Hi all,

Would this work as a car PC? For music and movies
http://www.thinlinx.com/products/2.html

Setup (proposed):
Touch screen (what inputs/outputs do these normally have?)
External USB HDD with Linux or OSX and a media player
Operates from 5V so that's perfect, a simple step down regulator will fix that.

But the problem I am stuck with, is I have front, rear and a sub. The rears are run from the headunit, the front from a 2 channel amp and the sub from a monoblock. This little PC only has stereo line out. How would I interface it to the speakers??? I'm also wondering whether I would need an USB DAC as I don't know what the sound card would be like on this thing...

Thanks,
Pete

Yes it would work, it wouldnt be able to do much though. It's quite low-powered. You'd be better off with a Netbook with external display

Cool little item.

If you know your programming and can get that running with minimal issues, it should make for a good little carpc

only issue i can see you running into is the power shutdown and start up. Most carpc setups use a 'smart' psu that detects the cars ACC and sends an on / off pulse to the mobo. I don't know how you can replicate something like that for this unit.

As for the sound output. There is no way the unit alone will push out enough power to suit the cars speakers. The line out will need to be split several times and go into amps for your speakers and sub.
Unless you got a USB 5.1 soundcard, but the outputs will still need to be amped or else you will get little sound and max distortion.

I don't know how well a 400Mhz processor will handle movie files, but considering the price and size, it looks like a great deal

I'd say best way to have it auto on/off would be to have it run off Accessories, and auto-on when power is restored.

Have to agree that it looks a little too low-powered for running video/GPS/etc. but a nice little compact unit none the less. If you want a cheap car PC I'd pickup an Eee PC and start from there, that's what I'm using in my dad's car PC setup in his Mini (will post some pics when it's done).

As for sound output, I was originally running a PCI sound card in mine, but a few months ago switched to using integrated and it just isn't as good. Going to be picking up a decent USB sound card when funds permit to rectify this.

Touchscreens will typically come with a VGA input, which is what you want if you want clear pictures, if you go composite/SVideo it won't be as good.

it would work. but an eeepc or a cheap 2nd hand laptop would be much better value.

eepc would be your best bet!!! they are only $318 at JB this week

Cool little item.

If you know your programming and can get that running with minimal issues, it should make for a good little carpc

only issue i can see you running into is the power shutdown and start up. Most carpc setups use a 'smart' psu that detects the cars ACC and sends an on / off pulse to the mobo. I don't know how you can replicate something like that for this unit.

On off switch... like my standard headunit now. I am an electronics techo, so designing a smart pulse detector and switch like you mentioned would be very easy.


As for the sound output. There is no way the unit alone will push out enough power to suit the cars speakers. The line out will need to be split several times and go into amps for your speakers and sub.
Unless you got a USB 5.1 soundcard, but the outputs will still need to be amped or else you will get little sound and max distortion.

Sorry maybe I wasn't clear, I understand that I need amps, that's why I am questioning on interfacing to them. Would the headphone output have enough juice for the amps? The RCA outputs on my JVC put out 4V.


I don't know how well a 400Mhz processor will handle movie files, but considering the price and size, it looks like a great deal

Yeah I wondered as well, but its not a huge resolution... 1280x1024. What speed processor do things like the iphone/Blackberry Storm use for movies?

eepc isn't touch screen though... which i want in the car, I don't want a keyboard. And the screen isn't double DIN size, so would take some customisation to fit.

Unless you guys know something I don't?

This thing is only $99US...

you sure the eepc + the liliput 7 inch touch screen, so its $318 + 200ish delivered, bargain!

otherwise you can get a touch screen overlay for the eepc too

On off switch... like my standard headunit now. I am an electronics techo, so designing a smart pulse detector and switch like you mentioned would be very easy.
cool as, then you won't have any problems!



