I'm thinking about swapping my changer for my Mac Mini. Has anyone done this? It seems pretty straight forward with the Dietz cables.

I think I would need:

MacMini
Apple DVI to Video Adapter
Stereo Mini to RCA (audio)
Single RCA (video)
Dietz 1417 Multimedia Link
Dietz 1280 Video in Motion
Wireless USB keyboard w/ integrated mouse
Power Invertor

Am I missing anything? I know I would lose resolution by converting the the video signal, but do you think you could still read the screen?

and it totally screws up navigation. Not even the direction was right anymore. I haven't used the 1280 though, maybe anybody who has a 1280 can tell how bad navigation is with the speed blocked. Until now this is the show stopper for me and my CarPC (or CarMac) project.

I would imagine that the nav unit is making calculations based on speed and location. If it doesn't know how fast you are going, then it would be hard to do.

I'm with you though, it's not worth losing the navigation.

very easy to navigate. understandable. you will learn how it works instantly, and never have to take your eyes off the road. doing a built in computer is a bish cus it takes a while for the comp to start up, then you have to scroll through it to find the songs. a phatnoise turns on immediately and will recall the last place you left it. something to look into.

What's wrong with putting an iPod in your car? Seems like a lot of work to do a MacMini install when there are numerous solutions for doing and iPod install.

Besides, How cool would it be to have the iTunes Visualizer playing through the nav unit? You could even drive up to a hotspot and post to audiworld. :)

I did an ipod install on my B5 that is similar to most of the options currently out there and now I want something more integrated.

<img src="http://www.elbogrease.com/bs/ipod_front2.jpg">

<img src="http://www.elbogrease.com/bs/ipod_top.jpg">

This was using the CD changer port for the audio input and I routed the power in through the existing handsfree phone kit rj45 port in the armrest.

New car, new ipod...new challenge.

FYI (as another option), the new Denison DiceLink offeres video out from Video iPods.

I would rather use one of the small Windows-based computers (Cappucino, e.g.) so that I could also run VAG-COM on my car computer. In fact, using VAG-COM's plug-in VAG Scope one can have all sorts of real-time data displayed on the screen. (Who needs eyes on the road anyway?)