Wow, I had heard of the gumstix years ago, but don't remember it having any 
IDE support.  The other reason I chose the ITX at that time was that the 
video out would've let me easily put a screen in the dash (which I later 
decided against).  Also, I wanted to make this as simple as possible, hence 
the parallel port for the LCD, and the keyboard port for input -- I hacked 
open a cheap ($5 brand new) keyboard for the controller, wired switches to 
it, and when I saw what character each switch was transmitting, I put that 
into my C code.  Really simple.  If (when!!!) I decide to continue/finish the 
project, I'll have to look into the gumstix again though.

Yep -- I keep hearing that Nano ITX getting delayed, and don't follow it's 
status much lately.

If you decide to pursue any of these Linux options, you're welcome to have my 
code.  I'll need a couple days to dig it up from backup discs though.

Cheers,
-Neil.


On Monday 11 July 2005 03:32 pm, Ian Smith-Heisters scribbled:
> This is more or less what I'm planning on doing. I've also been looking
> at gumstix http://www.gumstix.org for $150, and pretty darn small. But
> that makes me wonder about complications getting software to run on
> XScale. Mini-ITX has the advantage of being x86. I've heard lots of
> rumors about Nano-ITX, but as far as I can tell it's vaporware so far.
>
> But yeah, the concensus seems to be to run Linux on some small form
> factor box.
>
> BTW, I just heard a GM marketing guy on NPR bragging about the Ford of
> the future syncing a music collection wirelessly from the driveway.
> You're way ahead of the curve :)
>
> -ian
>
> PicDude wrote:
> > I had similar requirements some time ago, and ended up using a Mini-ITX
> > mobo, a homemade ATX PS, a USB PC FM radio, Linux, and some custom C
> > code. Interface was a 2x20 LCD and ~15 switches (designed to fit in the
> > regular head-unit location in my car) interfaced via the parallel and
> > keyboard ports. MP3/Ogg files on a laptop HD, with the OS on a 256MB USB
> > key, which I intended to gut and hardwire into the case.  Case size (with
> > mobo, HD, USB key, PS, and FM radio) was 7"x10"x2".  I got it
> > functioning, but not fully packaged cause one of my home computers
> > failed, and I used this to replace it in a hurry, and it eventually
> > became a fileserver, sitting nicely on a keyboard tray under my desk.  I
> > still say that someday I'll complete it.
> >
> > Only other thing I was hoping to add was wireless support so it could
> > automatically sync files with my home PC when I pulled into the driveway.
> >
> > Some details here...
> > 	http://www.narwani.org/neil/electronics/mp3/itxpc.html
> >
> > If you need it smaller, you could try one of those commercial SBCs, but
> > cost goes up quite a bit.  Also, the new Mac Mini looks great for
> > something like this, though also a bit too pricey still.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > -Neil.
> >
> > On Monday 11 July 2005 01:58 pm, Howard Winter scribbled:
> >>On Sat, 09 Jul 2005 16:18:45 -0700, Ian Smith-Heisters wrote:
> >>>...<Since no one has
> >>>heard of anything I may fall back on buying some small and cheap linux
> >>>computer or something along those lines. I suppose otherwise I'd also
> >>>have to implement some sort of filesystem support if the device were to
> >>>be the host.. which is something that I think I'd like to avoid this
> >>>lifetime.
> >>
> >>Have you looked at the Symbian operating system on ARM?  There are
> >>smartphones that use it and there are players (OGGplay for example) that
> >>run on those.
> >>
> >>Cheers,
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Howard Winter
> >>St.Albans, England


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