Sorry maybe I wasn't clear, I understand that I need amps, that's why I am questioning on interfacing to them. Would the headphone output have enough juice for the amps? The RCA outputs on my JVC put out 4V.
will definitely have enough power to put into the amps



Yeah I wondered as well, but its not a huge resolution... 1280x1024. What speed processor do things like the iphone/Blackberry Storm use for movies?
most touch screens won't go past 1280x1024 natively anyway. as for mobile phones, no idea. I think you should be okay, maybe not any mid to high res movies though.
the mini-tix mobo i'm running plays most divx movies/episodes. it does however skip on occasion, sometimes quite bad and frustrating.
so i woulnt expect too much from this

but like i said, great little product for the price. If you can live without movies and animation etc.

Yeah I wondered as well, but its not a huge resolution... 1280x1024. What speed processor do things like the iphone/Blackberry Storm use for movies?

1280x1024 is quite a high resolution in a car, are you planning to run a 17" LCD or something??

I'm pretty sure you will want a faster processor if you intend to play videos (DivX, h.264, etc) on your Car PC.

The Eee currently knocking around for $320-350 is the old 7" 900Mhz Celeron model, it should play DivX and stuff fine, but multitasking could prove a little too much. My car pc has a 1.2Ghz Celeron and it just manages running DivX videos and GPS at the same time.

hmmm some good info...

How is the touch screen interfaced with the eee??? External monitor port?

I won't need to be multitasking, just need audio or video, not at the same time, and it would mostly be audio. Movies would most likely be good quality AVI.

1280x1024 is quite a high resolution in a car, are you planning to run a 17" LCD or something?

No just a double DIN screen.

look on ebay for eeepc touchscreens for more info

look on ebay for eeepc touchscreens for more info
are you a sales rep for eepc's or something?!! SHUTUP LOL



How is the touch screen interfaced with the eee??? External monitor port?


the touchscreen would just be a screen with a VGA input and a touchscreen panel on top that connects to the computer via usb.

are you a sales rep for eepc's or something?!! SHUTUP LOL



acrtually..... no :P

i just read alot about them over the last few days

acrtually..... no :P

i just read alot about them over the last few days

It is true though, for a cheap powerful carpc, Eee's are the most logical solution at the moment. esp the one with 8 hours life - You can run it on battery alone...

So say $350 for the eepc, how much for the touch screen for it?

I'm sure there is a 12V car adapter for the eepc, so power supple shouldn't be an issue.

there are adaptors, and about 150 for the overlay, may as well get a liliput screen and then go from there

Personally; I'm waiting for the Asus touchscreen netbook they announced at CES. Due 2nd half of this year. Give me plenty of time to think about how to mount it and what to do with it...

Regards, Tony

So say $350 for the eepc, how much for the touch screen for it?

I'm sure there is a 12V car adapter for the eepc, so power supple shouldn't be an issue.

Touch screen panel kit should cost you around $50-75 bucks on ebay.

Problem with laptops is that they are not very good at cooling, my little HP 2133 runs very hot if wven one of the little vents is blocked.

Problem with laptops is that they are not very good at cooling, my little HP 2133 runs very hot if wven one of the little vents is blocked.

In the last couple of days my car PC has gotten to about 70C, no hickups at all. Doesn't have any special fans or anything, just the tiny pathetic excuse for a fan on the CPU.

In the last couple of days my car PC has gotten to about 70C, no hickups at all. Doesn't have any special fans or anything, just the tiny pathetic excuse for a fan on the CPU.

70 is fine for a cpu. But laptops will be even worse, and you have the added issue of not running while the screen is down etc...

70 is fine for a cpu. But laptops will be even worse, and you have the added issue of not running while the screen is down etc...

I think you're best off removing the screen if you are using a notebook/netbook for a car PC.

I can't really see a laptop getting an awful lot hotter tbh. I remember a few years ago I had a Dell 8600 with a Pentium M and Radeon 9600 Turbo and when gaming on decent settings the CPU could hit 80C and the graphics card just over 105 C :shock:

I think you're best off removing the screen if you are using a notebook/netbook for a car PC.

I can't really see a laptop getting an awful lot hotter tbh. I remember a few years ago I had a Dell 8600 with a Pentium M and Radeon 9600 Turbo and when gaming on decent settings the CPU could hit 80C and the graphics card just over 105 C :shock:

Dangerous!

