Carputer Resources

If you have a great carputer website, feel free to comment on this page and include your resource. See also the CarPuter (Car Computer) Software Links page.

Mini PCs and carputer systems and components online stores

If you’re looking to buy carputer related products, these sites are your best bet.
They’re reputable, and reportedly offer great customer support. We do not review or present “chinese” products.
If you’ve had a different (good or bad) experience with any of these vendors, please let us know.

  • Car TFT.com – Professional Car PCs and Displays online store. CarTFT.com was founded in spring 2003 with the goal to offer people a cheap way to integrate carputers (computers into cars).
  • MiniPC.de – Shop for Mini-ITX, PicoPSU, Barebones, TabletPC, TFT-Displays and Jetway IPC – all carputer components you will ever need!
  • RevoSys – a global industry leader of cutting edge mobile solutions. Revosys provides slim and robust systems featuring Wireless Connectivity, Interactive Touch-Screens, Fleet Management & Tracking, Geo-Location Based Advertising, Facial Tracking, Digital Video Surveillance, and Survey Capabilities.
  • LinITX.com – Embedded & IPC Systems – The UK’s biggest small form factor specialist. Mini-ITX, CarPuter and Specialist Components Store.
  • Mp3car.com – The Mp3Car Store is the leading online marketplace for mobile computing technology. The mp3Car Store Advantages: Same Day Shipping On In-stock Items, Guaranteed 1 Business Day For Responses to Customer Email Inquiries, Basic Technical Support Provided at No Additional Cost
  • Xenarc Direct – Xenarc Technologies is the leader in LED Display, Touchscreens, and Car Computers. XenarcDirect is a subsidiary of Xenarc Technologies Corp. Please visit Xenarc.com for more information and latest product updates.
  • Mini-Box.com – Inexpensive CarPC kits based on the mini-ITX platform.
  • In-CarPC.co.uk – In-CarPC is a specialist manufacturer of high quality & cost-effective vehicle computers. Equips vehicle fleets with dedicated PC hardware for the mobile workforce who needs to be connected and productive while in the car.
  • E-Motion Systems (former DashDAQ) – e-Motion’s product line is focused on connecting to OBD2 vehicles to read data, operate gauges, and reprogram. DashDAQ offered PDA-sized dash-mounted Linux based CarPC reviewed in Linux Magazine.

News sites, community sites, forums and blogs about carputers, mini and car computers

If you want to talk about carputers/carpc’s, these links are for you. These websites are the best resources for finding help.
Chances are, your questions have been asked before so try to search the site for your problem before asking a question that may have already been answered.

  • CarPuter-World.com – You are here now as we are trying to stay up-to date with latest products in the field of carputers, components mini and car computers. And we thank you for your visit!
  • CarTFT.com Community and Forum – The CarTFT.com community page (one of the oldest, since 2003) and forum. New carputer projects, forum, user reviews and many more.
  • MP3Car.com – one of the oldest carputer forums. If you’re new to carputers, you’ll probably find answers here.
  • Digital-Car.co.uk – one of the best CarPC / CarPuter forum (UK)
  • Centrafuse Forum – Centrafuse Carputer, CarPuter (Car Computer) & UMPC Forums. This is a discussion and support forum for Centrafuse
  • MacVroom – This is another big carputer forum site. It’s mainly geared toward Mac carputer fans – your source for Mac mini car integration! You’ll find the latest news, helpful product reviews, installation tips, and convenient links to useful information. Mac your ride!
  • Car-PC.info – The German reference forum for car PCs, GPS, mobile computing, MP3, ODB, In-Car PC, Navigation software, GPS and much more. Community, Wiki, help and troubleshooting.
  • carputers.org (seems no longer valid)
  • Mobile-Effects.com – Global carputer information website (seems no longer valid)
  • DashboardMonkey.com – Car computer enthusiast blog and carputer news (seems no longer valid)
  • Linux CarPC – Linux based CarPC Project Blog (seems no longer valid)

Carputer Books

Printed books about car PCs, car computing mods and carputing

  • Car PC (CarPuter / Car Computer) Hacks – Tips and Tricks for Geeking Your Ride
    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.
  • Geek My Ride – Build the Ultimate Tech Rod
    Roll up your sleeves and get ready to totally tech-out your ride!  Geek My Ride is the first do-it-yourself guide to installing a variety of awesome projects that will turn your ordinary vehicle into the ultimate tech rod!  Car hacker Auri Rahimzadeh guides readers through 15 cool projects, complete with tools, skills and step-by-step instructions.
    Geek My Ride goes way beyond factory options and teaches readers how to install a custom car PC, with Wi-Fi, Internet access, and more. Dive into installing video gaming systems, video surveillance, LED message boards, and more. You’ll even learn to how get your car’s new MP3 player to sync with your home music collection wirelessly when you pull into the garage!
    Foreword by Steve “Woz” Wozniak.
  • Build Your Own Car PC (CarPuter / Car Computer) – Everything you need to expertly install car PCs
    This is a heavily-illustrated, step-by-step guide to installing and controlling a car PC — using commonly-available, off-the-shelf components. Numerous how-to photos and product shots allow you to easily navigate each step even if you have little “do it yourself” experience.
    Includes parts and required tool lists, troubleshooting tips, and a list of manufacturers where you can purchase the parts best suited for your customized system
    Companion website offers free software and demo versions of products to use with your car PC
  • Car Hacks and Mods for Dummies – Whether you want to compete at drag strips or on road courses or simply accelerate faster on an interstate ramp, if you want to improve your car’s performance, Car Hacks & Mods for Dummies is just the boost you need.
    So you want to turn your Yugo into a Viper? Sorry… you need a certified magician. But if you want to turn your sedate sedan into a mean machine or your used car lot deal into a powerful, purring set of wheels, you’ve come to the right place. Car Hacks & Mods for Dummies will get you turbo-charged up about modifying your car and guide you smoothly through:

    • Choosing a car to mod
    • Considering warranties, legal, and safety issues
    • Hacking the ECU (Engine Control Unit) to adjust performance-enhancing factors like fuel injection, firing the spark plugs, controlling the cooling fan, and more
    • Replacing your ECU with a plug and play system such as the APEXi Power FC or the AEM EMS system
    • Putting on the brakes (the faster you go, the faster you’ll need to stop)
    • Setting up your car for better handling and cornering

Carputer Wiki’s

If you don’t know what a carputer is, you can read more about them here

  • Wikipedia – The Free Internet Encyclopedia

And, finally, the (Ultimate) List of Carputer Installations

Note: some may be broken or old links

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One Response to “Carputer Resources”

  1. Dawn Barker 15. Oct, 2010 at 6:01 PM

    We would like to showcase our products on this site as well. We offer COMPLETE carputer systems for all vehicles & uses, including consumer applications, fleet management and police/ems service vehicles. Please contact me to discuss our product line. We will be at SEMA if you would like to meet in person and see our product on display.

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