Re: Small, low power for carputer

Michael Ranby <[email protected]> Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:21:27 +1300
Newsgroups gmane.org.user-groups.linux.new-zealand.general
Message-ID <1320650487.1741.5.camel@tyan>
On Mon, 2011-11-07 at 19:45 +1300, Nick Rout wrote:
> I am after a small low power computer to incorporate into my car (BMW
> E39) (and run linux of course).
> 
> Requirements are:
> 
> * low power.
> * small (needs to fit in a small space in the boot.
> * vga out (BMW video input is RGB with sync on green (RGsB), which
> seemingly can be easily generated from VGA from  my research on the
> net.
> * USB host (to utilise a converter one can buy to interface BMW iBus
> to the computer)
> * inbuilt or easily incorporated wifi, eg linux compatible mini-pci
> wifi card available (so I can sync all my music when it comes home)
> 
> Desirable if possible:
> 
> * 3G internet
> * GPS easily available
> 
> Thoughts are, perhaps,
> 
> * running android_x86 if it can be run entirely from keyboard input
> (iBus interface converts the buttons on the dash into keypresses).
> * unknown is whether android_x86 has drivers for popular 3rd party GPS modules?
> * I could retire my mythtv frontend, an acer aspire revo, which has an
> external power brick, but the power brick tells me it outputs 19v,
> which won't be available in the car.
> 
> Also there are a lot of nice ARM machines around like the Beagleboard,
> but none seem to have a video out that might be convertible to RGsB -
> they all seem to have HDMI/DVI.

I have a DVI to VGA adaptor. Came with my video card. Dont know if it
has electrics inside or if its just a path through but it suggests a
solution to your video problem.
 
> 
> I am kinda chasing my tail looking at various options, and would
> appreciate any pointers!
> 
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