Car PC or Car Mini Mac?

jp7152 · 27 Aug 2007 at 17:07

I'm wanting to wire a computer into my car, but unsure which is going to be best.

The Mini Mac seems a nice solution, however I'm worried it'll make it more difficult to expand and harder to find software for.

I'm wanting it to wire it into the existing sat nav screen (has aux in) and use it for music and DVDs.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

caeteez · 27 Aug 2007 at 17:13

I would think it would be far more practical to go the PC route, unless you are certain that you can get the software support etc. needed for the Mac.

The PC should be much easier to expand upon in the future both in terms of hardware and software.

tom_e · 27 Aug 2007 at 17:18

you can always stick xp on the mac if needed

tsinc80697 · 27 Aug 2007 at 17:21

Personally Id go mac mini and put XP on it if you need to use Windows software

wassap · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:01

jp7152 said:
I'm wanting to wire a computer into my car, but unsure which is going to be best.

The Mini Mac seems a nice solution, however I'm worried it'll make it more difficult to expand and harder to find software for.

I'm wanting it to wire it into the existing sat nav screen (has aux in) and use it for music and DVDs.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

How do you plan to control it?

I explored going the CarPc route, but its just too damn fiddly, all of the dedicated software seems to be WIP just not stable enough to bother with imo.

VBDub · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:05

I looked into a mac mini too, but there are simply not enough decent apps to run on it.
my main deciding factor was that the GPS would be route 66, which itself is pretty poor.

Using windows you can use roadrunner as your interface and it will do everything you want easily.

VBDub · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:06

wohoo said:
all of the dedicated software seems to be WIP just not stable enough to bother with imo.

I have been using a carpc for the last 2 years and not once has it crashed or hung.

Glaucus · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:45

carpc. you'll need windows on it anyway. to support the software. Just get a via board and you'll be sorted.

wassap · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:53

VBDub said:
I have been using a carpc for the last 2 years and not once has it crashed or hung.

I couldnt get the Bluetooth to work properly and the radio side of it left a lot to be desired,thats what i mean by stable.

I also found the Linitx screens to be crap in all honesty, the latest transreflective one looks good tho but its like 300 notes