I am going to be getting a dash with a 6.5" Alpine touchscreen already installed and all. I want to get something to have GPS, hold music and movies and all and be able to connect to the screen. Due to the small size I was thinking of just buying a Mac Mini and putting it in the stock radio location if I can get it to fit. My question is, how bad would the sound be coming from the Mac mini going through my amp to my speakers? Would it be much worse than coming from my Eclipse head unit? What makes it so much worse? Anything that can be done about it? Or any other similar priced unit that can play cds, dvd's have gps and hdd to connect to a touchscreen?

 

The Mac Mini does have an optical output. With the right processor, it could actually sound better than your Eclipse headunit. I'd bet that the Eclipse's analog outputs sound much better than the Mac Mini though.

If you do it, look into Plex and Handbrake. Handbrake gives you an easy way to rip DVD's and convert them into manageable formats. Plex is a front end for a media center system. It lets you play movies, music, pictures, etc and is driven by a remote. I would bet that a DCI could be used to control the Mac Mini...

Tim

 

A cheep netbook is a good option too. Whatever you choose, you can always slap a usb soundcard on it.

 

Well a cheap netbook would work but won't be able to load a cd or dvd then or anything as they don't have drives in them from what I have seen. Plus it wouldn't really fit in the stock radio location I don't think.

So do most amps have optical audio connections? I have an older one I think. It's a Soundstream Van gogh I think it is called.
I'm not too concerned really about dvd's as I don't watch them as I would be driving. Would just be a little bonus.
Do most touchscreen's work with Mac computers? Or would that be an issue if it is not a mac screen? It is an Alpine TME 770 touchscreen I think.
Are there GPS programs for Mac computers? I have never used a Mac before.
Would I need anything extra to make it work with the touchscreen for basic functions and all?

 

I think you'll find that building a carputer is quite difficult and you may never get everything working exactly how you would like. Here are a few resources:
http://www.macvroom.com/
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/

Most amps only have analog connections. You could run straight analog to the amp, or add something like the Alpine PXA-H701 thought you would need a RUX-C701 to control it. Zapco, Audison, and a few other companies make external DACs.

Most touchscreens do NOT work with computers unless they were designed to. If they were designed to work with a computer, they should work with a mac.

Your Alpine will work with Alpine components and that's it. Your best bet may be to pair it with other Alpine gear. You could always get a standard Alpine HU and add the Alpine NVE-N872A for navigation. Unfortunately, I don't think your current monitor will control it.

Tim

 

Hmm yeah thats the problem. If I have the screen in the dash would be so pointless if I couldn't have GPS going to it too! Don't want to still have the modifry gps mount and all in front of the screen would be dumb.
So would I just be better off to sell the Alpine screen and then buy one of those all in one double din units and install in dash? I know I would need to re route some of the ac vents and all but would give me everything all in one unit which would def work with the touchscreen and all..