setup:
I will be using a laptop instead of a desktop pc because of the many different advantages laptop has over desktop in terms of portability.
my main hardware?
my sister's old Dell Inspiron 9100.
system specs?
Pentuim 4 2.8Ghz
512 Ram
30 Gb Hard Drive
1 cdrw/DVD-rom drive
Ati Mobility Radeon 9700
1 Flash Card Reader
3 Usb
1 VGA output
1 DVi Output
1 Firewire Connection
1 modem connection
1 Ethernet connection
So why exactly am i using a laptop over desktop?
Laptops are intended to be shaken. hence they have better durability in not so steady environment compared to desktops.
It's already light and compact, and already comes in a hardcase that just needs to be mounted into my trunk.
But the main reason im usnig a Laptop over a Desktop is because of its power source - a battery...
I had been pondering for sometime now on how to power up my carpc... of course i could get a power inverter to convert 12v DC into 120 AC power to supply 350 watts of power into my desktop pc. but what happens when i shut off my engine? An instant power kill that may eventually supply an instant HD or MoBo kill as well. I had seen power surges on computers, and they are not good...
and to solve it, comes the Laptop Batteries.
Here is how my system is going to be setup.
I will still purchase a power inverter, but this time, it is not going to be a Car Battery killer. 100 watts, 150 watts should suffice. but here's the good thing... once i turn the ignition off and kill the power supply to the inverter, the laptop will automatically switch to Laptop battery mode. and after 2 minutes of running in battery mode, the CarPc would be configured to go on hibernation mode.
Power switch would be linked to a switch button on the Dashboard that would match the switches on my dashboard.
but power switch will not be configured to cold boot and shutdown... it will be set to wake and hibernate so whatever song i turn my pc off to, it will continue up on wake. i will not have to be lead into a log on screen.. i will not have to see the boot logo, i will not have to wait for everything to reload again on boot.
i mainly just have to wait for my mp3 to start playing again.
up on my dash, i will set up a touch screen monitor (7 or 8 inch monitor). Windows will be running on 800x600 over the monitor.
mainly i spent my day today trying to figure out a good GUI for my CarPc, and here's what i came out with
on wake, it will immediately open up to this GUI and continuing where i left it to sleep.
I tried to set it up so that it will be big enough for my finger to press it...
OS is running on Windows Xp
Gui Modified using Flyakite OSX transformation pack
Winamp Media Player
Windows Media Player (depends on the Media)
ITunes
Matrix Background (for dynamic look)
Click-n-type Virtual Keyboard (for onscreen typing)
Winamp would be my based media player.
It is capable of playing many different medias as well as being able to play Ipods and its playlists.
Winamp has a good collection skins and of different Visualization as well as a video player... on demand, i can have it going on fullscreen on monitor.
I have disabled Itunes from opening up when an ipod is connected. Itunes is just there just incase.
If incase i end up with a program crashing, I will have it on the Dock for an insta-click to open. If i minimize any program, it will also reappear on the Dock. for the programs that does not go to dock on minimize, i can just re click it's icon on the dock and it will pop back up on screen without having to open another copy of the program.
To hook it up to my sound system, i will be installing a plug-n-play product that will let me hook a baby phone jack to it to my laptop. My car came with stock Bose 9 speaker system, so i will not be having a problem with the sound system.
overall, im very ecstatic with the idea. when needed, i can easily change parts or upgrade.
currently with the system i have, i have a dvd, mp3, video palyer, picture viewer and so on system on my car.
there are optional by are in plan.
GPS system ($100)
Rear view Camera (using maybe just a webcam custom built to peak through my rear)
Bluetooth wireless phone
sCANalyser (to record my car details like speed and performance)
Nintendo, SNES, Genesis System :kk3:
the possibilities are endless which gets me more excited every minute.
As you guys can see, i've really thought this through. what do you guys think?
Linear Mode
