A new student arrives

**Dichotomous** · 10-06-2006, 12:58 PM

Just got my car, never put a computer in a car before, aside from having a laptop connected up to the audio input on my last car, so this will all be new to me. I am quite familiar with building computers and some hardware and such, but never inside a car. Therefore I shall be reading and learning from here before I plan my system. That being said I am most likely to try to use one of my current home computers either slashed up or something of the sort. why? cause I am fairly cheep, money isnt something I come by too easily.

my initial thoughts on goals are this: I'd like to have a computer system that mainly is devoted to high quailty audio and reasonable quality video. I'd like it to be easily usable and accessable, and I would like it to be almost invisable to the theiving eye. I would also like it to withstand super cold vermont winters, or at least be easily removable/ swappable for a regular radio. And I want it to be relatively inexpensive and reliable.

I've got a while till spring and money says I'm good to go for installation, so I've got plenty of time to research and toss ideas about, thanks for reading my first post

**legacy05gt** · 10-06-2006, 05:26 PM

I know this is usually DP's reply, but i guess i'll do the honors:

Welcome, allow me to introduce you to the newbie thread:
New to CarPCs? Don't know where to start?

Read, re-read and soak it all in. Your needs/wants are not unreasonable, but inorder to accomplish them all it will take alot of planning. So don't rush, take your time, understand all aspects fully, and enjoy.

**Dichotomous** · 10-08-2006, 07:09 PM

ok, so I tried to get my "broken" laptop running and it goes just fine, so that will be the main deal, I can imagine all I should really need now is a nice USB audio device with some good power output, some way to power it (inverter+normal power supply just seems to wastefull to me) and touch screen controls up front, and I shall be, as they say, good to go. highly convenient I say

**RedGTiVR6** · 10-09-2006, 04:44 PM

agreed, it is highly convenient....however, a PC on a bike isn't all that ideal IMO....

welcome to the site btw!

**Bugbyte** · 10-09-2006, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by Dichotomous

ok, so I tried to get my "broken" laptop running and it goes just fine, so that will be the main deal, I can imagine all I should really need now is a nice USB audio device with some good power output, some way to power it (inverter+normal power supply just seems to wastefull to me) and touch screen controls up front, and I shall be, as they say, good to go. highly convenient I say

No need for inverter. Find a cigarette lighter power supply for the laptop. You can probably get away with an unpowered hub if you don't overload it. I'm running GPS, keyboard, touchscreen and mouse on mine without needing external.