chris4851

I have been thinking as I'm sure a bunch of us have thought of this. Do you ever think that the big name car manufacturers will ever add functionality for a PC into there units?

Whether it would be a full PC running some type of Windows OS (excluding CE which many already run) or as simple as a VGA/DVI/HDMI input with USB touchscreen & audio connectivity?

To me its seems like it would be a simple solution to add this input capability. Many of these systems are running Windows CE. Upgrade the display, add input functionality for video, touchscreen and audio. To me this would be a great solution.

MP3Car.com

 

nobb

I dont think so. I think the most you will see is a system that resembles a PC in that you might have internet, email, etc. Running Windows is reliable and great if you know what you are doing, but for the average user, I think there would be too much potential to screw something up.

In the future, there might even be so much features and integration between the multimedia system and the car that the carpc hobby will slowly die because having a carpc may not give as many functions as the stock system. Here's a video of what I mean:

(I think that's the right video...youtube doesnt isnt loading here at work)

chris4851

Valid point. With systems like Ford's Sync I think car manufacturers will go this route and for the majority of people this system is plenty for them.

However aftermarket manufacturers like Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer, etc will continue to produce there "entertainment systems". I agree with you, I do not think that they will produce full PC's. It's probably wishful thinking but a PC input would be ideal.

soundman98

i agree. i have seen car computers popup here and there at auto shows in certain auto makers booths, but so far, i believe that ford's sync, or similar is the closest any corporation is going to get to putting a computer in a car-- the screens and service of such a system are generally too confusing and distracting to ever include a powerful systems that should need something like a ion or equivalent processor.

and for after makret producers, as of now, i have the same opinion-- i really think that most of them will stick with ARM based processors. i just don't see companies like pioneer or alpine offering a computer system-- both for liability, and support reasons.

if either the factory or aftermarket companies were to actually start producing carputer equipped vehicles, or carputer type radio replacements, who would service that device when the ram/memory/screen goes bad? the dealer that you purchased it from is definatly not going to know how to repair it, and i don't see any of these companies setting up dedicated support hotlines simply to have a carputer option in their lineup.

while this hobby might grow, i just don't see OEM's or SEMA members pushing it.

MP3Car.com