u would be better off just getting a big alternator than those batteries, unless you like charging them all the time. I dont think that a computer would take that much juice anyhow.

i would definatly have an extra alternator added to the motor, i've got that all planned, i can get a serpintine belt thats longer and built my own mount for the alt. i want to have tunes w/o the car running

i got to play with a custom audio system in some rice at a car show. that system used only the number pad and it was really annoying

I'm Down with a touch screen... but lets talk cost here. I used to drive a 1991 Ford Aerostar (no ford crapping... it was a solid machine) And i had a computer built into that one. I used an RF modulator and had my 20 gb mp3 collection in there. Now, Because it WAS a van i had plenty of room to mount a 12" CRT where the console would have been, and then i picked up a $15 IR keyboard/mouse combo and mounted the IR reciever into my dash. this was a pretty cool setup, and i did it all from parts i had in my basement (computer was a p166 w/64 meg of ram running windows 98se). If someone could find some cheap LCD'* then this would be TOTALLY do-able and feasibly save a lot of money if someone was looking to purchase a "Jukebox" system (like the kenwood music keg). Also as far as power consumption is concerned. I had a 300 watt inverter, and it ran my computer and my monitor just fine (i also had pretty close to my current sound system in the van)

oh yeah, i was just re-reading the last post and realized i forgot to mention i planned to use my current wireless keyboard & trackball
but i wouldn't want the system to be specifically built for music like alot of the systems i have seen, i like the idea of being able to play games and watch movies on it too

This LCD would be IDEAL. it is powered by the video card that comes with it, and all you need to do is modify it to fit in the dash or whatever.

http://www.softwareandstuff.com/h_mon_unisys105lcd.html

I'm getting some IDEAS with that monitor and some of the other PC items from that site....only wish I had the $$$ to use right now.

yea im in the same boat :-/ sux to be a poor college student

just found this forum last night and i think its great.. anyway, i was always thinking of putting a pc in the trunk but recently got a laptop. I am about to take out my dash board guts and install a slide out tray ( maybe from an old pc desk or something, not sure yet), making a nice tray to keep my laptop on. I am also thinking about buying a cigarette lighter adapter for about 60$ and have my lighter above my radio permently wired from the backside to power the laptop. it will beat a 8inch monitor and with my 300+divx movie collection, i can fit about 20 movies on my laptop to chose from. after that i will purchase a gps system for the laptop which i found for under 200$.