I currently run a carPC with a 7" resistive touchscreen, Windows XP, Road Runner (front end software to make it car/touch friendly), integrated Winamp, and a navigation software called iGuidance. The hard drive recently died on me (they don't last long in a car environment), so I'm in the midst of re-doing the thing.
To do it right, I should be using a solid state drive rather than a regular hard drive, but it dawned on me that I could get a cheap Android tablet for less than many SSD's.
My basic needs would be:
7" capacitive touchscreen
Integrated (or external but at least available) GPS receiver
SD card slot
Nice to have would be:
Android 2.x
Wifi that would connect to my Optimus' mobile hotspot
Bluetooth (for connection to wireless OBD-II dongle for realtime engine info)
Looking at ebay, something like this:
7" Android 2.2 APad Tablet PC GPS 3G Webcam Notebook - eBay (item 260707502667 end time Jan-11-11 17:45:01 PST)
or even maybe this:
7" ePad Android 1.6 Wifi Tablet PC MSN GPS Touch 2GB - eBay (item 180606547856 end time Jan-28-11 22:36:53 PST)
...would do the job. I expect I'd need to sideload any apps I need on it - no big deal. Music should be easy with a built-in player or any available app. For navigation I figure I'll need a copy of CoPilot or NDrive or whatever else is out there. That will be the hardest part I think. I don't want to rely on a network signal for Google Maps/Navigation - I want it onboard.
All in all, I think I could still get it done for less than the cost of a 7" resistive VGA touchscreen (which still go for like $200-400+ for the screen alone).
Anyone try out that cheap little 7" Android 1.6 tab? Are there any nav systems that will run onboard on 1.6?
Edit: Found another - this looks ideal - seems to meet all the requirements:
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-7-Android-2...00186029820?pt=US_Tablets&hash=item5d2cf236fc