The 2nd coolest way to control a carputer seems to me to be a Phillips pronto and an ir remote. Pronto has an easy programmable interface / display. Ability to program 256 macros. All cool and looks good too!
Touch is the way to go
this link will take you to the new pronto's but you can check for older and cheeper ones on ebay
http://www.consumer.philips.com/glob...TE_CONTROLS_SU