I want a 'car-puter'

[Dos_Box]

I was casually lookign through Ebay last night on the off chance that there is a decent iPad knock off available yet, and failing miserably. The aPad, ePad and various flavours of Android powered devices (all running 1.x) still fall short on what I require. These generally have 500Mhz processors for the Android tablets and 1.6 Atom processors for Windows (Starter edition) varients with only a maximum of 1GB of RAM to be had.

What I'd love is a device I can setup to use as an in car MP3/entertainments system, GPS (via integral GPRS module) a 3G modem and bluetooth so I could use it instead of a Parrot kit perhaps. It 'should' be specced to a minimum of the following;

 

 

Tablet format

7-9 Inch touch screen

1.6Ghz (dual core) Atom processor

2GB RAM

120GB Hard drive

GPRS

Bluetooth

Integrated 3G Modem

USB powered via in-car power socket

3.5mm Audio in\out

Windows 7 Home Edition

Customisable interface to access functions easily on the move such as applications, volume phone dialer etc.

A mounting bracket to attach to the dash (level with the stereo\console, not the windscreen)

 

Such as device would allow me to bin my iPod, Parrot, Sat-Nav and roll them up into a single, powerful, small, multifunctional device I could dismount at the end of my journey and still use to get my email, browse the web and carry our some minor business functions.

Surely it can't be that long to wait for one?!

[Ric_]

You should have just bought a head unit like mine in the first place and then you can carry your beloved laptop for computing duties

[jamesb]

There's a few more tablet devices being announced at the moment:

 

Hannspree outs £329 10.1in Android tablet ? reghardware

Viewsonic intros £350 7in Android tablet ? reghardware

[krisd32]

You culd get some ideas from these guys and create your own.

[Dos_Box]

You should have just bought a head unit like mine in the first place and then you can carry your beloved laptop for computing duties

 

You know why I can't Ric!*

 

*Damn you Lexus, damn you!

[Domino]

BOOOM: Car Computer - Midrange System

 

of course you could just buy a microatx motherboard and put it together yourself. lazy.

[Ric_]

You know why I can't Ric!*

 

*Damn you Lexus, damn you!

 

Where there's a will, there's a way

[Domino]

Where there's a will, there's a way

 

...and a drill

[Ric_]

...and a drill

 

... and a saw... and a hammer... oooh don't forget the expanding foam too

[LeMarchand]

What I'd love is a device I can setup to use as an in car MP3/entertainments system, GPS (via integral GPRS module) a 3G modem and bluetooth so I could use it instead of a Parrot kit perhaps.

 

Don't most Smartphones have the functionality you want (but not the specs)? I made a mount for my HD2 (attached a belt clip to an L bracket - just pop phone off belt and into clip), and voilá music + satnav + hands-free calls in car with (to some degree) customisable interface with basic office + email (if I could be bothered to set it up) + web + whatever else I use (looks at main apps: comics, ebooks and PS1 games plus photos, movies etc etc) when not in car.

[Dos_Box]

Yes, my Nexus One does all of the above, however, it's screen isn't large enough to prod accurately on the move, or read easily, which is why I want a larger screen, but it would also be nice to have the ability to remove it and take it with me when on business trips.

[ZeroHour]

This device is a car crash waiting to happen tbh when you think about it.

One other issue would be you would have to stick your sim in every time you get into your car to get calls through it.

[LeMarchand]

Yes, my Nexus One does all of the above, however, it's screen isn't large enough to prod accurately on the move, or read easily, which is why I want a larger screen, but it would also be nice to have the ability to remove it and take it with me when on business trips.

 

Only 5", but what about the Dell Streak?

[Dos_Box]

This device is a car crash waiting to happen tbh when you think about it.

One other issue would be you would have to stick your sim in every time you get into your car to get calls through it.

 

Not really. I already have my iPod Touch and sat-nav runnimg whilst in the car and my phone connected via Parrot. It'd be nice to roll it all up into one system. Yes the SIM issue is a bug bear, but with a small enough Android tablet then I'd just have to wear a pair of really baggy pants to fit it in

[Domino]

http://www.spock.com/i/NNL1lyWNh/Mc-Hammer.jpg

[ZeroHour]

Not really. I already have my iPod Touch and sat-nav runnimg whilst in the car and my phone connected via Parrot. It'd be nice to roll it all up into one system. Yes the SIM issue is a bug bear, but with a small enough Android tablet then I'd just have to wear a pair of really baggy pants to fit it in

 

Yeh I just wouldnt want try and read/write email, "I am just driving home as;ldkjlahfoisrghosighdiofgndfiopbndfopbi" could be the email

[Dos_Box]

The email side would be for when I was out of the car. Anyway, don't you want a dev phone for the online apps ?

[EduTech]

Yeh I just wouldnt want try and read/write email, "I am just driving home as;ldkjlahfoisrghosighdiofgndfiopbndfopbi" could be the email

 

Lmao!! Yes aha! sorry that made me laugh

[john]

... and a saw... and a hammer... oooh don't forget the expanding foam too

 

You missed the most important item out though guys, Gaffa-Tape!!!!!

 

Whats so fancy about your head unit then Ric?

[mac_shinobi]

If you look at the car audio direct website I posted somewhere ( google for it ) they do pioneer dual din systems ( touch screen ) that include media system, sat nav etc - not sure if it meets your specs ref ram, cpu etc but does what it says on the tin although they are like £400 plus

 

Short of that you could get a dell laptop rigged for the audio side and use sat nav on your google nexus one phone

[tech_guy]

My HTC Desire does it all for me - FM Radio / MP3 / SAT NAV

[mac_shinobi]

My HTC Desire does it all for me - FM Radio / MP3 / SAT NAV

 

I've just got a pioneer DEH 7100BT stereo and that does enough for me - not video though but I cant drive and watch movies - just wouldn't work for me im afraid !!

[Dos_Box]

I think we may have a winner!!

 

BBC News - Galaxy Tab unveiled as Samsung's first tablet computer

[Dos_Box]

I've changed my mind, however, saving £500 I can get one of these, a Witstech A81-E, for about £170 and it has GPS, as well as supporting 3G dongles

 

Witstech A81E - Wiki

 

It will handle the MP3 and GPS functions I really wanted a single device for. As I have an Android CoPilot licence it will not need net connectivity. It has Android 2.2 and the latest ROM also means that Flash and GPS issues have now been fixed.

 

 

Now then. What's the best Android media player out there? And if anyone can find a decent car tablet dash\screen mount please let me know.

Edited September 10, 2010 by Dos_Box

[tech_guy]

Here you go:

 

http://www.apple.com/ipad/velcro/

Edited September 13, 2010 by tech_guy