*Quick Poll* - Car Computer Survey

KaBoom · 02-16-2002, 02:14 PM

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for taking the time to read this, just wanted to get an idea of everyone on this board how realistic it is to have a consumer all-in-one ready unit in the near future.

Just post a reply on how much you would pay and what you would like to see or what functionalities you think are missing.

What this single unit will have is:
- LCD/Touchscreen capable of mounting on dash.
- DVD drive to allow MP3s/CDs/DVDs/VCDs etc.
- GPS w/ antenna
- all the necessary players to use all formats (i.e Winamp, WMP, etc)
- wireless internet
- CCD camera capability
- on-screen keyboard
- voice recognition

all this can be installed into your automobile and controlled by the LCD screen.

Feedback, opinions, questions will be appreciated.

CALIBOY · 02-16-2002, 02:50 PM

Similar question and answers are here.

Good Luck!

Alives · 02-16-2002, 03:14 PM

i dont think its ready for consumers yet. you have to know EVERYTHING about computers to do this. Ive run into problems across the board and thank god for my background. no consumers will want to run the wires or know how. they wont understand what a crash is and you'll have to have a major tech support department

but good luck. ive thought about it alot myself...big money! all my friends want one.

MP3DUB · 02-16-2002, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alives:
<STRONG>i dont think its ready for consumers yet. you have to know EVERYTHING about computers to do this. Ive run into problems across the board and thank god for my background. no consumers will want to run the wires or know how. they wont understand what a crash is and you'll have to have a major tech support department

but good luck. ive thought about it alot myself...big money! all my friends want one.</STRONG>

Yeah, I've been through the same things. Between being in computers for a living, and this board has solved my problems, and people who i dont even know (ie places ive bought parts) have asked if i could build one for them.

KaBoom · 02-16-2002, 05:05 PM

ok, that is a lot of good input. Say i had something here, it's an all-inclusive unit, and this is how the install goes:

1. stick unit under seat/truck
2. wire to battery and headunit (i.e. same as an aftermarket amplifier).
3. mount gps antenna somewhere.
4. mount screen anywhere

now if thats all thats required.. and somewhere like a Circuit City/stereo shop could do this easily would this take some of the hesitation out of it? This is assuming you know NOTHING about car installs.

also, what kind of price range would you pay for this? keep in mind those clarion/pionneer units are ~$3000 and all they have is a DVD screen and unit.

Mp3 V · 02-17-2002, 01:33 AM

hey kaboom whats your email address? email me at creambenz@aol.com

KaBoom · 02-17-2002, 11:52 AM

my email is kaboom@engineer.com
drop me an email

Aaron Cake · 02-19-2002, 09:38 AM

Not to sound discouraging, but it's been thought of before and abandoned. I like to cite the example of tech support. My CMOS reset in my player one day. I brought a monitor out into the car, and had it fixed in 5 mintues. What if your average-Joe user had that problem. Sounds like a 2.5 hour tech support call to me. Brutal. And just imagine if a HD died....I don't think the world is ready for a PC based solution, and OEM stuff is already available (at a price).

Meatballman · 02-19-2002, 05:54 PM

I beg to differ... the guys at Empeg/Riocar had no problems supporting the 4000 odd players they sold. It had nothing to do with why SonicBlue yanked the line.

magnetik · 02-19-2002, 06:20 PM

true, but the difference is that the empeg used software on firmware, with a custom motherboard, etc..... so it was dedicated to JUST playing mp3's. Therefore Aarons problems of CMOS errors, etc... are eliminated....

I think what guys like myself achive here.... you need to know what you are doing and what you want.... the average joe ain't gonna handle it too well....

KaBoom · 02-19-2002, 09:20 PM

Aaron Cake,

i think you're thinking a little too primitivity, if there was a player/unit out there as an aftermarket option that had all these abilities, i'm sure that the software/hardware would be cleaned up enough that this wouldn't occur. think of it as a sole interface without problems the user could possibly get himself/herself into.

what OEM are you talking about?

Meatballman,

i agree with you in the fact that there is a market for this, do you have a website with the riocar?

vickumar · 02-22-2002, 02:21 PM

I think i posted something almost identical to your first post a couple of months ago!

I wonder if its still around...

vickumar · 02-22-2002, 02:23 PM

Ahh! Found it....

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...=&threadid=461

That was a while back, so some of those things are outdated. Things like voice commands, GPS, indash character lcd, etc have already been done. Pricing has dropped to around 400 too. I used my unit in the car for 2 months, pulled it out and revamping it at the moment... same hardware just better quality workmanship and additional features.

I have updated specs listed on my website (click information link)... but perhaps if you are interested in combining efforts? Anyways let me know, we can talk. You can reach via this email: vic@cobaltcarpc.com

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