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Car PC Hacks [Paperback]

Damien Stolarz (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A car PC or carputer is a car tricked-out with electronics for playing radio, music and DVD movies, connecting to the Internet, navigating and tracking with satellite, taking photos, and any electronic gadget a person wants in a car. All these devices are managed and controlled through a single screen or interface. The only place car PC enthusiasts can go for advice, tips and tools is a handful of hard-to-find Web sites--until now. Car PC Hacks is your guide into the car PC revolution.

Packing MP3 players, handheld devices, computers and video-on-demand systems gives you a pile too heavy to carry. But add a car and put them together, you've got a powerful and mobile multimedia center requiring no lifting. The next time you give kids a lift, you won't hear, "Are we there yet?" Instead, expect "We're there already?" as they won't want to leave the car while playing video games from multiple consoles.

Car PC Hacks is the first book available to introduce and entrench you into this hot new market. You can count on the book because it hails from O'Reilly, a trusted resource for technical books. Expect innovation, useful tools, and fun experiments that you've come to expect from O'Reilly's Hacks Series.

Maybe you've hacked computers and gadgets, and now you're ready to take it to your car. If hacking is new and you would like to mix cars and computers, this book gets you started with its introduction to the basics of car electrical systems. Even when you're unclear on the difference between amps and watts, expect a clear explanation along with real-life examples to get on track. Whether you're venturing into car PC for the first time or an experienced hobbyist, hop in the book for a joy ride.

About the Author

Damien Stolarz has been studying and working in the car PC market since the late '90s. Last year he started his own company, carbotpc.com, to cater to the entertainment and aftermarket car PC market.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1 edition (July 1, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0596008716
  • ISBN-13: 978-0596008710
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.4 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #613,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
    #86 in  Books > Computers & Internet > Hardware > Peripherals

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More About the Author

Damien Stolarz
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

› Visit Amazon's Damien Stolarz Page
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:
Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
video jukebox, dashboard screen, prevent electrical fires, software platform, radio reception, headrest screens, rearview mirror screen, factory head unit, aftermarket head units, new head unit, startup controller, factory screen, power distribution block, tape adapter, visor screens, rearview camera, wall adapter, audio entertainment, right adapter, cigarette lighter adapter, car theater, video entertainment, car electrical systems, navigation software, wireless connectivity
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
In-Car Computers, Automotive Video Entertainment, Mac Mini, In-Car Applications, Car Power Basics, Automotive Audio Entertainment, Interface Options, Control Your Car, Get Computer Audio, Install Windows, Get Online, Power Your Car, Use Neocar Media Center, Media Portal, Radio Shack, Put Home Power Outlets, Understand Car Electrical Systems, Chemical Brothers, Hardware Platform, Transfer Data, Gauge Your Wires, Make Your Mobile Phone Hands-Free, The Hack, Opus Solutions, Daft Punk
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the books on adding a PC to your car, April 22, 2006
This review is from: Car PC Hacks (Paperback)
This is not a book about how to hack the controllers in your car's engine to make it go fast, burn different fuel mixtures, etc. Just like the title says, it is about car computers-and this means everything from actual onboard computers, to audio and video configurations. Like the other books in the "Hack" series, this is not a long narrative about Car PCs, it is simply a book full of 75 projects arranged by topic. Some of the tamer projects include installing headrest video screens, listening to email on the road once you've rigged up your computer to receive free wi-fi, installing a back-up camera and screen, receiving satellite TV, and rigging a free GPS-based navi-system. Of course, since all this stuff is power-heavy, there's also a bunch of hacks on how to strengthen your car's electrical system. To give you an idea, one of the hacks shows how to install a heavier-duty alternator. Throughout the book there are plenty of instructive diagrams, cross references to other relevant hacks in the book, and lots of links to web addresses where further instruction and freeware can be found.
There are seven chapters in Car PC Hacks, each covering a different way to turn your car into a functioning computer with cupholders. Amazon does not show the complete list of hacks, so I do that here:
Chapter 1. Car Power Basics
1. Understand Car Electrical Systems
2. Prevent Electrical Fires
3. Gauge Your Wires
4. Connect Your Wires
5. Calculate Your Car's Battery Life
6. Upgrade Your Car Battery
7. Add New Power Connectors Throughout Your Car
8. Use a Huge Capacitor to Sustain Power
9. Upgrade Your Car's Alternator
10. Add a Second Car Battery
11. Put Home Power Outlets in Your Car
Chapter 2. Automotive Audio Entertainment
12. Get a Headful About Your Car Audio
13. Install a New Head Unit
14. Get Computer Audio into Your Head Unit
15. Amp Up Your Computer Audio
16. Make a Very Cheap AUX-in
17. Reduce Your Audio System's Noise
18. Control Your iPod with Your Car Stereo Knobs
19. Tune Your PC for Radio Reception
20. Record Radio Shows
21. Listen to Email, Weblogs, and RSS Feeds on the Road
22. Find Out What Was Playing on the Radio
Chapter 3. Automotive Video Entertainment
23. Understand Video Connectors
24. Choose Your Screens
25. Install a Headrest Screen
26. Install a VGA Touchscreen in Your Dashboard
27. Install a Sun Visor Screen
28. Install a Motorized Fold-out Screen
29. Install a Fold-Down Ceiling-Mounted Screen
30. Supersize Your Fold-Down LCD Screen
31. Turn Your Laptop into a Fold-Down or Dashboard Screen
32. Connect a Car PC to Your Factory Screen
33. Install a Rearview Mirror Screen and Camera
34. Boost Your Video Signal for Multiple Screens
35. Customize Each Passenger's Video
36. Tune in TV in the Car
37. Receive Satellite TV While Driving
38. Play DVDs with Your in-Car Computer
39. Put Multi-Channel DVD Surround Sound in Your Car
40. Install a Video Game Console Computer in Your Car
Chapter 4. In-Car Computers
41. Choose an in-Car PC Hardware Platform
42. Power Your Car PC
43. Start Up and Shut Down Your Car PC
44. Reduce the Boot Time of Your in-Car Computer
45. Keep Your Computer on During Engine Cranking
46. Turn On Your Car Computer Before You Start Your Car
47. Boot Your Car Computer on a Schedule
48. Choose an in-Car PC Software Platform
49. Install Windows on a CompactFlash Card
50. Power Your Portable Devices in the Car
51. Install USB Ports in Your Car
52. Build an in-Car PC
53. Build an in-Car Macintosh
54. Install a Mac Mini in Your Car
Chapter 5. Car PC Interface Options
55. Control Your Car PC with a Keyboard and Mouse
56. Control Your Car PC with a Handheld Remote
57. Control Your Car PC with a Touchscreen
58. Car-Enable Clunky Applications
59. Listen to What Your Car Computer Is Saying
60. Control Your Car PC with Voice Recognition
61. Find More Ways to Control Your in-Car Computer
Chapter 6. Wireless Connectivity and in-Car Internet
62. Get Online in Your Car
63. Make Your Mobile Phone Hands-Free with Your Car PC
64. Transfer Data to and from Your Car PC
65. View Real-Time Traffic Data on the Road
66. Videoconference from Your Car
67. Use GPS on Your Car PC
68. Find WiFi Hotspots on the Road
Chapter 7. In-Car Applications
69. Plug into Your Car's Built-in Computer
70. Put a Video Jukebox in Your Car Theater
71. Choose Your in-Car Navigation Software
72. Play Thousands of Games by Emulating Video Game Consoles
73. Use CENTRAFUSE as Your Car PC Frontend
74. Use Neocar Media Center as Your Car PC Frontend
75. Use FrodoPlayer as Your Car PC Frontend

