Carputer (Car Computer) through Linux?

[David Wolverton]

Greetings all,

My latest project is building myself a car-puter (Car Computer)

Thanks to Ebay, I was able to secure the hardware (case) REAL cheap - so
all I'm left (investment wise) to do is buy/install an LCD touch screen
monitor, as well as secure the services of a (reasonably) cheap
labourer/good craftsman to customise a surround for the LCD to mount
into my cars dash.

Through such sources as mp3car.com - to name but one - I'm aware of many
different proprietary sources that will run the beastie - but wanted
specifically to know about FOSS solutions.

Has anyone heard of a FOSS front-end that will:

(A) Allow me to have a customised front end with my car logo in the
centre - offering graphical icons to 'touch' (using LCD) to go to (EG:
GPS to navigate, DVD to enjoy whilst between appointments, Internet to
look stuff up, Files to store documents, presentations and etc on - and
Etc, etc, etc.)
(B) Allow me to use my touch screen (thinking of installing a Lilliput
7".)
(C) Allow me to use my GPS for GPS navigation (Must have voice as I
can't be taking eyes off of the road to 'see' where I am.)
(D) Allow me to use Wi-Fi (802.1G) both with Airnet as well as being
able to 'talk' to my Home wi-fi - from the driveway.
(E) Allow me to have a SIM card inserted into a USB adaptor that allows
me to connect to/surf the WWW through Vodafone's 3G/GPRS network.)
(F) Allow me to integrate my mobile phone through Bluetooth whilst in
the car so I can speak/listen hands free whilst driving...


Hardware Specifications follow:

Processor Type:  Intel Pentium III
Current OS: M$ Windows 2000 (Needless to say I'd like THIS to go - if
possible)
Processor Speed:  866 MHz (Can be upgraded to Tualatin 1Ghz + though not
sure if I will)
Memory (RAM):  128 MB (I understand this can be upgraded to either 256mb
or 512mb)
Hard Drive Capacity:  4.3 GB  (Considering replacing with a 250GB
Western Digital HDD)
Brand:  HP E-Vectra - Mini System Computer
Primary Drive:  CD-ROM (Considering replacing with a DVD-R/RW)
Features:  On-board Graphics Card, Network Card, On-board Sound Card,
and USB x2
Vehicle to be installed into: BMW Limited - E36 Series. (1997)

Any/all positive suggestions appreciated - either on or off-list.


Regards,

David Wolverton
// "The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who
can do him absolutely no good."  Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) 
if ( $life( $me ) == $null ) { getLife( $me ) || halt }