Car Computers: Do We Need More Reasons to Hate Microsoft?
November 24 2008 by 
Dave
If you upgraded to Windows Vista, you have my sympathies. Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a brand new computer that gives you the finger and then chokes on its own vomit. And then there's the incompatibilities. My new IBM box didn't cost half as much as the software upgrades required for Vista compatibility. Some apps wouldn't 'compat' at all, requiring abandonment of old favorites for new-fangled and unfamiliar replacements. ...that don't work. No upgrade pricing.
So, why extend this frustration to your automobile, your 'baby?' Well, car computers (or "carputers," if you're übercool) promise the ultimate in on-the-go convergence, merging your favorite devices and mobile apps into one machine, and then adding sprinkles. It's a fancy new breed of PC cat. Now, if only it wouldn't pee on your upholstery.
Truth be told, the carputer revolution is bubbling. VARs are popping up to provide components and complete systems and installation. Prices range from around $600 to just over $2,000 or, if you're a sadist, you can build and install your own.
What might you do with a carputer? Here's a tease:
| GPS Navigation | Tired of upgrading your GPS every few years? Or worse, are you stuck with a built-in GPS with no upgrade path? Computer-based GPS navigation applications are routinely updated and there's plenty of competing products to choose from. | |
| Trapster | A broadband-enabled carputer can receive real-time speed trap alerts from Trapster.com. Your 7" touch-screen display provides a larger, more convenient map and interface than your cell phone. | |
| Car Audio | Dump your entire iTunes library into your carputer and take your 2,000-disc CD collection (some not even pirated) on the road. Leave your iPod player, RF transmitter and rat's nest of cables and chargers at home. Integrate a satellite radio receiver or PC-controlled AM/FM tuner. Grab podcasts, web radio and other downloadable content over a broadband connection. | |
| Car Theatre | Pop in a DVD and watch movies in your dash.
Impress blind dates with your collection of slasher flicks. "So, like,
how many times have you seen Dead Alive?" Integrate a digital or analog television receiver. Who says drive-ins are dead? Just add Sonic. |
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| Car Gaming | Who says you can't 'pwn' Halo newbs on the road? Please, park first. | |
| Performance Tuning | Display and chart real-time engine diagnostics from a carputer attached to your vehicle's ODBII port. Check out AutoTap for some sample screen shots. | |
| Cameras | Many carputers feature multiple video inputs, useful for security cameras, parking assistants and other James Bondian stuff. Plug in an infrared camera and your navigator can entertain himself trolling for nighttime speed traps. How 'bout a wide-angle on-ramp camera for those pesky trap-shooters hiding in your blind spot? Or, setup a 'black box' car recorder to capture all manner of highway shenanigans. | |
| Scanner Control | Do your mobile radio scanners attract too much attention? Does your vehicle's design preclude in-dash installation? Many scanners allow PC control, with a PC app that mimics the scanner's control panel. Install your scanner out of view but retain full functionality and control. Avoid a ticket in those states that prohibit scanners in a vehicle. | |
| Rally Trip Computer | If you enjoy rallies or open road races, a carputer might translate GPS location data into audible speed corrections and waypoint cues. | |
| Hands-Free Phone | With special software, you can control your cell phone via bluetooth. | |
| Live Weather | Check for weather alerts in your area, even if you don't know where 'your area' is. | |
| Live Traffic Reports | View real-time traffic congestion maps before you end up 'in the picture.' | |
| Touch-Screen Control | If you've been spoiled by touch-screen GPS displays, just imagine extending that convenience to all of the aforementioned apps. | |
| Voice Control | Attach a microphone to your carputer and assign voice commands to your favorite apps. Control common functions without diverting attention from the road. Report live police traps to Trapster with a single command, "Trapster Live Police." Launch iTunes with, "iTunes Play Favorites." |
Do I spy drool on your chemise? Well, before you run off to Best Buy - they don't have carputers (yet) - let's discuss some of the bugs still facing early adopters:
- If you've used Windows for more than a day, you know the importance of a graceful shutdown. Fortunately, carputers aren't unplugged when you pull your key from the ignition - they retire gracefully (by draining your car's battery), long after you've closed the garage door. In fact, your carputer can remain operational for a selected inactivity time-out period, for example, while you shop or perform a sobriety test.
- You're also probably familiar with Windows' lethargic boot times - an unwelcome addition to car audio. To improve boot times, the carputer prefers Hibernate to Shut Down. Throw a solid state disk (SSD) at the problem, and you'll not only improve boot times but resolve the next carputer hang-up....
- Hard disk failures. For whatever reason, traditional hard disks don't like being jostled about. Sure, track days are fun, but not when it means reinstalling your car's operating system. [You did backup your iTunes collection, right?] They also don't like extreme temperatures, like you might find in, say, your garage. Temperamental crap. Again, SSDs provide a worthwhile, if more expensive, alternative.
- Lastly, carputer touch-screens, though cool, can be troublesome. Be sure your carputer's screen is easily readable, free from glare (or can be rotated) and can be dimmed at night. Also, be warned that some states have laws precluding the use of video entertainment systems within eyesight of the driver. Convertible owner? The previous note goes double for you; make certain your screen will be legible when the sun is high and the top is down. And remember that voice control is an unreliable alternative when driving topless. All that noise, and Windows will gleefully misinterpret "Radio Off" for "Reformat Hard Drive."
For broadband and GPS, check out Sprint's (Sierra Wireless) Compass 597. This USB antenna fulfills both requirements and, unlike old-skool PCMCIA, needn't be dongled to your carputer; it can be extended by standard USB cable to the most functional and appealing corner of your ride. Furthermore, if you demand top-notch reception, the antenna features a jack for external high-gain antennas and EVDO signal amplifiers. As of this writing, Sprint charges $60/month for the EVDO service, before discounts. Of course, if you already subscribe to Sprint's data service - for example, my laptops share an AirCard - it's a no-brainer. You pay for the antenna but otherwise surf without additional charge.
If you're looking for something more portable, something to be shared between multiple vehicles, check out some of the new ultra-mobile PCs. For example, Jensen's NVX3000PC and Samsung's Q1 put a Windows XP computer in a portable 7" touch-screen package.
For more information, check out MP3car.com. Their forums are buzzing with carputer sociopaths determined to make Windows work reliably. Adorable. There are also a handful of books on the subject, available at Amazon.com. Search for "Car PC" and "Geek My Ride."
Now, how to integrate a printer into your glove box....
Posted in Random Noise | Countermeasures | 
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