Car PC's are custom installations. Beyond the basics of ensuring that a car PC is installed safely,
there is no 'right' way to do it. Some hobbyist prefer their installs to appear as if they came from the factory while others
don't care if there is a tangled mess of wires strewn across the dashboard. It's all up to your personal preference.
This means a considerable amount of research and planning must be undertaken by the hobbyist to solve
specific problems associated with placing a computer in a mobile environment.
Below is a list of things that a carputer can (possibly) do. This list is by nature never complete.
Why would anyone want a computer in their vehicle?
The answer can be summed up in one word:
Convenience
This may seem contradictory, considering that computers require a good deal of maintenance in order
to maintain stability. There are software updates, new hardware, the occasional system crash, and other aspects of computing
that make it far from convenient. The goal of every vehicle computing hobbyist is to minimize the need for all of these, and
there are a variety of approaches to do so.
The convenience comes in when you have a centralized system for all the functionality you want from
your PC, as opposed to multiple gadgets for each function. A single PC can provide music file playback, DVD playback, satelite
radio, GPS navigation, diagnostic information from the vehicle (usuall OBD-II), internet access and hands-free cellphone operation.
In order to achieve all that with individual products, you'd need a high-end audio/video system, a GPS system, a satellite
radio receiver, a scan tool for diagnostics, and a device capable of internet access such as a PDA or a laptop. The PC will
usually be cheaper than all the gadgetry involved for all that functionality, not to mention you'll have central control of
all the functions, ideally through a safe driver-friendly interface.
Show cars are increasingly using computer control for many systems, including operation of mechanical
systems such as power windows and locks, actuators to open hatches or doors, and so on.
One of the favorite responses among CarPC hobbiests when asked what ll they can do with their CarPC:
