WTH - I wasn't paying attention and I spent over a GRAND on this thing!

jb33 · 01-24-2008, 01:37 PM

Already owned the laptop! Thought I was taking the cool/on a shoestring approach to in car entertainment! Damn, I shoulda bought this. http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...AVICD3X&tp=526

$860 to date, $400 more anticipated!:

$434 - xenarc 700TSV w/windshield mount
$60 - delorme earthmate gps adapter with 2008 maps.
(but now I probably want iguidance, add another $105)
$9 iGuidance demo shipping
$70 dc-ac adapter
(but I probably need P1900 + 5v + Auto-on adapter - add $220)
$96 carCar2PC adapter (intergation seems shaky, fyi)
$52 HD Radio (DMHD1000)
$24 HD Radio cables
$87 - new laptop battery
$27 - bluetooth card
(owe those guys at least a $10 RoadRunner donation, and a $10 DFX donation.)
(still need a USB sound card and powered USB hub - add $50)

If my wife ever finds this thread, she'll kill me!

Plus, I think I'm gonna need a new battery, new spark plugs. They better send out those tax rebates fast! CarPC's are patriotic. Forget those communist, integrated, totaly stable, aftermarket HUs.

(Blast)

turbocad6 · 01-24-2008, 02:06 PM

comparing the avic to a carpc is apples to oranges comparison... if you did a pc just because you thought it'd be a cheaper way to go than a multimedia headunit then your now learning that the oposite is true, especially when you take your time into account, but a pc can do so much more.... oh, & you coulda saved that $87 for the laptop battery if your using the carnetix supply...

jb33 · 01-24-2008, 02:34 PM

I'm into the "hobby" of it. Consider it (lots of) time well spent. In terms of a general feature comparison though, I think the only advantage a CarPC offers is larger on-demand archive of MM content with maybe a slicker interface (browse album covers).

Then sensor stuff. Diagnostic reader, fusion brain. I *might* like to put in some back up sensors/accelerometer/gyroscope ...

I might like to integrate an HDTV tuner.

But I can pretty well guarantee that an after market HU will work more reliably. I had to replace my HTPC with consumer devices because of all the tech support calls from my wife wanting to use the DVR or watch movies!

This IS fun, and the outcome will be sweet. But the cost has definately caught me be surprise, especially thinking I was saving money by ressurecting a long dead laptop. I'm in IT. But I think most people should by a multi-media HU.

jb

turbocad6 · 01-24-2008, 02:49 PM

I agree for the most part, I mean a multimedia headunit is drop in & that's it, just works till the car goes byby for the most part, a carpc is no such animal, I see many choose a carpc cause they think it's a cheaper alternative to a mm headunit.. that's the worse reason to choose a carpc.

youve got to really be an enthusiast & realize that it'll take way more work & tinkering & researching & learning & most times more cash too in the long run to do the carpc route over a mm headunit

I don't think the only advantages are what you said though, internet is a biggie, being able to customize a front end & make the interface look & do exactly what you want it to do is another big benifit, upgradability & a much larger scope of customizing ability, your not limited by what it does out of the box, you can do anything that your imagination can come up with, of course only limited to your abilities & finances too, but a pc can do so much more than just play media & navigate... if that's all that you want then a mm head is the better choice for most really...

good luck with your project

MrZ · 01-25-2008, 06:04 AM

I'll take the carPC way because it's something I know about, and because it's something I can tweak extremely to my likings.

Cheaper? More than some other solutions, but ten times more versatile than even the most expensive ones.

parksgm · 01-30-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by turbocad6

I agree for the most part, I mean a multimedia headunit is drop in & that's it, just works till the car goes byby for the most part, a carpc is no such animal, I see many choose a carpc cause they think it's a cheaper alternative to a mm headunit.. that's the worse reason to choose a carpc.

youve got to really be an enthusiast & realize that it'll take way more work & tinkering & researching & learning & most times more cash too in the long run to do the carpc route over a mm headunit

I don't think the only advantages are what you said though, internet is a biggie, being able to customize a front end & make the interface look & do exactly what you want it to do is another big benifit, upgradability & a much larger scope of customizing ability, your not limited by what it does out of the box, you can do anything that your imagination can come up with, of course only limited to your abilities & finances too, but a pc can do so much more than just play media & navigate... if that's all that you want then a mm head is the better choice for most really...

good luck with your project

...all enormous advantages...but the one BIG disadvantage? Reliability.

That said, I'm looking forward to adding a Fusion brain to my setup, eventually OBDII monitoring, etc., etc. This is a great hobby!

2k1Toaster · 01-31-2008, 12:04 AM

I have to say reliability is not usually an issue. Do it right, and do it once.

Sometimes you get quirks, but I got quirks with my old aftermarket HU and with the old stock HU.

parksgm · 01-31-2008, 12:06 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

I have to say reliability is not usually an issue. Do it right, and do it once.

Maybe...but it's hard to fix software/hardware quirks like random hibernation errors...9 out of 10 times, my system hibernates just fine...but it's that 10th time that forces a restart on resume that kills me.

jb33 · 01-31-2008, 01:24 PM

I may have reached the juncture last night where I wish I had gone with a MM HU, because there appears to be no available solution for blackberry phones, and only a partial feature set for (wife's) RAZR

Maybe I'll be able to get something working with 6 months of coding - or someone else will while I wait. Then a handful of us will beta test for like 3 months. Then the guy who wrote it will drop support for the app leaving users high and dry, like happened with phoco, RRmobile, and freefone!

Even if I have something working and supported in 6-9 months, I'd rather have been using my phone in my car all that time. Handsfree is required in CA now and it's the reason I set out on this thing. The intro docs all make it seem like phone integration is one of the pillar apps, but it's not even in place on Streetdeck!

If I had read something that said, if you're really interested in phone integration, you better think twice, or at least do a heavy bit of research before you get into this, it would have steered me in another direction. So this is for the next guy. And editors, I propose a note in the Car Computing 101 article ...

I could get a new phone (more money) but I really like the blackberry email interface. Ugggh.

turbocad6 · 01-31-2008, 01:59 PM

or, just add a simple parrot handsfree kit to your car, I know, maybe it's a little crude, but very reliable & not a bad option... I've wasted way to much time trying to get my phone working with the carpc... I give up with that for now

Thefdog · 02-15-2008, 11:51 PM

The only problem with reliability I ever have with my carputer is when I try to add a new feature. I use RR and Digital FX skin and have them running perfectly. That is until I try to get some new add in working right, like HD Radio, and I spend a few hours configuring and testing the software.

Still, it beats anything you can purchase ready-made. And even the pre-built carputers will still have software issues.

P.S. My wife figured out MS Mediacenter and I have to ask her how to access some of the functions. The only problem I had is when the wind howled for a few nights and I had to realign the damn satellite dish. Nothing like climbing a ladder in below zero weather and braving an icy roof to keep the one you love happy (and off you back).

Cheers