I'd love to see pics of your screen placement and install. I'm interested in building one for access to the hundreds of gigs of music I have and internet access in the car via my cell phone or "hot spot" via a wireless card.

 

I'm not certain anyone has a computer in their Mini, but there are a number of great computer installs out there. Begin with Mini-ITX.com and check-out VIA Tech. There different power supplies that can be used. I prefer the DC-DC converters rather than the DC-AC type. I'm using a Mini-Box.com PSU and it works great. Their regulator would be of very good quality as well.

The Mini-ITX boards are small and powerful enough. The sound quality isn't great but a PCI riser card and a sound card will fix that. I bought my M10000 motherboard from Lilli Computers as well as a chassis.

There are other small form factors but most require more watts than the ITX boards. If you think you can find a good PSU, look at the Shuttle XPCs. Definitely a mobile gamer, if that's what you're after.

It's a lot easier to put a 'puter in a car now than it was just a couple of years ago. If you do it, post a complete build up and install story.

 

If you are interested in reading more about carputers, check out www.mediaengine.org


...I'll continue my search for a mini with a carputer install

 

How nice you are.

 

Yes, there was a guy (Jay) from my area at the Dragon Run who had a computer setup installed in his MINI. He mounted a touchscreen on a flexible stalk attached to the console between the seats, and powered a notebook located in the boot via power inverter with a boot-up switch up under the drivers side dash. All the wiring was run under the carpet I think, and he had it set up mainly for music. I don't remember if he had it enabled for navigation or not.

I saw 1 episode of Pimp-My-Ride where they put a car PC in a Scion Xb ("DriveSoft" -?) that had an air card and live email. It was verrrry cool. Also had music, sat nav, sat radio, WiFi connectivity, and external cameras.

I am very interested in doing this one day to my MINI. I would preferably like a detachable portable of some sort- ie tablet pc or notebook, for universal use. I guess that would make it like a car docking station type of thing...

I also found online 1 mfr that makes an in-dash head unit sized full pc with a flip out/retractable touch screen but for $4000.......

 

Hey I also have thought of this. I build computers all the time and have an extra shuttle pc setting around but no touchscreen. Anyhow, another option may be using a hacked xbox.