OK, I had a genius thought about a week ago. I was surfing and saw some custom computers being put in rice. why not mount a 15" LCD to the dash, where the radio goes a DVD-RW under the mount, all fitting within the radio mount. a trackball mouse on the console, and a wireless keyboard velcro'd to the dash. Run the wires back to the trunk to a computer there, two marine batteries, and a power inverter. Seems simple but will probably be harder than i think it is. I'm going to do it when the money is around, hopefully next winter with the money i make from long summer hours. Tell me what you think, I'd love to hear all critiques.

That sounds like a good idea. But if you're gonna have a computer in the back, make sure it'* gonna stay put. You don't wanna hit a pot hole and have the processor heatsink fall off.

It can be fun, but I'm surrounded in computers all the time, the farthest I'd go in a car is a GPS system with an 11' LCD monitor, mounted angular in front of the shifter. I also like the idea of LCD monitors mounted in the seats. I'd throw a mobile DVD player in the rear armrest area.

Gotta save those pennies and put it in a newer SSEi

Actually, technology isn't too far behind your idea.

There are similar setups already. One or two of our members already have an LCD screen for a DVD player.

BMW has already done it in their new 7-series. No keyboard, but the control **** on the console bascially does everything. There is a dash mounted monitor and it controls EVERYTHING..I watched a demonstration at the Toronto Auto Show this year. It has name...Driver..something something...I forget, anyway, basically right up there with what you are talking about.

It controls environmental systems, stereo, GPS, online capabilities...the list goes on and on, I'm sure it will start dinner for you too.

I forgot to mention the entire systems' main purpose, run the audio out through a little patch cable to a pre amp then off to the speakers. Then you can control your music, entirely. there are even FM radio PCI cards available so you dont have to miss out on radio programming

Me and my roomate (both techies) have discussed this many times. There are 2 things you will want.

1) Touch screen display. No need to mount any other input devices in the front of the car.

2) Wireless lan card. You can park your car in the driveway at home and upload new songs, pc updates, etc...

my $0.02

i had already planned on the wireless LAN since my laptop uses it anyway, but a touch screen is too tech for me, i dont like the interface i still love my keyboard i wouldnt know what to do without it. my main reason for not likimng the touch screen is it'* cost.

I just installed my wireles lan today. I put in a D-link 5ghz system. Currently I only have a sinle laptop running on it but it would be pretty easy now to add a pc in the car and remote connect to it.

I just think that a full keyboard would be too big. Besides, if your just setting it up for music you really don't need a keyboard as bad. Maybe a mini-keyboard (like for PDA'*) might be a good option if there is one that would work.