In-Car Portable Media/Audio Center

[DirtyPolo]

Okay guys, so I thought I'd put this question upto you guys to see what replies and ideas I get back.

 

My idea is simple, well it is but it isn't! :P

 

In my car, my sound system has 1 CD slot, Radio tuner and an AUX input.

 

Now I want to maximuise the amount of songs that I can play through it and the obvious is to use the AUX input.

 

My Mp4 player is only 8GB whereas my entire music collection is around 50GB! and it grows everyday.

 

Therefore I am thinking of ways to somehow give myself access to this library in my car.

 

The idea I have come up with, is to purchase a cheap laptop or mini PC, as basic as they come, with a 60GB HDD or similar,

- Then load up all my music onto this new system.

- Find a way of safely mounting it inside my car, maybe the boot, or under the driver's seat or passengers.

- Running an AUX-AUX cable from the speaker output on the system to the input on my car stereo, thus allowing to play the music from the system through my car speakers.

 

 

Sounds simple enough but I am sure you can find the flaws...

 

- A PC would require AC Power...

- How do I change tracks, songs, albums, etc, or even get it to load up the songs in the first place.

 

 

So this is where I come asking for help.

 

I need your ideas of how I can do the above, without the answers of "Buy an Ipod" or "Buy a bigger capacity MP3" even if that maybe my only option in the end.

 

So let the ideas fly in! and I look forward to reading them :)

 

Thanks in advance everyone! :D

[Plastic Nev]

Well, I reckon one of the mini PC's with a large enough drive on it to start with, but before purchase find out if the power supply output (from the power brick) is twelve volts or less, if twelve, or to be more correct 13.8 volts, then the car battery will do the work, but you will need to find some sort of low voltage surge suppressor to protect the lappy. If the voltage is different than 13.8 a suitable regulator will be needed as well. Once all that is in place you will need some sort of remote control of the PC, especially if it is hidden in the boot. Once you have got that far, connecting it to the car radio/amplifier should be a large slice of vanilla sponge. (piece of cake) ;)

[DirtyPolo]

Thanks Nev, but those problems still exist don't they? :(

 

And also if I was able to do all that, how am I going to get from turning the system on, to it playing music, without a screen and just a remote? :(

 

I must admit I havent looked into anything else other than this option, I'm sure there might be dedicated systems for car audio, I'll have a look later on

[Dalo Harkin]

They are extortionately expensive mate.

you can buy specific cases designed for cars etc.

In all honesty you are far better off 'buying an ipod'

If you really want to go down the route of a PC, I can help as I have done one before for a car - but it was not cheap.

[DirtyPolo]

How much is "not cheap"? :P

 

and what kind of stuff would be needed?

 

Just so I can see what the solution is :P

[Dalo Harkin]

Car PC, 12V Vehicle Computers, the makers of VoomPC

[DirtyPolo]

So I'm looking at about the system for $400 with a screen for $215?

 

Thats not far off £400 which is not too much more than I was expecting when thinking of it myway with a cheap decent laptop for about £300 lol.

[Dalo Harkin]

Just dont expect too much from it :D

[DirtyPolo]

Lol I'm not really looking to buy it, just scouting around at the possibilities.

 

Would that play music through my in car stereo/speakers?

 

and would it play movies/DVD's through the screen?

 

Thanks though :P Just what I was looking for!

[Dalo Harkin]

From what I remember it only has space for an HDD and nothing else - so if they are on the HDD then yes - the more expensive ones come with inputs so that you can just USB or firewire the thing into a lappy or PC and move stuff over :)

[DirtyPolo]

on the link you gave me, the cases have a black CD drive, and to add one in its like $40 :P

 

SONY Slim SATA DVD/CDRW Combo Drive

 

is this the best place to go for this kind of stuff or is there loads of different places/types? i'll look around but I couldn't find anything before :(

[Dalo Harkin]

You may get some other resellers - just type in that type of enclosure and see what you get :)

[DirtyPolo]

Lol alriht.

 

Looking around I also saw some DIY car pcs, one guy used a Mac Mini which fitted perfectly into his car :P

 

I will definatly get one but not until I change my car which maybe a while and by then technology would've changed.

 

I just liked the idea of it :D

 

Thanks for all the info :)

[Dalo Harkin]

No worries mate,

 

Well if you do decide to get one - give me a shout and I will let you what you need etc