy it or do my own unit. Which I don’t know anything about pc’s.

I call drivesoft and ask then directly about something’s I read on this site like their interface being kind of simple etc. They said “Drivesoft and well as other companies can’t fire all their ideas at the consumer all at once if you want to succeed. We have may option that we hold back until we see other companies doing the same thing then we release new feature and pull away from the rest until it needs to happen again. You will see interface option later. We have been around since 1998 and we hope to stay around. Also we currently have 18,500 software package sales since MTV that seem to be all working fine as well as our resent rush on the Drivesoft system totaling over 2700 units in the US, Canada and all the way to Europe” So dose this mean they will hold features back from me so they can get more money later…… well I guess I should not complain since this is what most companies do. Their just being honest I guess.

Should I buy or build? The last time I priced my parts to do it right was about 1900 with every possible option. Dose that sound about right because if so I think I may spend the extra 600 and get the drivesoft unit ready to go with the software.

Not sure if this is the correct area to post this. Sorry if it is not. Just trying to get answers cause money is burning a hole in my pocket

i want one now
thanks

**ACHIEVER** · 10-06-2004, 12:09 AM

May I suggest you send me the $600 and I will help you build one?

On a more serious note I think most people will tell you to build your own. Not only will it be cheaper but you won't be limited by someone else's idea of what you need from your system. There's alot of good information on these boards and some pretty good people too should you get stumped just give a call out. The sky really is the limit on what you can hope to ACHIEVE.

Welcome to the board.

**nirvanades** · 10-06-2004, 12:24 AM

Build, Build, Build. I appreciate what they are doing from a business stand point, but it is far more rewarding to do it yourself (DIY)! However, sometimes it is nice to buy and install.... but on this one - You really should build it!.

**orangewhip** · 10-06-2004, 12:35 AM

I would also say to build yourself.

I built mine the "proper" way from what I read on these forums and I haven't had any compaints yet. Been working well for quite a while now and I have also added more and more options as time goes on. (like GPS, wifi etc...)

With programs like Frodoplayer out now, we probably have interfaces and software that totally kicks *** on what companies like that can do. Plus it is us users that test it and build it, so if more features are requested, they will usually make it in it.

I've been on these forums for years and not only is it fun and educational to build your own system, but the friendship and camaraderie that is here is incredible. In fact, this is the only forum I really use or go on on a regular basis and I am a web/media developer!! Most people not only try to help others out, but many of us go out of our way to help fellow members out.

**xBrady** · 10-06-2004, 01:17 AM

Build. One: it is cheaper. Two: it is funner. Three it is more customizable. Four: if a part of it breaks you only have to replace the part rather then the whole unit (I know nothing of what the unit is like but I assume this is the case). Five:...... Just build. You won't regret it. You can build a really nice system for a lot less then you paid. I paid about $1000 for mine, perhaps a little less.

**BiohazrD** · 10-06-2004, 03:05 PM

Yeah, I had seen that episode too. I contacted DriveSoft, and sent them an email about pricing. A system STARTS at $3000. If you want Flash OS, 802.11, XM, OBD-II compatability, etc., the cost can easily go upto $5000. Not to mention the DriveSoft system is about the size of a midtower, although the shape is more ergonomic for a car. So basically, its a home computer, with a $400 touch screen, with a cool case, for a few grand.

**jbors** · 10-06-2004, 03:19 PM

Just see it yourself. I spent about 1/2 year doing that stuff. Depending on features you want it may be cheaper to build or buy. The biggest trick is the software and controls.
Also if you need it in dash or in trunk. I just recommend searching this site.

Good luck.

**VanMan69** · 10-06-2004, 03:22 PM

It's pretty obvious that CarAudio is more trying to hype Drivesoft (obviously

) than to promote in-car computers.

"Some sort of display shoehorned into the instrument panel," "Keyboard and mouse... tethered by its cable," "CDROM drive... cut in somewhere," "Noisy, power hungry and electrically hazardous voltage inverter (is NEEDED)," "Drivesoft, which manufactures a 'true' in-car computing system."

They're trying to make it seem like your car is going to look like crap before it spontaneously combusts unless you buy Drivesoft's "true" in-car computer (and of course pay a professional installer). And we all know you don't NEED an inverter.

I realize that pretty much any magazine's priority is to cater to its advertisers (not, as usually assumed, to its readers), but I still don't like that tone. And CarAudio does tutorials in the back sections on fiberglass and such... why not a tutorial on doing your own 12v in-car computer? Oh yeah... I guess I should reference the first line of this paragraph.