Back in the day (of car computers)....

SnyperBob · 10-01-2004, 02:07 PM

Wow, I just recently came across this site again. I noticed that I was one of the first members to join the forums (It says I joined in November 2001). I don't have any posts because back then, there wasn't much to talk about. I'm just been doing the car computer thing myself.

I was on the net looking around for car computer stuff, and came back to an old friend (mp3car.com). I can't believe how much this hobby or sport or whatever you want to call it has grown over the past three years. I spoke to one of the creators of this site. We reminisced (sp?) about the 'old days' of car computers.

Back then there was only Viper's car software, AKA Cobra. Does anyone remember that software, in it's infancy? I think it's still around, but you have to pay for it.

Anyway, I'm glad to see that DC power systems for car computers are finally (relatively) affordable enough for people to own. It's great to see mini computers have come a long way. Heh, a few years ago, everyone pretty much had huge *** desktops in the cars, dreaming about getting wireless control and some sort of voice control.

Nowadays, everyone has touch screens, internet access, custom software, 100+ gig hd's, and the like

This thread goes out to all those old school guys, and the creaters and pioneers of this site, that have brought the information to the masses.

With that being said, I will be sticking around these forums more often. Just bear with me if I ask a noob question about something 'new'. Like I said, I'm not used to things like opus, lillyput, and whatnot

Post us your 'old school' stories here to share with the rest of us.

Rob Withey · 10-01-2004, 06:02 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by SnyperBob

I noticed that I was one of the first members to join the forums (It says I joined in November 2001).

One of several. I'm still here.

Quote: Originally Posted by SnyperBob

Back then there was only Viper's car software, AKA Cobra. Does anyone remember that software, in it's infancy?

Yes. Remember mpxplay when it was mainstream? Mpxf when that happened? Know who Hugo Fiennes is?

Quote: Originally Posted by SnyperBob

Anyway, I'm glad to see that DC power systems for car computers are finally (relatively) affordable enough for people to own.

I don't get it, I built my own DC power system back in 1999. Seemed quite affordable then. Rebuilt it twice since.

Quote: Originally Posted by SnyperBob

Heh, a few years ago, everyone pretty much had huge *** desktops in the cars

Not me, had a 12x6x2" system back in 99, now down to 8x6x2". But yeah, I know what you mean. Sometimes it doesn't change, some people still have big *** computers in their boots/trunks.

Quote: Originally Posted by SnyperBob

Nowadays, everyone has touch screens, internet access, custom software, 100+ gig hd's, and the like

Custom software is becoming less and less a common thing. I went to the recent uk meet and most systems there were a 7" lilliput or xenarc hooked up to a epia mini-itx system in the boot running media car. Kudos to software such as Aimee keeping the main players on their toes.

Quote: Originally Posted by SnyperBob

This thread goes out to all those old school guys, and the creaters and pioneers of this site, that have brought the information to the masses.

I hear ya. My system was a pretty decent system, way before the Epias came out. It still does everything I want. At the uk meet I was one of the few people who didn't run their engines to keep their batteries charged.

xBrady · 10-01-2004, 06:18 PM

SnyperBob
Total Posts: 31 (0.03 posts per day)

I am a complete newb to the forum compared to when you guys joined.

SnyperBob · 10-01-2004, 08:13 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by brady

SnyperBob
Total Posts: 31 (0.03 posts per day)

Lol. Yeah and I've posted those 31 in like the last 3 days. Lol. Looks like I have some catching up to do. Good to hear from a fellow old schooler, Rob

MP3DUB · 10-03-2004, 03:36 PM

Heh, I found the forums (after already having my first carpc up and running) right at the end of the dos/mxplay/character lcd/p1 era as it moved into the "current" era of epias-amdxp-p4-etc/vga touchlcd/wifi/gprs/everything. I can still remember looking at the systems of the day on the mp3car users section.

Heh, and i run nothing in the car without having it running, but thats mostly becausei need a new battery

.

Danceheaven · 10-03-2004, 03:43 PM

God yeah do i remeber, had a huge *** desktop and my own built power supply
Mxpf ruled!! so did lortys lcd plugin!! not forgetting good old batch files !!
Cobra was like amazing back them! got to version III then went to carplayer SP
glad to see all the dreams us guys used to have are finally comin alive hey!
think i found the forums 6 years ago but didnt register till ages later!