A full sized laptop would be better, not a netbook. I know it sounds very appealing because there small, chap and powering them is not an big issue, but there are no spare parts, hard to modify at all etc etc...

Dangerous!

A full sized laptop would be better, not a netbook. I know it sounds very appealing because there small, chap and powering them is not an big issue, but there are no spare parts, hard to modify at all etc etc...
I disagree. Really without* netbook modification (Just use USB and VGA ports) is not required so parts is generally not an issue, with the Eee if it gos bust you can replace the whole thing for like $350.

Value for money, they are the best solution.

I disagree. Really with a netbook modification (Just use USB and VGA ports) is not required so parts is generally not an issue, with the Eee if it gos bust you can replace the whole thing for like $350.

Value for money, they are the best solution.

Removing the screen/disabling the buttons that detect the screen is shut is a modification, and while I doubt it would be hard it takes away from the convienience of using a laptop.

I am not saying that using a laptop is not going to be possible, I am saying it's not a good idea. I have tryed to do it twice, the first one died after about a week in the car (was building the screen at the time) and the second one (a HP 2133, like an eeepc, but better) clocks up around 60oc, inside with a 24 ambient temp, it would smash though 100oc in the car and I just didn't want to kill a $600 laptop :(

Yes it's doable, yes it looks like an ok idea, yes the power supply is easy to get, yes there cheap. But there is a reason people don't use them much.

I disagree. Really with a netbook modification (Just use USB and VGA ports) is not required so parts is generally not an issue, with the Eee if it gos bust you can replace the whole thing for like $350.

Value for money, they are the best solution.

No it's not, bang up a quick carPC case out of an old PC case and:

MB/cpu: $160
http://www.mwave.com.au/newAU/mwaveAU/productdetail.asp?SKU=28022890

2GB RAM: $37
http://www.stonebridgecomputing.com.au/catalog/-p-15180.html

PSU: $22
8gb CF + IDE adaptor: $40 (SSD DRIVE)
link: http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showpost.php?p=977801&postcount=545

$260, cheaper, faster, cooler.

And for only an extra $195 you can have a proper case and an m2 PSU that will handle all the on and off business.
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showpost.php?p=977805&postcount=546

Removing the screen/disabling the buttons that detect the screen is shut is a modification, and while I doubt it would be hard it takes away from the convienience of using a laptop.

I am not saying that using a laptop is not going to be possible, I am saying it's not a good idea. I have tryed to do it twice, the first one died after about a week in the car (was building the screen at the time) and the second one (a HP 2133, like an eeepc, but better) clocks up around 60oc, inside with a 24 ambient temp, it would smash though 100oc in the car and I just didn't want to kill a $600 laptop :(

Yes it's doable, yes it looks like an ok idea, yes the power supply is easy to get, yes there cheap. But there is a reason people don't use them much.

Sorry that was a typo... It was suppose to be *without* modification.

Also, not all of us have old parts laying around for carpc builds. I still think a netbook that CAN be used for day to day use, AS WELL AS a car pc, is the best solution.

The screen doesnt need removing, simply enable the "Always on" power profile. It will turn the internal screen off when closed, and never turn off. Eee's have VGA for an external screen, so do not require ANY modification.

Sorry that was a typo... It was suppose to be *without* modification.

Also, not all of us have old parts laying around for carpc builds. I still think a netbook that CAN be used for day to day use, AS WELL AS a car pc, is the best solution.

The screen doesnt need removing, simply enable the "Always on" power profile. It will turn the internal screen off when closed, and never turn off. Eee's have VGA for an external screen, so do not require ANY modification.

Oh you mean as a in car and out of car PC, my bad. Still though, for like $260-450 the mini-itx isn't bad.

eepc + small plastic case + lotsa fans = fine :) and still cheap! because mans run native at 12v

eepc + small plastic case + lotsa fans = fine :) and still cheap! because mans run native at 12v


:( car's are not 12V.

:( car's are not 12V.
yeah but you can use the fans in the car, using resistoris etc. look on mp3car.com

theres heaps of guys using eepc's and using fans to keep them nice and cool!