BigD MMCS Replacement

[enigma]

OK I have been a little quiet recently with technical stuff......so here goes!

:-D

You all are in need of a replacement to the expensive and distinctly Japanese MMCS system right? Well I have been working on it and with a little bit of help from the following links I have started to assemble a system!

A Vauxhall Carputer

Some cracking software

So here is what I have so far, pretty basic, but cool none the less!

1 small form factor pentium 3 system
1 touchscreen INSERT INTO post VALUES (sexy) 7" widescreen LCD display
some wire

and I have fiddled with the software a bit too.........

screenshots below

[enigma]

Screens

[enigma]

screens 2

[enigma]

screens 3

[enigma]

As you can see it supports MP3 and Radio, but it also supports DVD, AVI, MPG, DIVx, and GPS software........the all in one MMCS replacement!

[SGHOM]

now you really have gone too far Dave !! bl***y robbie williams Oh the shame !! :lolz:

[enigma]

I did think when I had posted it I ought to have chosen some better music.....it was just a random click......honest!

[SGHOM]

oh yeh !!! sure ! LOL.

[Nick Mann]

Come on, then. How much is this Kieran bashing equipment going to set us back?

INSERT INTO post VALUES (Can you do one in Japanese for him?)

[SGHOM]

INSERT INTO post VALUES (Can you do one in Japanese for him?)

mine is in japanese, he's seen it, & NO.......... he aint having it !! & I've yet still to a UK car with it in. apart from mine. :cool1:

[enigma]

Cost....errr....ummm......this must remain undisclosed at present!! It will allow full Dolby 5.1 in the car though! Additional components required will be a 5 channel amplifier and a subwoofer. Although it would work equally as well with just a 2 channel amp.

Seriously though, the PC I have had kicking around for years and similar stuff can be had for under £50........however a big F/O hard disk would be another £80 or so. A USB GPS receiver can be had for £30, a USB radio for £10, it can even support multiple webcams! The screen is the issue though.......................

Licensed software doesn't come cheaply though

[adam_shaw]

What can I say, Cool, very,very cool.

I still have an 'old' cappucino PC that I picked up in Taiwan kicking around, methinks it may be getting a new lease of life.

[Brind]

I've got one of these too... it's called a Laptop computer. :-D

It plays MP3, DVD, records on to CD, connects to the internet by every means possible, large hard drive to store DivX movies and porn.
It has firewire connection, SPDIF output for digital surround sound, printer port, TV output etc etc.
Even has a 15 inch TFT screen. :cool1:

Completely removable for security purposes.
I can connect a mini LCD screen to bung in the dash if the Laptop is too cumbersome.

The only thing it lacks is touch screen and a large Mitsubishi logo. :-D


Seriously though I was also going to build a basic barebones computer to house many of these features but it turns out to be silly money as you always want more.

You seen these portable DVD players? I've seen them for about £400 and that is all they can do! I payed just under £900 for the Laptop and there is no comparison.

[Nick Mann]

But a laptop computer installed in the dash with a touch screen and Mitsy/VR4 logos!

Woweee!



Ooops. I think I just wet myself.

[SGHOM]

think I posted this on a previous thread ages ago, the biggest problem is the screen. you can fit any kind of DVD, MP3, YMCA, but when the screen already controls everything including climate, air con, CD, RSPCA, that's when the problems start.

[Brind]

You mentioned GPS receiver, Dave! where have you seen them for that kind of price?

I've got AutoRoute installed on my laptop and it can connect using GPS, would be cool to get one for it.

[enigma]

Seen them kicking about on EBAY for this kind of money.....there is one currently for £47.99 Buy it now.............

[adam_shaw]

Or expansys have a variety of receivers starting at around £60

www.expansys.com

[BraindG]

the only problem i can foresee with this, is the loading time..
if you have this computer as your only source of music, you will have to wait for the damn thing to boot up every time you want to listen to some music, or whatever else your using the thing for..

stopping and starting the car, will kill the OS if you have power to it every time you turn the ignition.. so, would have to be on separate power supply, i mean wired right to the battery, then you have the issue of shutting it down.. you cant just keep cutting the power to the PC, it will die at one stage..

in theory all that is required, is a start up script. which will launch your program once the PC has booted up..
you will require an easy to get to shutdown button, and you will have to remember to use this every time your car is switched off..

now.. how about http://www.litepc.com/ customisable OS, cuts out the crap you don't need.
Windows PE? boots off CD, so there's no issues with it being shut down while writing to disk.. INSERT INTO post VALUES (cant find link just now)

at this time there is nothing i know of that allows windows to be booted from some form of rom, or memory.. however this would be the best option!

[Kieran]

I am watching this thread with interest! I don't know how you guys find all these amazing websites! I wonder.... MMCS + That software... Hmm

I still want the MMCS though! Anybody who gets rid of theirs, let me know!