MP3DUB · 10-03-2004, 04:36 PM

Heh, thats the other thing i remeber about back then, everyone waitint for the new version of cobra to come out, with a few people beta testing it, for months and months and then it became carplayer.

Danceheaven · 10-03-2004, 04:47 PM

Remeber cobra 1 that was the ultimate that was the bees knees the dogs bolloxs it was a was the greatest thing since sliced bread then came cobra II and it needed a tft huh? wats this? a tft man i was doing wonders with Character LCD's

darkwingduck · 10-04-2004, 05:33 AM

One more that has been around for ages

started of with no display at all, then a 20x4 char display, a composit screen and now a lilliput.

Funny part is it has never run for more than 2 days, because i just keep tinkering with it.

I havent broken alot of stuff, but i have abandonded tons of ideas and material on the way.

Worst part is its still fun and i still believe that someday the system will work for days on end

EBFoxbat · 10-04-2004, 06:17 AM

[bows head to acknowledge the wisdom of the elder forum gods]

...make me feel guilty... perhaps I'll for go a Lilly and get a VFD.

[/bow]

JC-S60 · 10-04-2004, 07:11 AM

Yeah. I still have cobra on a disk somwhere...

Back in 1999, I had a 9" BW crt screen to put a 'puter in my Opel Omega... that changed to a 10" tft before I even had it in my car.

I have changed cars 4 times since then (Espace, A4, Scenic RX4, Volvo) and always managed to do some installation without finishing it before I sold my car

I once came very close with a P200 mmx in my espace, with the 10" tft (which was way too dark) and an inverter. It ran for about 1 hour...

Now finally I have a xenarc in the dash (we didn't have that in the days

) and am preparing an MII 12000.

The only thing I would have expected to have evolved was linux gps software, still waiting for that one to be able to ditch XP...

Joachim

SnyperBob · 10-04-2004, 10:56 AM

It's cool to hear from you guys. If any of you come across your old versions of Cobra, email them my way. I'm always interested in stuff like that, because three more years from now, when every car comes with a computer stock - I'll love to look at the software that started the GUI in car revolution.

I'll see if I can track down the version that I have as well. I'll let you guys know.
MP3Dub - I live in Shorewood/Joliet area. We probably live close to each other.

mykolJay · 10-04-2004, 11:01 AM

true that. Bought a datalux almost 5 yrs ago. Never finished my original touchscreen designed carputer then. Then I got a Neo35, so I strayed away from this scene for a bit. Then I moved to NYC and didn't have a car for almost 2 yrs. Now I'm back and this is all so freakn affordable.

MP3DUB · 10-04-2004, 12:35 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by SnyperBob

It's cool to hear from you guys. If any of you come across your old versions of Cobra, email them my way. I'm always interested in stuff like that, because three more years from now, when every car comes with a computer stock - I'll love to look at the software that started the GUI in car revolution.

I'll see if I can track down the version that I have as well. I'll let you guys know.
MP3Dub - I live in Shorewood/Joliet area. We probably live close to each other.

Would be if i wasnt in nw indiana at the moment in school

. And i still want a character lcd for my car, funny thing is my 5" composite tft cost me about the same as it would to buy a serial lcd, and this was a few years ago now.

edit: and as a side note, one of those "old timers" (ashsz) installs is still one of the slickest ive ever seen, even with the new fancy bits on the market.

Ashlawn Kemling · 10-05-2004, 02:37 AM

I remember when I had an old Compaq 5151 running off an inverter using MPXPlay with a full size keyboard. Playing through desktop speakers!

Now I have a Epia M10000 with 6gbs and a small PSU, 400watt amp running my custom software.(Tiny Music Embedded, the anti-screen software.

)

I remember when DC-DC PSUs where up to $200 or you had to go all over the place to find parts to build one. I wanted a screen very badly and Cobra was the best software out there.

My promises to create a product for being able to interface with Sony headunits...

(While it worked out in a way, no one cares anymore with our fancy touch screens.)

Arby's very nice custom fiberglass installation! His is the most memoriable in my mind.