I just finished installing a CarPC on Sunday!! I used an IBM laptop simply for the fact that the unit has been designed to be moved around, unlike a normal PC which is usually designed to stay still. Also Im pretty sure the laptop hard drives are more shock resistant than the full size one due to the smaller platter size. With cars like ours (stiff suspension) this is very important unless you want to replace the hard drive yearly!
I installed the laptop under the drivers seat.
Features:
- Lilliput 7" In Dash Motorized Touch Screen (Built in TV Tuner) (Ebay - $570)
- IBM R40 Laptop (P4 2.0Ghz, 512mb RAM, 40GB HDD) (Free from work!)
- Laptop docking station for quick removal of the PC (Ebay - $25)
- Holux USB GPS Receiver (Ebay - $85)
- Wireless - For transferring music to my car
- Total cost (Including cables and other assorted stuff) -- approx $700
Software:
- Centrafuse
http://www.fluxmedia.net/
This software is the bomb! I tried heaps of different ones and found this one to be the best! Best of all - its free! It's all designed for use on touch screen with big buttons and stuff. It does all this plus more:
- Sat Navigation
- TV
- Web Browser (Requires Internet)
- DVD Player
- Mp3 Player/Video Player
- Visualizations (like winamp)
- ODBC II Vehicle communication (Requires connection cable to hook up to ECU)
- Local Weather (Requires Internet)
Ill post up some photos tomorrow...