KNGT offers up Windows XP-powered icom MK1 carputer
By Darren Murph 
posted July 31st 2008 2:40PM
posted July 31st 2008 2:40PM
[Via Coolest-Gadgets]
posted July 31st 2008 2:40PM
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Holy CRAP! A simulated image on an LCD in a product photo!
Anyone know any more details? Mainly, how much? This is exactly what I'm looking for. The only other similar device on the market is about $2k, which is a little steep for me, especially since it has a good chance of being stolen.
There is one that I have by Xenarc its the MDT-X7000 , honestly its just a single DIN 7" touch screen and DVD but its nice since its a single DIN, and you can make your own Carputer to run behind it (you can hide all the main components anywhere, Trunk, glove box, under the seat) and you can find it for like $600, I built my computer part of it for around $500 and it does a LOT more than just play music.
As for some concerns on power usage, it boots from a compact flash card, has a startup/shut down controler to protect it from spikes and also send it to hibernate when the car is off.... boot time to start listening to tunes is about 3 seconds,
My carputer has Nav, internet, about 60 GB of JUST tunes, some apps, and I am in the middle of rigging up a thumb-print reader to act as my key (car wont start without my thumb print)
@ Mike
That's cool and all, but unfortunately it makes your thumb valuable to carjackers. Ever see Demolition Man? Cautionary tale that.
Touchscreens (that fold in and out) can be had on ebay for around $150ish. A VIA with 12V adapter would run you under $300. CF cards are under $50. RAM is under $50. What more do you need?
@PoisonEye
Have you ever seen a movie? Yeah, it's a movie.
@Mike
That looks pretty decent, I'd rather have a double din if possible though since I have the space. I don't know why, but I'm just not a huge fan of the flip out monitors. Your set-up sounds great though - do you have any pics? What software do you run?
Hmm... Like the guys at OSX86 to see what they can do with this!! How 'bout "Front Row" right on your dash.....
Frank
conor wants!
say, is that firefox3
no that is definitely internet explorer...congrats you fail.
@kal326
Wait a sec.. are you really under the impression the only way a computer can tune FM stations is through Windows XP Media Center? I promise this CarPC tunes FM stations and does not have Windows XP Media Center.
What, no crashing jokes yet?
In Soviet Russia your carpc crashes you. Pretty bad huh.
Manufacturers have put mechanical hard drives in cars for years. Aftermarket companies have sold mechanical hard drives for cars for years. Yes, solid-state is preferred but definitely not required.
Yeah but I bet its audio output sounds like C-R-A-P through any decent amp->speakers + amp->sub setup.
I would probably want to run the audio out through a real head unit, that might improve the audio quality to acceptable levels, or at least give you better leveling control...
THE MUPPET MOVIE!!! LOL
Wait WTF, this (reply) was supposed to go on an entirely different thread...
Eng comment system FTL!
Actually, you can get better sound. They make USB DAC's, various audio processors, and the like to work with carpc's. You are even able to tune your system using your computer, no more need for eq's, crosseovers, external processors etc, it's all done on the PC, and THEN sent out via RCA's.
Have you any idea what it's like to be a manbot in a carbot's carputer's world?
cool. what a great KITT for my KARR
Ah, this reminds me of the Empeg I had in my car back in '99... I miss that thing.
My first thought on seeing this was, "hey, I could probably fit that into the front of an HTPC case". Then I thought about it some more.
That looks like an old Magitronic lunchbox computer to me!
i foresee cooling issues
Yeah ! At last, I can watch p0rN in traffic jams now. Thx KNGT!! (btw, the "glove box" deserves its name now...)
The first son of a b1tch they catch using one of these things while driving needs to have their internet and driving priviliges revoked for life.
I wonder the price on this, as the Azentek Atlas CPC-1000 is a much better spec'd deal, running Vista on a 1.83 GHz Intel Core2Duo and 120 gig drive w/ DVD drive, proprietary OS overlay (for media functions) and PCMCIA slot in back. However it's some $2800 at Crutchfield. But I like the way things are going, if the decline in computer prices for desktops/laptops prevails, we'll get good things in a few years for nada...