Mac Mini carputer install

[crimsonaudio]

OK, I'm almost done with assembling the necessary stuff for my new Mac Mini carputer install. The audio portion is done (a modest setup utilizing Boston Acoustics speakers driven by an A/D/S amp, no sub) and here are a few pics I just got back from the guy I hired to do the custom dash fabrication for the touchscreen:

Front view:


Side view - shows the off axis view under bad lighting conditions:


Great color matching:


The Mini is ready to install, all wiring is finished (save the little bit between the Carnetix PSU and the Mini). The Mini will go in the center console with the Apple wireless keyboard and the tiny mouse I nabbed for it. Also got a GPS USB receiver and RouteBuddy software for nav purposes but I'm most excited about having my entire CD collection (just over 5000 songs) at my fingertips (literally) all the time!

The Millenicom wireless internet modem works GREAT so far, so I'll have mobile internet at all times. Thinking about getting a Slingbox just for kicks.

More pics as soon as I get it installed and wired up! I'm very excited, sick of driving around with a gaping hole in my dash for the last month!

Here are the specs:
- Xenarc 700TSV 7" touchscreen (800x480)
- Apple Mac Mini (1.83GHz Intel Core Duo, 2GB RAM, superdrive)
- Globalsat BU353 USB GPS reciever (with RouteBuddy navigation software)
- Millenicom 3G wireless internet modem
- Griffin PowerMate rotary encoder
- Apple mini wireless keyboard
- Logitech V220 wireless mouse
- A/D/S PQ10.2 amp (35X4)
- Boston Acoustics SX65 speakers

Cheers,

[VoicesInMyHead]

SWEEEEEET!

Dude, very cool!

[shovelhd]

What does the rotary encoder control, and where is it mounted?
What is the Mac Mini running?

[RidgeLI]

Very nice.......

Did you add the passenger button to turn off the airbags?

RidgeLI

[crimsonaudio]

Originally Posted by shovelhd

What does the rotary encoder control, and where is it mounted?

The Powermate basically controls either the overall Mac volume (from the desktop) or the iTunes volume and playback (skip forward, skip back, mute, volume up and own). I haven't decided on where to mount it yet, so in the short term I'll likely set it in the passenger cup holder.

What is the Mac Mini running?

OS X 10.5.2 (Leopard). There are some software 'front ends' available that are really nice (one in particular looks and behaves very much like Apple's Front Row but allows the use of a touch screen) that I've installed and will play with, but I have a feeling i'll just use iTunes in coverflow mode (full screen).

Originally Posted by RidgeLI

Did you add the passenger button to turn off the airbags?

No, that's the hazard lights switch and the passenger airbag warning light - both standard on the 08's.

[Dr. Decent]

OK, this is a pretty cool set up, so can you have your mail program open and anytime you pass by wifi, check your email or make a skype call? Now that would be sweet...

[crimsonaudio]

Originally Posted by Dr. Decent

OK, this is a pretty cool set up, so can you have your mail program open and anytime you pass by wifi, check your email or make a skype call? Now that would be sweet...

Better than that - with the Millenicom modem, it's full time broad band internet, so I can Skype or check email/surf anywhere/anytime!

[Dr. Decent]

Originally Posted by crimsonaudio

Better than that - with the Millenicom modem, it's full time broad band internet, so I can Skype or check email/surf anywhere/anytime!

that is awesome! is that Millenicom Modem service expensive?

[crimsonaudio]

Originally Posted by Dr. Decent

that is awesome! is that Millenicom Modem service expensive?

Depends on how you define expensive I guess. It's $50/month for unlimited bandwidth - I'm not in muy truck very much but I like being connected, so it's worth it to me.

[Dr. Decent]

Originally Posted by crimsonaudio

Depends on how you define expensive I guess. It's $50/month for unlimited bandwidth - I'm not in muy truck very much but I like being connected, so it's worth it to me.

Thanks, yes I was just checking out there website, sounds reasonable, I was considering a wifi phone over cell to save $ this sounds like an option.