My Phatbox blows... or rather... the VW stock HU does and I don't want to upgrade the HU do to the limitations with the Phatbox.

So I am thinking "car pc"... Just looking for some brain storming ideas from ya'll.

something inexpensive that would be upgradeable.

Here's an idea: http://www.hackaday.com/entry/1234000310056201/

Maybe add a Creative Audigy2 NX feeding the audio output into an A/B switcher that comes from my HU (in case I do want to listen to the radio)....

maybe add a FM tuner card and lose the HU completely... replacing the double din with a touch screen of the same size.

If anyone could point me to some other forums that might have more ideas...

I think this project could easily cost less than a grand... maybe an external hard drive enclosure that I could pop the laptop hard drive into to transfer files from my main pc.

Verizon wireless card for internet access.. or maybe just attach my Motorola V220 to it..

would not really need the web access at all...

mainly just wanting to listen to digital music and maybe watch DVD's. (thus multiple screens necessary0

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

@ http://www.icp-epia.co.uk/site/index.php

- EPIA-SP8000E Motherboard
- PACK-BOX-A4 Enclosure
- M1-ATX Power Supply

add 1GB DDR RAM and an HD (I used a Fujitsu MHT2080BH 80GB 2.5" SATA)

Biggest problem will be display/mouse/keyborad. There are in-dash display panels available, but they are very expensive. Mine went on a boat, not a car, so I didn't had problems with that. I attached the HD to the case with a velcro strap and a neoprene padding.

TOTALY SILENT (No fan), just a whisper from the HD if you stick your ear to the enclosure.

Cheers!

The action emphasized above is not recommended to be performed during high-speed maneouvres.

Hihihihihi! Agreed!