In-car computing has come a long way since guys just threw their desktops in the trunk and ran some audio and video cables to a tiny monitor installed in the dash. These days the entire computer fits in your dash, and its functionality is unsurpassed. Imagine driving around with your music collection, a GPS navigation unit (integrated SIRF III GPS with USB aerial), Bluetooth phone communications, 6.5 inch touchscreen, and all of your regular car stereo functions like AM/FM tuner. Now imagine installing that in anything from a fulloncustom 30s hot rod to a 60s muscle car — or your modern hot hatch. Rock on.

Now that I’ve got your attention, here’s the payoff: Infill’s new G4 Car PC system is state of the art. It runs Windows XP — although some retailers seem to have it available with Vista — and it includes speech recognition via One Voice Technologies’ media center communicator. It includes a 40gb hard disk drive, but it’s upgradeable to 250gb. It ships with the Microsoft MapPoint database and the ability (via internet access) to deliver unlimited points of interest. The hard drive is designed specifically for the high vibration environment of an automobile.

The touchscreen is motorized and moves aside to allow access to the DVD-ROM drive, and the enclosure is designed for a factory fit in a double-din opening in your dash. There are also front and rear USB ports as well, so you can plug in your favorite mp3 player or cheap USB flash drive. The interface is fully customizable right out of the box with ‘skins’ and such so you can make it look however you want to match your make and model, or match a particular color scheme, etc.

And if all of that isn’t enough functionality for you, they offer a ton of options so you can customize your installation. The system supports Bluetooth phone control with the available $45 Streetdeck Bluetooth adapter. For under $20 you can add a full programmable “button” that can be configured to operate like BMW’s iDrive — in case you were jealous of your BMW buddies.

You can also add WiFi wireless, an Ethernet adapter, there’s even an OBD-II scanner for $130 that you can hook up to your car’s diagnostic port. If you’re an XM satellite radio fan, they’ve got your covered there as well if you purchase the $80 adapter. (Sorry Sirius fans. No satellite radio for you — one year!) You get TV, too, and you’re not limited to watching just TV or DVD video on the touchscreen; you can hook up other monitors — for the headrests for example. Finally, there’s even a rear view camera option both regular for $110, and night vision camera for $170!

Prices start at $2200 and go up from there depending on what options you select. You’ll also need to get a car-specific double-din kit and face plate — if you don’t want to make your own — as well as a car specific wiring harness to wire up the stereo portion of the PC to your car speakers and antenna. As with most customizations, when you start adding options, the price can rack up pretty quick, but all told – considering the items this replaces, and the clean integrated appearance you get when you’re done – this may end up saving you some loot.

G4 Car PC System [Infill]
Infill G4 [Mp3Car.com]
Street prices [Google Products]

This entry was posted on Monday, September 24th, 2007 at 12:43 pm and is filed under Mp3Car.com, Car Computing, Infill, It's Just Cool, Audio/Video, Interior, Navigation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.