Is there even such a thing?

longlivetheZ · #1 12-10-2003, 02:14 AM

Is there even such a thing as a head unit with MP3 ripping capabilities or is this just a figment of my imagination? I think the coolest thing ever would be to be able to borrow your friend's CD that you like, rip it into the head unit while driving around, and listen to it from there. Could be wishful thinking.

sr20de4evr · #2 12-10-2003, 03:03 AM

I think some of the ones with built in hard drives can

MStout · #3 12-10-2003, 07:02 PM

Yeah....the new and most expensive Pioneer can hold up to 10 GB of hard drive space. I think it said close to 600 CDs...that almost seems right but I cant remember right now. On the site its something like $1,700!

longlivetheZ · #4 12-11-2003, 01:49 AM

I'm venturing to the Pioneer site right now. I'd buy it in a second.....iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiif I had a car. That'd friggin rock...you could have all your cds to listen to without all the worry of carring them all around with you. Plus, every new Pioneer head unit I've heard has the best sound quality and the best EQ out of any I've ever heard.

longlivetheZ · #5 12-11-2003, 03:01 AM

THIS IS THE BADDEST CD PLAYER I'VE EVER SEEN!!! That's the one you were talking about. Yea...try $2,100...you were only $400 short...yet so worth the money.

sr20de4evr · #6 12-11-2003, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longlivetheZ

That'd friggin rock...you could have all your cds to listen to without all the worry of carring them all around with you.

All you need for that is an mp3 headunit....200 songs on each cd, I could carry my entire mp3 collection on 10 cds and that would last me from Miami to New York and maybe even all the way back without ever repeating a song, lol.

carabuser · #7 12-11-2003, 03:44 AM

$2100? ARE YOU GUYS CRAZY???

How about cd, mp3, dvd, divx playback, plus GPS, etc.? And all at about $500-900???
visit, www.mp3car.com

MStout · #8 12-11-2003, 11:40 PM

That would make me sad, I would wonder why I even bought the damn CD if I was just gonna rip it and leave it at home. Stuff like that pisses me off!

longlivetheZ · #9 12-12-2003, 01:16 AM

"MediaEngine is a user interface to be installed on a Microsoft Windows
based PC in an automobile." --MediaEngine Home Page

Hmmm....ok....so...as opposed to paying the $2,100 (which is an AMAZING amount of money, don't get me wrong) for the head unit that does a TON of stuff, you recommend [sp.] the MediaEngine which requires a COMPUTER IN YOUR CAR...granted, I am new to this stuff, but wouldn't a friggin computer in your car (or as I read somewhere along the way, a "carputer"...kinda corny) cost a HELL of a lot more then that Pioneer head unit? Or were you referring to a "carputer" costing $500-$900?

As cool as the "carputer" probably is, that is just a bit too much for me. I love cars more then anything else but I'm more focused on the performance aspect of them...spending thousands on a system isn't a priority but a killer system is a must, of course.

I know you can fit a lot of mp3s on a cd. They're a pain in the ass though...you have to change them and they get lost and mix cds HATE me (a song on one cd will always want to make me listen to another song that is NEVER on the same CD...I know...I'm weird) and cd-r/rw's don't last very long and I don't have a burner right now (mine's in storage in florida) and this puter would die if it had to burn cds and so on and so on.

My point is, I don't like mix CDs. I want to be able to have all of my music with me at all times and easily accessable. MStout, only reason I don't want to bring them around with me is because I don't want them to get stolen...think about how much it would blow nut to have all of your CDs stolen.

After thinking and reading about it some, I realized that I could just get this or this and an iPod (or something to that effect) and accomplish basically the same thing. I think you can even control iPods and other portable mp3 players of the sort from those head units. That would work great for me...and at a fraction of the $2,100 price.

carabuser · #10 12-12-2003, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longlivetheZ

"MediaEngine is a user interface to be installed on a Microsoft Windows
based PC in an automobile." --MediaEngine Home Page

Hmmm....ok....so...as opposed to paying the $2,100 (which is an AMAZING amount of money, don't get me wrong) for the head unit that does a TON of stuff, you recommend [sp.] the MediaEngine which requires a COMPUTER IN YOUR CAR...

exactly, it does require a computer in your car. You have a lot of choices there: you take your old computer (say 1 ghz duron or something) and start from there. Takes some creativity of course, but hell, isn't what it's all about? Let me try to break it down (pricewise):
VIA M10000 mobo and processor: ~$180
Memory 256 ddr: ~$50
Custom made case: who knows
VGA Touchscreen: $300
Hard drive: ~$80 ( that's about 120 gigs)
Earthmate gps: ~$120
Dvd player: ~$50
----------------------
Total cost: ~$780

Things you can do: Mp3 playback, GPS navi, Divx playback, DVD playnback, and much more. Almost everything you can do with a regular computer. Plus, prices are for new products, so if you got some old crap lying around, you're lucky.

And trust me, a computer DOES MUCH MORE then any headunit.

longlivetheZ · #11 12-13-2003, 02:32 AM

Of course a computer would do way more than any head unit...it's a bit overkill for me, though. I'm thinkin that one panasonic head that's around $350ish and an iPod or something of the sort. That would work fine for me.

carabuser · #12 12-13-2003, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longlivetheZ

Of course a computer would do way more than any head unit...it's a bit overkill for me, though. I'm thinkin that one panasonic head that's around $350ish and an iPod or something of the sort. That would work fine for me.

yup, that would work

I was just saying that there's all kinds of stuff you can go crazy with

sr20de4evr · #13 12-13-2003, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carabuser

I was just saying that there's all kinds of stuff you can go crazy with

yeah, I'm honestly considering going overboard in my next car...carputer under the seat with a touchscreen fiberglassed into the dash. All my mp3s and divx movies on it, and have an in-dash dvd player as well. It would cost a pretty penny, but it could be fun.

Haibane · #14 12-13-2003, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longlivetheZ

Of course a computer would do way more than any head unit...it's a bit overkill for me, though. I'm thinkin that one panasonic head that's around $350ish and an iPod or something of the sort. That would work fine for me.

Why not just pick up an expensive alpine headunit that can play MP3 cds, or panasonic if you prefer?

carabuser · #15 12-13-2003, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sr20de4evr

yeah, I'm honestly considering going overboard in my next car...carputer under the seat with a touchscreen fiberglassed into the dash. All my mp3s and divx movies on it, and have an in-dash dvd player as well. It would cost a pretty penny, but it could be fun.

still cheaper then most in-dash dvd players. fiberglassing is pretty cool, too bad I can't fit an unopened screen in my dash

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