Controlling your car PC

rizaydog · 03-28-2008, 10:22 AM

I am currently building my pc and have come to a crossroad. I see that many of you use a 7" touchscreen display. This seems like a good option. You can control your pc with these and it serves as the visual feedback.

My HU is a double din dvd player with a 7" touchscreen. I have found that I don't really like using the touch screen controls much, and find myself using the supplied remote for the HU. This leads me to think that I will be also less inclinded to use a touchscreen with my carputer. Any thoughts on that??

I thought about trying to find some type of pc remote to control the pc. Or possible a touchpad thing like on my laptop.

I would like some feedback on your likes, dislikes, opionions, ect... on controling your carputers. Thanks.

Disefyl · 03-28-2008, 11:10 AM

I agree there are several functions that arent terribly easy to do with a touch screen (dblclick, drag n drop, etc). However, for most actions its the easiest interface to use. There are plenty of touchpad and ir remotes avaiable, but using them while driving is a pain/dangerous. IMHO the best way to go about controls is to use a touchscreen and maybe a dial or steering controls (volume and other music ctrls) for normal activity and keep a mouse and keyboard in the trunk.

GizmoQ · 03-29-2008, 03:02 AM

Several discussions on alternatives in input devices:

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/inpu...uchscreen.html

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/macc...tion-knob.html

rizaydog · 03-29-2008, 04:38 AM

Thanks guys. So many choices. I'll have to think about it for a bit. I like that one post with the fighter stick attached to the shifter. That was a good idea.

brucedog · 03-29-2008, 07:36 AM

How's it going?

As I develop some experience using my carpc, I wonder what actions need to be perfomed "while driving." I hear a lot of talk about how this or that input device makes controlling the carpc safer while in motion.

I tend to select my music on carpc, make sure everything's okeydokey, and drive. If I decide to change the music, I wait 'till stopped, or 'till traffic jam... I don't really know what else would need to be done w/carpc while driving. Friends ask me in horror "you're not going to work on one of your famous spreadsheets on 95 at rush hour?!?" I grin and reply "Absolutely!"

I use the Griffin Powermate "volume knob" controller, and a wireless kbd, both purchased from mp3car store ($44 and $69 respectively). I love 'em both. The kbd is about a 3/4 scale unit with trackball that has great fine control, and really intelligently located scroll control and mouse click buttons.
The Powermate can be used to control music volume, select music tracks, mute the carpc audio, scroll thru applictions....and more. Many, including self, have complained that Powermate acts glitchy occasionally. Mine did at first, but now works consistently all the time (I think that Vista has some sort of problem-detect-and-fix feature. More than one app had problems at first, and now there are no problems. FYI: I love Vista, and don't have ANY issues - it just works great).

Logitech
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/ke.../3848&cl=us,en
A lot of guys just love the Di Novo Mini KBD.
I'm considering it, but need it for much less than $150.

If you buy touchscreen, look for one without that crappy filmy touchscreen overlay that my Lilliput 629 has. It really ruins things when trying to view...most anything, but especially fine details (I'm old and blind!). I use my touchscr for gross operations, such as selecting apps - it does have it's uses.

You'll find a HUGE range of experience and opinion on input devices. See if you can try some out before you buy...to save $$ buying, and re-buying 'till you find what you like.

blessings and best of luck.

greatwhite · 03-29-2008, 07:54 AM

There are a wide variety of choices.

But there are times when nothing but the touchscreen will do.

My "input" setup:

Touch screen (everything) -
pro:but not so great when moving, con:no tactile response
Powermate (vol, mute) -
Pro:great when moving, tactile response, con: but easily over controlled as it's an "infinite spin knob"
carbuttons+ girder (vol, mute, next, prev, pause, play) -
Pro-fantastic! Incorporates my vehicle's stock steering wheel controls Con-requires setup work and knowledge of your vehicles wiring
Joypad 3.1 (vol, mute, play/pause, next, prev, radio on/off, gps on/off, video on/off, dvd on/off, etc) -
Pro: Fantastic program. Allowed me to use a cheap joypad to control RR. I'll be hacking up a pad shortly to make "hard buttons" on the dash for these functions, just like a stock radio. Con- can't think of one.................Oh wait, fabrication work I guess............

In the future:

Got a fusion brain on the way. Can't wait to see how vesatile that little sucker is gonna be.

It's all about how deeply into it you want to go.

1. You can pop in a touch screen and be good to go:
Pro- quick and easy, depending on how you mount your screen. Con-no tactile feel, mostly have to look away from the road to do much of anything.

2. You can use a remote and girder to have IR control of you system:
Pro-easy and relatively quick to fab if you can work with a few programs. Con- gotta find that bloody remote to do anything!

3. Or you can mount hard buttons in the dash for that tactile feel:
Pro- good tactile feel and response. Safest way to go. Con- requires the most fabrication.

4. Or any other of a multitude of input schemes out there. Or mix and match as I did. Mine was an evolution over time as hardware and programs were developed, That's why there's so much overlap in the control.

I personally need to have the tactile response buttons give you so I can work the entertainment system while driving. I lik eto change stations, tracks, vol, etc, while driving down the road. Mainly because I may not be in the mood for the song or station that comes on or the different volume level of a new track or station.

Good luck.