Ultimate audio upgrade.. and 'onboard pc'.. check it out

[David_VT]

Not sure if this guy is on the TDR, but you have got to check out what he is doing to his Cummins Ram... .
http://www.geocities.com/mr_bubba_zanetti/index.html



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99' SB 4x4 : DDI's, HOT PE, SACHS Clutch(here 2/19 but still in the box),SPA dual gauge, ESPAR, Line-X OTR, Ladder bars, AMSOIL, etc (GPS,Cell,CB,... . )
Green Monster

 

[DonS]

I'm in the process of building a small "PC" to add to my home stereo system - it'll hold at least 2000 CDs ripped as MP3s.

Such a thing would be trivial (and relatively cheap - less than $500, not including a nice LCD) to add to a truck. And while it's in there, why not add the navigation software (probably something like DeLorme's Street Atlas) then hook up the GPS.

The biggest pain would probably be the power supply. A generic PC wants either a) 110VAC, 60Hz, about 2A-4A or b) 12VDC (3A-4A) + 5VDC (10-20A). The easiest thing might be running an inverter to get 110VAC, then powering a regular PC power supply off of that.

Easy enough to get a low-end motherboard (with CPU and RAM), a hard drive (80GB or so), and a power supply. All that's needed is the display device (LCD - that's what gets expensive) and input devices (keyboard, touchscreen, whatever).

Put it all under the rear seat.

-Don


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2001(. 5) 2500 HO 6spd 4x4 QC LWB SLT+ Tow Pkg 3. 54 LSD, Shift-on-the-fly, Patriot Blue / Agate

[This message has been edited by DonS (edited 04-09-2001). ]

 

[Brandon]

why all that if it is stock... ... ...

bomb engine


BOMB

 

[Bob Cochran]

Gee gotta watch people that have cell phones in there ears from running over me. Now gotta watch a guy playing solitare!!!! #ad


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2001 RAM 3500 dually Quad Cab SLT, 4. 10 limited slip, HO 245 hp, 6-speed, dark garnet pearl coat, interior agate, All options except heated leather, added DeeZee brite diamond tool box, Linex spray-in bed liner, Lund hood deflector 3 piece smoke color, DeeZee brite diamond cab/bed running boards and TurboSaver (from Gino's) also Reese 5th wheel 15k hitch. No plans to bomb. This is my retirment vehicle currently pulling 21' 5er want to buy 30 to 35 for retirment.

 

[DonS]

I think the discussion was about using the computer for audio and navigation. I didn't see anyone advocating using it for driver entertainment. Kind of like the navigation and video systems that already exist in many new cars.

BTW - exactly who is going to be "running over" you in your 3500? #ad

 

[SlyBones]

For $500 you could get a Garmin ETrex GPS, and PalmPilot, cables and software.

You can have a complete navigation system, small and portable. Use the GPS by itself when hiking. Use the PalmPilot by itself to reminding you when the next BOMBer event is. And so on. Its all of the shelf and works great.

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1997 2500 4x4, CC, Auto, 3. 54 LSD, 68K, Everything inc Leather, K&N, 4" BD cat-back, otherwise stock, Isspro Gauges(3), 285/75/16 on Alcola's, RS9000's, Molded Side Steps w/ Ground Effects, Chrome Trim, Canopy, ProFlaps F&R, BedLiner, Aux. Lighting F&R, and tons more.

 

[DonS]

SlyBones-

I have a Garmin eMap and a Handspring Visor Prism (I've also used the Palm IIIx), along with connecting cables and nav software. Great for handheld use, but I find a few deficiencies when trying to use it as an in-vehicle nav system:

1. PDA and GPS screens are too small. Takes a lot of driver attention (for me, at least) to see the detail on those devices.
2. No door-to-door routing (unless you do the routing ahead of time on a PC, then download the info to either the PDA or the GPS).
3. Very limited memory on both devices. Can't download high-detail address and points-of-interest data for more than a small area. Again, you'd have to keep a PC handy to download areas as you need them. Or spend lots of money on PDA/GPS memory expansion devices.

The PC-in-the-car approach solves all of these for me.

I recently took a 360 mile trip and wanted to use the PDA/GPS combo. I knew where I was going, but wanted to play with the toys. I discovered that I couldn't download enough data into the PDA or GPS to cover even that short trip. My laptop PC with the GPS, however, did it perfectly. All the data available all the time (CD), nice big bright screen, and voice prompts telling me where I was and where to turn. And no, I wasn't playing solitaire.

-Don