Mac Mini PC in car

[showtime]

Anyone ever put a Mac Mini PC in their car yet?

Getting ready to install one with a touch screen monitor in my 69 Camaro to replace the current in-dash receiver.

I've been in the 12 volt business since 1989 so I'm sure I can handle the task. Just wanted to know if anyone here has any comments regarding this project.

If not, I'll let you know how it turns on.

Thanks,
Jim

[critter]

I have not but it's a great platform. Compact and powerful. We use several in a quasi-server configuration at my office and they're rock steady performers at a super low price. Good luck with it.

[oestek]

Yep... pretty cool. Check it out here -

http://www.classicresto.com/mambo/content/view/72/2/

I think an iPhone with a bigger screen would also be killer!

[Tony_SS]

Sounds cool... but for what reason?

[critter]

AV stuff, I'd think.

[showtime]

For this application you are correct, it will be for audio use and as a video presentation for the vehicle (instead of using a book with pictures to outline the step-by-step build). A video monitor will be installed in a custom center console as well as a monitor under the hood and in the trunk lid to display the images. I will also add bluetooth, GPS and internet for streaming video like You Tube etc...

[Tony_SS]

Dang.. and to think I take a ride to get away from the computer!

[parsonsj]

You could do some impressive sensor integration and feedback too:

wheel speed sensor input
suspension travel sensor
temps, gas mix, throttle position, clutch position, brake line pressure, fuel pressure, fuel temp, etc. etc.

With a full-blown computer at your disposal, you can do lots of interesting and useful analysis and display.

jp

[wiedemab]

I have an electrical engineer buddy that I helped put a PC in his '05 crew cab 1500 Chevy. He lasered out a custom case for a small form factor MoBo - Mini-ITX or maybe Micro ATX. I can't remember.

I'll find the pics and videos of it and post them. He has a touchscreen in dash that replaced the double DIN radio, GPS antenna built in, WiFi, cell phone wireless interenet connection, automatically switching backup camera in his hitch for hooking up his boat trailer. It came out really nice. He runs it through a single DIN head unit for sound amplification and then to a couple of amps.

He is running a GUI (it was free and could be customized) for the main interface, but it is running XP. I think he may be going to rebuild it with the OS on a solid state drive so that it boots quicker.

[wiedemab]

Here are just a few quick pics of his setup - Not a Mac, but........

The dash is back together, but the console isn't. He mounted the PC under the rear seat and ran all of the cords through the middle/console area. He mounted a slot load DVD in the back of the console too, which was nice for playing DVD etc.

[65MALI]

Hmmn, interesting. Subscribed. Funny, I got a mac MINI layin around.

[Ash]

www.mp3car.com

[Ash]

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/ been around for a while. some crazy installs.

[Jim Nilsen]

You could do some impressive sensor integration and feedback too:

wheel speed sensor input
suspension travel sensor
temps, gas mix, throttle position, clutch position, brake line pressure, fuel pressure, fuel temp, etc. etc.

With a full-blown computer at your disposal, you can do lots of interesting and useful analysis and display.

jp

John, you just made me laugh thinking about how I could put a GPS on my desktop to let me know when I am going nowhere ,LOL.

[BrianP]

Here's an mini mac install into a corvette:
http://blog.shofr.com/2007/corvette/...-installation/