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26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars By Far the Better of Two Options, November 22, 2005
This review is from: Car PC Hacks (Paperback)
Amazon is offering this book in combination with "Geek My Ride" which, of course, makes much sense. However, if you are faced with choosing between the two, "Car PC Hacks" is the far superior book. It has at least five times as much actual content and is much better at giving you a complete picture of what you can do with car computers and electronics.

After carefully pondering the Amazon descriptions and reviews, I bought "Geek My Ride" first and "Car PC Hacks" second. That was the wrong decision, as "Car PC Hacks" is comprehensive enough to eliminate most people's need for another book on the topic.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this awesome book right now!, June 1, 2006
By Douglas Bush (Arkansas, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Car PC Hacks (Paperback)
Car PC Hacks tells you how to install a computer and all sorts of cool tech in your car.

It includes 75 projects. Well, the first few are not really projects, but very helpful explanations of automotive electrical systems. I was most interested in the chapters on how to install LCD screens, how to integrate a computer in your car, and how to power everything from the car battery.

This book is obviously written by people who have installed a lot of computers in their own cars and used them for their own and their families' entertainment. It has just the information I needed to be able to do these projects. Excuse me, I'm going to geek my ride now.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars So Far a great book!
My book arrived 2 days earlier than expected.
That night I pretty much scanned it from cover to cover, stopping at the parts that caught my eye. Read more
Published on September 27, 2007 by William G. Hillier

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read
This book gave a good introduction for CarPC newbie.
I'm coming from computer background but have no idea about car electricity, AC/DC, etc. Read more
Published on February 6, 2007 by Willson Cuaca

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellently helpfulicious
This book has almost everything you need to get started with hacking a car pc. Its great to have.
Published on August 24, 2006 by J. Koontz

5.0 out of 5 stars Pimp your ride - geek style...
I never knew there was so much computerization you could do to your car... Car PC Hacks - Tips & Tools for Geeking Your Ride by Damien Stolarz. Read more
Published on September 18, 2005 by Thomas Duff

5.0 out of 5 stars The basics and beyond
I bought this book together with geek my ride. And looking at the titles and covers, this book by Damien Stolarz seemed the least sexy. Read more
Published on September 14, 2005 by R. A. W. Middendorp

5.0 out of 5 stars Never leave the car without it
If you are starting out on your first in car PC installation this is a must have book, full of tips, tricks and techniques utilised in any in car PC project. Read more
Published on September 8, 2005 by Mr. M. E. Houston

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great one
I really enjoyed this book. It's got great material in it about how to add a computer to your car, how to wire car audio, controlling the engine, installing a video system,... Read more
Published on August 26, 2005 by Jack D. Herrington

5.0 out of 5 stars Car PC Hacks Review
Having contributed to this book, I've not only read through it a few times, I had the unique privilege to see it evolve. Read more
Published on August 18, 2005 by Lionel Felix

5.0 out of 5 stars in-car computing is the future
I wanted to take a moment here to explain why I wrote this book and why you might be interested in it. Read more
Published on August 17, 2005 by Damien Stolarz

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Primer
This book is a very good introduction to installing your own multi-function vehicle PC. Using this guide anyone with reasonable computer and car audio skills should be able to... Read more
Published on August 7, 2005 by Lifeboat

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