Almost there

Well, my server issues are finally resolving, now that I have reapplied the ownership and security information to all of the folder...Thank goodness that is over! In the 10 years I have been working with computers (Professionaly), I have never had an upgrade go south like this one did. I guess it hapens to the best of us eventually (Thank you Microsoft!)

Now, I am 98% complete with my carPC project. I received my memory module from LogicSupply.com and installed it, and was baffled that the module was DOA (Dead on arrival)....I have all of my software loaded onto the system, my GPS adapter is here, I have my wireless adapter and everything else that I need...

I sent their support line an e-mail and hopefully I will get a response on Friday morning so I can ship it out from work immediately and hopefully get a replacement next week. I am so anxious to get the unit installed by Memorial Day weekend.

Purchasing the Casetronic C134 case definitely showed me that my ideas are much better. Whomever thought up this design was on the right track initially, but then must have had one too many drinks and threw the rest of the unit together. Now all I need to do is start laying out my designs for my prototype case, which will use an Opus power supply (Which is a very nice unit with startup/shutdown delays and starting protection built in :) ). I am also looking at building my own cable connectors to make for better routing. Granted, this will limit the type of board that can be installed into the case, but I am also looking for a motherboard manufacturer to built a custom mini-ITX board to my specific design. I have talked to a buddy at another company, and he might be interested in coding a custom interface software package for my carPC unit.

I even joined Microsoft's OEM System Builder's program because that is what I hope to become...a single source package for carPC units. From what I have seen people doing (And some of them are pretty wild designs), they are mostly either computer geeks or gear heads putting the units in, and not a good enough blend of the two.

I am looking to design an all-encompassing unit, which limits the need for so many extra purchases. With my design, it is virtually all inclusive. I have it all speced out in my head, just not on paper yet.

I would like to get my hands on a version of Windows XP Embedded to use, but I still think that a slim version of Media Center Edition would be more suitable. Hell, if I knew how to program in Linux, I would develop something for that but I want to sell something that contains a more mainstream OS that can grow with the customer. Soo many details to work out... I heard that Microsoft is looking to build an AutoPC version of their software, but I am sure that it will be severely limited on functionality (And who wants to be limited???).

Oh, well, thank goodness tomorrow is Friday!