X-Post: So I went shopping over Thanksgiving. BWW.
 

I'm doing a rather in-depth install in my car...

The idea is to have a laptop (easily removable via docking station) in the trunk connected to a <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38650&item=2445540 868">7" TFT Touchscreen</a> in the dash. The laptop will give me GPS/MP3/DVD/GAME/PORN capabilities.

It will also be able to interface directly with a camcorder mounted under the passenger headrest via a IEEE 1394 cable. In theory (still confirming) I'll be able to dump video directly to hard drive in near DV Quality.

I've installed a WiFi router in my house so I can dump movies/music/whatever to my carputer when I pull into the driveway (or any wifi spot for that matter,) and have also received my cell phone usb cable to connect to the web from anywhere (online reservations/movie times/email/whatever)

I'm still waiting on the screen and gps receiver to arrive before I go fully gung ho on this project. In the meantime a friend and I have begun coding the interface for WinXP. I may start with Media Engine until it's finished.

Some roadblocks I forsee will be:

A) Moving the stock symphony deck to the glove box (I want to keep my digital radio broadcast display between my gauge cluster)

B) Safely shutting down the PC when the car is turned off and rebooting when car is started. (probably via a shutdown controller)

C) Wiring

D) A bunch of other things I can't remember right now.

So I'll post pics as the project moves along. Any insight on anything would be greatly appreciated. I've seen Sharkweb's miniseries on his Carputer install and will be doing some things similar to his.

Wish me luck!

P.S. Sorry the images are crappy..they were taken from a cell phone.

<img src="http://www.iplaydirty.com/audi/laptop.jpg"> laptop

<img src="http://www.iplaydirty.com/audi/router.jpg"> router

<img src="http://www.iplaydirty.com/audi/hd.jpg"> hard drive

<img src="http://www.iplaydirty.com/audi/camcorder.jpg"> camcorder

<img src="http://www.iplaydirty.com/audi/mount.jpg"> camera mount

nice..porn cabability..hahah

sounds complicated, good luck

Why would you want to drop all the vid right to the hard drive?
 

HUGE waste of HD space!! (120GB goes fast!)

i'm thinking about doing a similar install
 

same 7" touchscreen, VIA EPIA M10000 Nehemiah mobo, gps, dvd(not sure if i'm gonna adapt a notebook drive or just go for an external usb), 40-60gig HD, and I'll probably use an opus PS if I can find one (waiting for opussolutions to get back to me).

I was going to go that route
 

but I like the laptop because I can undock it and use it anywhere else. Plus it's pretty shock resistant already.

true...
 

but I bought three 120gb hdd's. Can't go wrong at $50 a pop. I hate having to screw with tapes. This way I could edit the files instantly in car or when I take the laptop out. It's really not a big priority though, and I know I'll just use tapes instead so I can save by hdd for mp3s and dvd rips. I just want to see if it can be done (I've been told by EVERYONE it cannot.)

i was debating using my laptop... but like the idea of an intergrated system a little better

thats BADASS! i wish i had the time/money/knowledge to do that. Good luck

Yeah.. I have the same camera, and I think it cannot. :-\ (at least via firewire)