TundraScout

I think what we are all hoping for is a little comfort in knowing that what we want to do is feasible without modifiying anything. Check out the "new hardware" thread.
Most everyone (except the die hard moders out there) is screaming at one of the design guys about how it has to be designed as plug and play - exact fit. Adding a PC to your car should be a no-brainer by now.

Think about how many different kinds of flat screen monitors there are out there, Desktops, Laptops, industrial control, MP3 players, portable DVD players, even auto LCDs (but motorized - yect). How can anyone justify $1000 for a monitor of any kind, when you can get a flatscreen 15inch LCD monitor at Walmart for less than $200?

We're probably one mold designers production run of a bracket for a lilput to make a nice looking double din TFT with a STANDARD mount and bays for optical drives that costs under $500 with the screen.

RedGTiVR6

How can anyone justify paying good money for a monitor you ask?

medical grade monitors are in the megapixels, not a measely 1024 x 768. There's also the fact that the monitors at Wally-world are sold en masse...thousands of those things are sold...hence the reason prices can be significantly lower.

High brightness monitors cost more as well. Smaller size adds to the cost. Sunlight readability adds to the cost. Manufacturing, tooling, and design adds to the cost.

Currently, the CarPC industry isn't big enough to support that kind of quantity. If MP3Car were to approach another company and ask them to manufacture what you're claiming to want for under $500 we would be laughed at...ESPECIALLY when you consider the price tag. Other companies would be insulted.

• Tooling
• Design times
• Money up front to start the project - in the tens of thousands mind you
• production runs in high enough quantities to spread out the cost, yet not so high that you would be stuck with a ton of pieces
• The time it takes for someone to head up a project like that from the purchasing company - because you have to pay someone to do their job
• etc.

I always hear people talk about how they can't understand how something can cost so much money or how come something isn't already developed. For those of us who have actually spent the time to research that option it's glaringly obvious why it's like that.

Manufacturing isn't cheap. Design time isn't cheap. ESPECIALLY when you consider the fact that there aren't that many consumers out there willing to pay the cost that would need to be justified to cover expenses and still make a profit.

How can I say all of this? Because I'm working on solutions right now with various companies out there.

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debennett2

ok but that still doesn't tell me where I can find a double-din lcd bracket for my car. Anyone?

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Dan

RedGTiVR6

You're not going to find a double din bracket for a 7" touch screen...it doesn't exist.

You will have to do some modification on yoru own. you can purchase a double din dash kit and modify that to fit your screen. these dash kits can be found at any car audio shop.

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debennett2

ok....but can I fit anything smaller than a 7" in a dash kit out of the box? I never mentioned 7"....is that the standard size everyone is selling and buying?

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Dan

RedGTiVR6

Sure, if you can find a smaller VGA touch screen it will fit...but again, there will not be a double din kit made for it.

You're going to have to do some fabrication work, no way around it. Either that or you're going to have to pay someone to do it for you.

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TundraScout

OK RedGTiVR6, I'll bite...

If I can come up with a double din standard monitor for under $500, would you promote it here? Better yet, why not a 3 model product line including PC at $1000, $1200 and $1500?

I Wonder why Dell hasnt picked up on this market yet?

RedGTiVR6

If you find a manufactured product send me a link to it and I'll look at it in detail and consider adding it to the store.

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2k1Toaster

Isnt that exactly what the DWW-650 or whatever it is is? I am sure they can manufacture those for less than $500, it is just markup. And if you cut out the DVD drive, make it non-motorized, then it is just a screen, controller, and an injection molded plastic piece. I am sure a factory will take it up if someone has the case. But that means usually minimum runs of 100-200, at probably $250 minimum each, so $25000 to $50000 initial investment with no guarentees on return. Risky, but if you do it, I am sure you could sell them if the quality was good.

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RedGTiVR6

Bingo - initial invesetment....

If someone is willing to fund the upfront cost of a project like that then anything is possible.

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