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A DIY Dashtop Computer.

Why settle for the standard stereo or a GPS unit when you can have an in-car PC running off your car's battery to guide the way, watch the engine, and download tunes? (http://www.popsci.com/popsci/how20/d04305f2dbbf1110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/DIY_Carputer.jpgDamien Stolarz - Popular Science - April 17, 2007

For all the time you spend in your car, you ought to get something done along the way. With an Internet-connected car PC stuffed out of sight and a touchscreen on the dash, you can e-mail a pal to get a restaurant recommendation, read reviews online, plug the address into the GPS software, and watch last night’s Colbert Report while you’re waiting for your date. There are several ways to configure and install a system, and it’s easier than you think. We designed a system-in-a-box that easily moves from car to car and runs entirely from one cigarette-lighter socket. See our guide to the parts below and the steps on the facing page, and you’ll be a mobile info hub in practically no time.

WHAT YOU NEED:

COMPUTER
WE USED: Apple Mac Mini ($600; apple.com) Any computer could work, but the simplest to install are compact PCs like Vizualogic’s VMOD ($700; vizualogic.com). We opted for a similarly sized Mac Mini since it runs both OS X and Windows. Like the VMOD, the Mini fits perfectly in the double-high slot where your factory stereo would go. Other ideal spots: in the glove compartment or under one of the front seats.

SCREEN
WE USED: Mp3Car.com’s TRANS 7-inch VGA transflective ($680; store.mp3car.com) and RAM’s RAP-B- 104-224U mount ($23; gpscity.com) A seven- or eight-inch touchscreen is big enough that it’s easy to control and read but small enough to stay out of the way. Position it away from the car’s other controls, and mount it securely. For a more factory-finished look, get it custom-installed in your dashboard. Prices start at around $500.


POWER
WE USED: Carnetix CNX-P1900 ($100; carnetix.com) Your car’s 12-volt DC power can spike or sag to different voltages, so you’ll need an adapter to regulate it. Look for one built specifically for a car computer, such as the P1900, which can run extra components like a USB hub and can put the computer to sleep when you turn off the car instead of just abruptly shutting it down.

SOFTWARE
WE USED: StreetDeck ($200; streetdeck.com) A number of software packages integrate navigation and multimedia playback. For a free option, try Road Runner (guino.home.insightbb.com )

http://img.timeinc.net/popsci/images/2007/04/diydash_screens.jpg
Screenshots of the Carputer output.

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/how20/d04305f2dbbf1110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html

Pretty much what I'm working on. Except I want an integrated or motorized screen.

Once I have the screen I'll be good to go. System is all built.

$1,700, and without a Net connection?!

I'm not one for such things but I helped a buddy build a similar system, except his was remote controlled rather than touch screen.

We used an old laptop he had laying around... the kind you can buy on eBay for $200 - $300. We used a universal mount ($15 at Best Buy), an IR extender ($6 on newegg.com), a universal remote ($4 on newegg.com), a great 7" screen we found on sale at Wal-Mart for $170, a Cingular Edge cellular modem ($150) and all software was free and open source (FOSS) on Debian Linux (we set this up pre-Ubuntu).

With cabling, incidentals, etc. our total cost was about $450, which would have been up to $750 if we'd have had to buy a used laptop. That's at least $1,000 cheaper than the setup mentioned once you add the Net connection.