MACSWAGEN SHOPPING LIST

> 1.42GHz Mac mini with 512MB RAM,
SuperDrive
> Bluetooth and AirPort Extreme
> Xenarc 700TSV 7" USB touch screen
monitor with VGA and dual composite
video inputs
> Cirque Easy Cat USB Trackpad
> Griffin PowerMate assignable USB
control knob
> LaCie 8-in-1 USB Flash Card reader
> Belkin USB 7-port hub
> Belkin USB 4-port bus-powered hub
> Belkin Fire Wire 6-port mini hub
> Alpine PXA-H701 Multimedia Manager
with RUX-C701 Controller
> Monster Cable MCPI300 300-watt power
inverter
> Female USB
> Ethernet and Fire Wire ports
> 40G iPod dock and a Griffin RadioShark
USB AM/FM tuner

power solutions for Macs. Turner says, “The unit I installed in my VW is a pre-production model using the GTi as a test environment.” Production models have been available since the end of April, and a Mac mini-specific plug-and-play wiring harness should be available in August 2005.

IT’S IN THE BOX

Turner first wanted to have the mini mount in-dash, but with all the connectors sticking out of it, the mini stretched out from 6.5 inches deep to over 10.5. The choice was to either rework all the airflow controls and ductwork in the car or find a new home, such as the glove box. Turner says, “I still wanted the Mac mini to look as if it were a factory-installed option, so simply mounting the computer in the glove box itself or in the glove box door wasn’t really what I wanted to do. That’s not the way that I felt Volkswagen would do it. Instead, I chose to modify the internal storage dividers in the glove box to make an actual compartment that would house the Mac.”

The full complement of connections was then
routed through the sub-dash of the car, wire-tied
along factory harness runs, and plugged into the
computer. The Mac mini itself slides into the housing
from the front to allow access to the back of the com-
puter if removal of the computer is ever necessary.
and not allow the Mac to power up normally. The
lack of ignition-controlled wake and sleep functions DASH FABRICATION
and the quirky workarounds to power the computer The most striking feature of the mini installation is
and inverter to stay on while pumping gas or running the in-dash LCD screen that controls the whole she-
into a store for a quick pickup were solved with new bang. Turner adds, “The first thing to do when trying
hardware specifically designed for the Mac mini: the to make a large component fit in a small area (like a
CarNetix CNX-P1900 ($90, carnetix.com). 7-inch monitor in a double DIN-sized opening) is to
This dual-output, 140-watt intelligent DC to DC take it apart and remove as much stuff as you can
power regulator simply replaces the Mac mini’s that is extraneous or unnecessary for the project
standalone power brick. It accepts 7.5V to 18V of at hand. In the case of the Xenarc monitor, this
constant input, has an ignition sense and pulse meant opening the case of the monitor, removing
trigger input, and outputs a stable and consistent the built-in speaker, reversing the orientation of the
18.5V, a secondary 5V or 12V output for powering power lead, removing and relocating the infrared
USB hubs or screens, a delayed 12V amplifier for receiver for the remote control, and doing away
accessory turn-on lead, and a pulsed ground output with the front of the case entirely, including the but-
for triggering the Mac mini’s power button for tons on the front bezel (all these functions are now
automated operation of sleep, wake, and startup performed via remote control). This gave me a flat
functions. The wide range of voltage input capability surface to build trim on top of, as well as reduced
allows the P1900 to never sacrifice its output based the overall size of the monitor significantly.”
on low voltages encountered during engine cranking, To make the aluminum panel, Turner made an
when battery voltage can often drop to as low as 7.5V. acrylic version first. This was used as a cutting
When Turner was Slashdotted, the manufacturer template for the aluminum. Turner notes, “All of the
leapt at the opportunity to fill the void for in-car other aluminum parts in my vehicle (the iPod and