I suppose I should tell you all a bit about the current setup:
1) It runs hand-programmed code, not a something like Media Player on top of an operating system like Linux or Windows.
2) It supports both IDE HDs and CDs.
3) Current display is a 2x20 LCD.
4) Communications is through a parallel port.
5) Size? Surface mount components on a board that fits in the palm of my hand.

Here's a list of upgrades I'm planning from the prototype:
1) Communications moved to either USB or ethernet, most likely USB. Potential for Bluetooth wireless, but that'll be down the road.
2) Larger, graphical color LCD.
3) Size hopefully won't change much, but addition of extra functionality WILL require size changes.
4) Support for multiple HDs and/or CDs.
5) Some other stuff I can't remember at the moment...



Wes, I'm pretty impressed with the price for your system. They sell 60-70 Gig drives for $300, but they're PC drives, so I'm assuming that's what they included. I will refuse to sell anything other than laptop drives with mine (self-supply of drives is fine by me) since they're much more shock resistant, and those cost significantly more. I think the price range for the basic unit should be under $500, though.

I would personally chose this as a plug-in solution rather than a MP3-playing head unit as surfing through directories is easier with a large display (among other things).

 

baked - I have one too (the empeg).. but I've had problems with it overheating and such, pops when I turn off the car, etc.. You have any problems with it? Maybe take a discussion offline?

cd

 

[QUOTE][B]Wes, I'm pretty impressed with the price for your system.

 

MP3er's:

For some light reading check out the following links to the StrongARM SA-1110 developer pages. Intel gives you the MP3 decode libs for both linux and Win CE. This device also includes a USB endpoint, pcmcia (hdd's, cf, e-net, wireless, etc.), a LCD interface, and some other I/O options...

http://developer.intel.com/design/strong/swsup/IPP.htm
http://developer.intel.com/design/strong/1110_brf.htm

-koejing

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by koejing
[B]For some light reading check out the following links to the StrongARM SA-1110 developer pages.

 

The NEO35 is just too cheap now to overlook.

http://www.ssiamerica.com

I've read mixed reviews about sound quality etc., but since one place here in Houston sells it I will go checki it out first

http://www.directron.com

Oh, the unit is $299 plus a hard drive and ~$70 for a wired remote if necessary..

-John M

 

This is what I have. Don't listen to the "mixed reviews". I encode at 156K and the stereo installers that did my system can't tell the difference between my MP3s and CDs.

Wesmaster

 

I've got the Neo 35 also and although I am very happy with the sound quality I have had untold problems and modifications to get the thing going.

I had to add two capacitors to the 12V and 5V supplies to the HD power lines to stop it stalling.

I had to add a noise suppression filter to stop a whine going through my amp.

I had to run power directly from my battery,and add a relay switched by my head unit, to get it to run at all.

All that said, I've now got 10Gb of MP3's playing through my head unit and amp. And I can add new tracks by removing the unit from it's cradle and sliding it into the PC (I'm also waiting on the USB cradle so I can access it from my Mac).

 

I'm in mark my email.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MacGyver
[.] How many out there would be SERIOUSLY interested in such a beast?
[.] What is your price target?