Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, Odds and ends, Mods, Mac mini
Mac mini with integrated iTrip
No, you haven't missed a joint announcement from Apple and Griffin. However, you might have missed this post
on Make which links to ZapWizard's Flickr set detailing how he put a Mac mini,
with accompanying LCD screen and mouse/keyboard, into his car.I know, there have been tons of stories like this, but this is the first one that includes a little product cross mating. Since he didn't have enough money to get a new car stereo the Wiz decided that he would just integrate an iTrip directly into the Mac mini.
That's talent.
[Via Make.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike Johnston said 9:23AM on 1-30-2006
No money for a new head unit? You mean you don't have $500 for a stereo, but you'll spend three days and a $500 Mac Mini, $25 iTrip and at least $199-$399 on the in-dash video monitor + accessories???? I would have just installed a new stereo and been on my way. You would have really been screwed had your solder gun destroyed the mother board. Hope you don't have static build up on that carpet mat you placed the power usb on... Have a GREAT trip!
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zverg said 10:39AM on 1-30-2006
or maybe he just liked his stock head unit in his Mazda Protege. It's a decent stock head unit, and looks much nicer in the interior of the car than most aftermarket head units. I keep thinking about switching back to my stock head unit.
That's not the most exciting mod he's done to his protege, or to electronics in general. www.zapwizard.com
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Oliver Otway said 12:10PM on 1-30-2006
Awesome
Mike you sound jealous;
you either spent heaps on a crappy audio system,
or you know you could never do the same yourself so well
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brian said 12:34PM on 1-30-2006
maybe it's just me but I can't stand listening to music over an itrip. with all that installation, why not just run a direct line to at least an fm modulator if the head unit doesn't have an aux in? The installation and the rest looks great though.
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zverg said 2:52PM on 1-30-2006
#4. There is an aux-in solution for the head unit available, through http://www.sylfex.com/products/AuxMod/
There is a waiting list last I checked though. I gotta ask him about modification to the centre console though, because last I checked (I have a Protege5 myself and I know zapwizard from the msprotege.com Mazda Forums) it isn't quite large enough for a mac mini. Damnit, I need to buy an intel iMac so that I can put my mac mini in my Protege :D
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Mike Johnston said 4:35PM on 1-30-2006
@Oliver:
Not jealous (maybe I am don't know) just questioning the "reasoning". I am married so I understand male justification. Just come up with something better than, "I didn't want to spend the money". LOL
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Oliver Otway said 6:15PM on 1-30-2006
Mike,
After i posted my comment i thought you might take it the wrong way.
Glad you didn't, you have a fair point.
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gragegrl said 7:39PM on 1-30-2006
AWESOME! You boys are so clever. I have the same car and have been looking for a way to get better sound from teh iPod. The stock Mazda cd changer doesn't work with anything.
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Palverone said 8:25AM on 1-31-2006
I'm sorry but this is horrible. Everything seems like half the effort - wires sticking here or there, the DVI to VGA Adapter was done horribly bad, the port on the back of the mini is all chewed up, wires sticking everywhere, and whats the point of removing the case from the USB hub? isn't it going to be covered by the console? oh wait it looks cool. All that effort and a the horrific frequency range of FM. I was almost going to expect to see the LCD panel secured via duct tape. I apologize from being so harsh but lets not fully reward this man's accomplishments - he needs to try harder.
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Tim said 10:25AM on 1-31-2006
OMG! Great melding of car and machine! I dont have the money but i can dream eh? Can you do things like control the A/C and stuff on it?
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pRoFiT said 1:38PM on 2-10-2006
Check out www.mp3car.com and see what real carputer installations look like. And yes you can control ac with the computer.
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