I have been searching for a very low power computer for some applications at home and what do I come across a guy uses a Plug Computer in his MINI R56.

Plug Computer = a full computer in a wall plug size case. I.E. the wall wart style that many cellphone chargers look like.

 

What an interesting product. I've been eying my 2011 MCSC 'secret compartment' and thinking it could be a home to a very small computer. Lo and behold, here one is.

This little unit will run Linux, opening up the entire open source community. The video envisions using the unit for tracking and storing data from the car's computer.

What else is possible? It could certainly serve as a music jukebox or possibly even a video player. It could be used as a base for a NAV system.

You could potentially add a broadband dongle and have internet access in your MINI.

What else?

 

Check out this thread. I already have a small computer in my car running Nav, Music, DVD, Reading ODBii info, Web Access, E-Mail access, Functions I dont use but it is capable of are Backup Camera, Recording Video, Tracking data (as in the video), Bluetooth Integration for Phone and A2DP and many other things.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-upgrades.html

The Centrafuse Software I am using on it Runs over Windows and is specifically designed for Car Computer use. There are some other Software packages out there for doing the same thing that run on Linux but are not very well supported but if someone was to design a GUI software for Linux to compete with Centrafuse then they could probably make some good money on it, only because Windows is such a bear to deal with.

 

I am debating on purchasing a Mac Mini for my car computer. I have seen a couple of youtube videos with the setup but am a bit scared to muck something up in the process. I wonder if anyone on the forums have attempted this yet .

 

The computer I used is exactly the same size as a Mac Mini, its just a windows based unit in stead.

You can go to www.MP3car.com and get the proper power supply to make it start up, run and shut down properly in the car.

There is also lot of info there on putting a computer in a car, and what is needed to do it and make it work properly.

 

Schatzy,

Cool install. Thanks for the link to your thread and a bunch of ideas. I've built two mini ITX Windows 7 computers using Zotac motherboards and am toying with whether I could make one work in a Mini. They are dual core Atoms with nVida video processors. 12 volt power supplies are available. It is enough to get you thinking.

 

Well the Zotac Motherboards should fit in the Secret Compartment so that makes it much easier to start with.

Good luck with it an keep us up to date on how it is going.

Just need to be careful about lag time with the ATOM processors. I have worked with Centrafuse and Windows 7 and have seen some real lag times with it.

Also of note is the start and stop pulse. I used the door unlock as the start up pulse and the ignition off for the shutdown pulse on a Carnetix P-1900 power supply.

 

Why the need for computer? I just replaced my work phone (dingleberry) with a HTC Incredible. WOW. These things have come a long way from when I had apps running on a Palm Treo 680 not too long ago. There is very little these things can't do within your car.

Engine parameters? Bluetooth OBDII. Data logging with google maps support. Heck, one even displays in reverse so you can project it onto your windshield (HUD). It really works but shows double images (has to do with the thickness of the glass), but its solvable.

Backup camera you say? Buy a bluetooth Android compatible video camera. Mount it, hardwire for power and you're done.

DVD?! You can output video directly from the device to a monitor.

These devices are getting more and more powerful and are extending beyond their original design (e.g. making calls) with each iteration. The new HTC Incredible (AKA Thunderbolt) is supposed to be...well...incredible. My model phone is ONLY ~9 months old and its already outdated, LOL.

I was on the car 'puter path as well. But now, it just doesn't make any sense to me to spend all that money on a mini computer that probably won't last that long in a car's hostile environment.

 

Very true I have an Droid X and it can do many things but there are still MANY that it can not do.

Yes my Droid can do all of that to.

Ah yes can do that to.

Yeah but i still have to rip the DVD to put it on the phone so that i can play it. With the computer and the DVD drive I have attached to it i can buy the concert DVD at the concert and play if for my passengers with out having to rip it or convert it in any way. Much more diversity with the computer and a DVD/CD drive.

All Very true statements and yes your phone is out dated. But my computer running Win XP is still a viable solution to many things your phone can not do.

My computer has been in my car for more than two years with ZERO problems running. It handles the 130+ degree weather very well and also handles the -10 degree weather very well.

Yes the car has a VERY harsh environment but if the proper hardware is chosen then there is no problem.

Now on to other things that my computer can do that your phone can not do.

1. Run Quickbooks for business without a network connection. Yes Quickbooks offers an online solution but even on the phone it is very difficult to use. Use many other applications that only designed for Full computers and not phones.

2. Play a CD or DVD without having to rip it to my phone or other device

3. Have my whole music collection of over 70,000 (yes 70k) tracks or about 480Gig of storage space. Phones are no where near that yet and probably will not get close for 3-4 years. This way I do not have to keep deciding what music I want before leaving on my trip.

4. Give me the large screen experience for web surfing or e-mail. Yes I have an extra video output to hook up a large screen monitor or multiple monitors.

5. Record more than 16 gig of video files while I am at MINI's On The Dragon.

6. Record multiple streams of video at one time and keep it time stamped so that they can be correlated after the fact.

7. Give me a place to store all my Photos taken when my camera card gets full while at MINI's On Top.

7. The list can go on for a long time.

That's why

But I do agree that for many people the capabilities of the latest smart phones will out do most of what they need in a car.

 

All valid counterpoints. I don't do anything near what you do in your car. I mostly drive and listen to my tunes during my commute. That's the extent of the media I use in my car.

How the heck do you keep it cool in the summer time? I installed a Parrot bluetooth brain in my wife's car and it started locking up during the summer months and its only 2-3 years old.

How do you keep your carputer synced? Do you just park your Mini nearby and wifi all your changes to it? Now, that's sweet. I get annoyed with just keeping my usb/SD card up to date with any new songs i download..I wish there was a way to control my phone's mp3 player using MFSW/bluetooth. Then I wouldn't have to worry about keeping the songs synced on my usb/sd drive.

 

Owning my own business and working for others means i have to keep up even when I am on vacation or on MINI Runs. Just wish I could really get away sometimes.

And Yeah most people don't have a mobile office like I do.

There is actually a air vent in the glove box so I took the hose from that and moved it to blow cold air on the computer from the A/C. Keeps it nice an cool.

I park the car in my garage, cook up a battery charger so I don't have to leave the car running, flip a power switch and the computer can run with out the car being on. Then I just access it remotely via Remote Desktop over WiFi.


Steering wheel control not so easy but probably could be done.

As for Bluetooth playing of mp3's on your phone that can be done. there are a couple of A2DP modules out there that can hook up to your AUX in and USB (for power) and allow Bluetooth playing of music on you phone.

http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPa...duct_Id=508754

http://www.amazon.com/Blackberry-A2D.../dp/B001VEDERU
I use this one occasionally at friends places to play music off my phone.

http://us.kensington.com/html/14484.html