Various Questions - thanks for answering

[pennypinch]

I'm looking at the next upgrade to be made to my car. I already have a few nice components in there:

-Pioneer AVIC9-DVD Nav and DVD player
-Pioneer AVX-P7000 In-dash CD player/Screen
-Pioneer AVM-P7000R Master Unit

What I want to do is add an MP3 capability. There aren't any MP3 players out there that offer visual output, except some of the home theater ones, and those aren't appropriate for a car.

My idea was to use a really barebones laptop, picked up on the cheap with maybe a 3-5 gigger. The IT guy at my old company offered me a free one with a P2-266mHz. I don't know the RAM, but I assume it's 32 MB. It has no RCA video out (I assume). My questions:

- can a normal computer-to-monitor out be converted easily to an RCA type of plug?

- What are the minimum requirements to run Winamp flawlessly?

- Do laptop hard drives fail when put on a moving car floor?

Jeez, this could have gone in any of three places, but...any help would be greatly appreciated.

[aglio412]

Originally posted by pennypinch

- can a normal computer-to-monitor out be converted easily to an RCA type of plug?

- What are the minimum requirements to run Winamp flawlessly?

- Do laptop hard drives fail when put on a moving car floor?

Jeez, this could have gone in any of three places, but...any help would be greatly appreciated.

1. not sure, might want to check for a pcmcia rca video out, if such a product exists

2. i think you'll be ok, might want to up the RAM though

3. no, i used a laptop on my car floor for quitea while and had no trouble. i mean, if you're four wheeling or hitting crazy bumps, then maybe...but by the sounds of your audio components...you got a nice ride that you don't abuse...or i'd hope not.

hope more people help! i'm interested in this topic as well...definitely want dvd/video in my ride soon.

[pennypinch]

Thanks for the help. The biggest issue is the video, frankly.

Also, anyone have one of those inertial mice? Those ones you don't roll around on a surface? How well do those work? Any better ideas for a pointer than that?

[BrewMaster]

can I ask why you need video when you're driving? I know it's illegal in Cali.

[pennypinch]

Originally posted by BrewMaster
can I ask why you need video when you're driving? I know it's illegal in Cali.

So's bathing two babies in one bathtub, but I'll bet a lot of people do that.

http://home.himolde.no/~christm/english/lover.htm

[spigidygak]

But I bet its not illegal to bathe two babes in a tub :D.

[pennypinch]

Originally posted by spigidygak
But I bet its not illegal to bathe two babes in a tub :D.

Oh, god, I'd gladly be locked up for that! :D

[OC]

penny -

Check out the Route 66 project at http://www.anders.com/projects/route66/ It's Linux based, and uses a small VFD for the display. I'm thinking of doing one myself. I'm also on the mailing list and can give you the archive if you want.

-OC

[pennypinch]

Originally posted by overclocked
penny -

Check out the Route 66 project at http://www.anders.com/projects/route66/ It's Linux based, and uses a small VFD for the display. I'm thinking of doing one myself. I'm also on the mailing list and can give you the archive if you want.

-OC
Very interesting. Given that I already have some installed hardware (specifically an LCD screen) I wanted something a little snazzier looking (for instance, some sort of visualization on the cheap. My current set-up is boring, boring, boring to look at).

I just received a free Winbook XL with an RCA video out, so it looks like many of my problems are solved. It doesn't have a network outlet, though. Gimme a hand here, as I am a card-carrying computer idiot:

- it has two PCMCIA slots: is there some card I can get, like with an Ethernet port so I can download from my work computer to this "car" computer?

I appreciate the feedback, tho, OC. It looks like a very clever and elegant solution to the MP3 jukebox in the car with more information than 8 characters. My buddy got a deck that was almost $600, and it doesn't even give you the folder names, plus it requires CD's. Four lines of text is a marked improvement, plus I'd assume it works a little faster.

[ChrisMG187]

penny- yea you can get pcmcia ethernet adapters, but why not go wireless. That way you could copy files over while still in the garage.