In car computers

AHarvey

AHarvey

AHarvey

Soldato
Joined
6 Mar 2008
Posts
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Location
Stoke area
Anyone here built and installed a computer into their car?

We've just bought a 2006 Audi a4 2.0 SE and the standard head unit is rather boring and was considering upgrading to a screen based system.

However that got me thinking about maybe instead building a PC in to it instead but not really got any idea where to start.

Suggestions on sites to check out or anyone any feedback if they have done it themselves?
 
yes, called it the SICC :D
Subaru In Car Computer.

Mini ITX mobo
2.5" HDD
12v power converter
touch screen tablet on the dash
USB input for OBD port so you could have a "dash" on screen
but mainly it was just a music station.
Made a box for it to go under the passenger seat.
It's in bits in my attic now. :p
 
Never really saw the point in these once the novelty wore off. The idea of having a full computer in the car is awesome - all your media, movies, nav, internet, the lot. Fantastic! And then you build it and it works, even better!

But then the novelty wears off and you realise all you really wanted was a decent entertainment interface and satnav - and having to wait for a PC to boot and faff before the radio comes on in the morning on the way to work gets more and more annoying.
 
I think I have to side with Fox's viewpoint on this - an in car system should be just that - an in car system.

Once the novelty of it being able to do a hundred and one things wears off and you just want it to play your music quickly and easily with occasional sat nav use, then the compromises of having such a system start to annoy.

Same with Android - once the novelty of running Angry Birds in your car rather than on your phone wears off, does it really bring anything of particular use over and above a dedicated and specifically designed car system?
 
This is exactly why I decided against the Android powered version of the navigation system I fitted. I would spend 2 weeks loving it and then realise that actually no, I do not wish to sit in my car and play Angry Birds or use apps when I have an Android powered smartphone in my pocket. Most people just want a full featured audio system with excellent navigation, that simply works.
 
Who needs one when you can mount an Android pad in the car now?

For 79 quid you can have an 8gb android tablet with all car adaptors and mount complete with satnav on it and still have a decent car stereo rather than a compromise unit.
 
Dr Who said:
Who needs one when you can mount an Android pad in the car now?

For 79 quid you can have an 8gb android tablet with all car adaptors and mount complete with satnav on it and still have a decent car stereo rather than a compromise unit.
Click to expand...

Yea, I bet that looks awesome.

Anything fitted on a mount looks **** and is a faff - remove it when you leave the car, etc etc. Integration is so much better.
 
Reevsy18 said:
Fox, could I ask where you mounted the GPS antenna and telephone mic when you fitted your Dynavin unit?
Click to expand...

I re-used the telephone mic from the Nokia CK-7W I had in there years ago. It runs up the inside of the seal on the A pillar and is mounted just where the A pilar ends.

The GPS antenna is going under the rear parcel shelf. I put it on the dashboard in the corner to test it and.. errr... its kinda still there :o
 
Thanks, I'm looking at getting one of these for my S3, but would like to avoid having anything fitted where it can obviously be seen. (I'm ridiculously OCD about my car!) Have you noticed any reduction in sound quality or radio reception since fitting this unit?
 
Sound quality, no, but then a gerbil singing through a cardboard tube is better than the OEM BMW install. Radio reception yes - but only very slightly. I gather this was quite a big issue with the previous units.
 
Nice description of your sound quality :D From the reviews I've read radio reception and sound quality seem to be the only downsides, would be nice to see/hear one of these units in action.
 
Thanks for all the comments :)

I am not too bothered about apps etc in the car, however I was considering a GPS screen based radio that allows for a HDD attachment.

A couple of the main reasons for doing it are that I am often out and about with my camera and it would if been nice to be able to backup photos on the go without having to take my laptop, would be great when doing weddings etc.

The second was to move to a rear seat screen application in a couple of years for the little one on long journeys.
 
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