Yeah, I just want duplicate displays. Well, more like triplicate displays of the same screen haha.

 

I looked it up, and there was a post from a Magden worker in 2008 that stated that the Magden computer supports dual displays, but the current graphics engine couldn't maintain 30 fps on two screens at top resolution. He said that a new engine would be coming out for the system in a few months that would be capable of dual-monitoring and would be much more powerful. I hope that engine was released. I'm going to look into it some more.

 

S.O.L. on touch-screen usage from any head-unit it looks like.

Brief look-thru of the pdf manual. Completely embedded looks to be, thought at first it would just be an app running a stripped xp or linux base, but doesn´t appear to be the case. 3 amp fuse needed, so <40watts for the whole thing. Still curious as to what they´re actually using to run this on. My bet is on an ARM. Much like this as an example. *shrug*

Things will catch up if there´s enough general interest shown, it can be controlled enough by the manufacturers, and be created cheaply enough to get the majority of those interested to actually buy it.

This looks like in a few years to be more of a docking station with perhaps some supporting functions for either tablets, or smart-phones. Much like the recent CES anandtech article shown here for a glimpse of the future of mobile computing, I´d wager both to go this route eventually once processing power and storage become up to snuff on them. That I could see being just plugged in when you get into the car, running the whole entertainment shabang with the HU imposing it´s own ¨safety¨ rules and additional inputs/outputs.

1 device to rule them all...about f´n time I say.

 

I got a response from the head tech guy at Magden. He said it will support multiple displays. He linked me to a splitter (http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-4065...4932262&sr=8-5). I wonder, if I wanted to have 3 displays, if I could use two of these splitters and create 3 displays. Does it tax the system's processors more to duplicate the same display on multiple screens?

He went on to say that I can't display different gauges on different screens on the same Magden, but I didn't want to do that anyways.

 

Your only taxing it´s ability to provide the power/signal, should be fine with 3 split really. Just use decent shielded cables possibly with an RF choke. Might end up with some noise in the lines with this kind of longer runs with the signal split like that. Rippling on the screen, etc.. Doing this, you could also hook up the actual usb interface to one of the monitors for touch-screen usage if you get a headrest one with touch-screen integration.

Those component, or composite out that you plan on using? Eh, shouldn´t matter much either way.

 

What's the difference between component and composite? I used the terms interchangeably before so idk.

 

Component, these are high-def capable signal lines. The video signal is split by 3.
Composite doesn´t have the bandwidth capability on the single signal line to show high-def, using 1 cable for it´s video.

Both are analog, component is the precursor to DVI and HDMI connectors. Those being digital.

 

Okay, makes sense. The output of the Magden is composite. There is also a VGA, DVI, and S-Video.

 

HT don't get discourage. THis is a great project. I had a carpc that I built myself on my Lexus GS300 until I sold the car and pulled everything off. I loved it. There's great info and resources at mp3car.com. Keep us updated.