New Car Computer From TRC

By Amy Gilroy

Yorba Linda, Calif.— The Right Connection (TRC) is shipping a Windows-based computer with a VGA 7-inch screen that is designed to mount in the car and to take the place of a video game system, DVD player and navigation system.

This approach to car entertainment/navigation is being taken by another supplier, Monarch Computer (see TWICE, June 23, p. 28), and a few suppliers with Web-based presences such, as I-Zone-3. Many share the same sales pitch — that a single system can replace a DVD player, game machine and navigation system for a much lower price than three separate components. The new TRC MIS computer carries a basic price of under $2,000, minus GPS antenna.

Other industry members see the true "car computer" as an idea ahead of its time.

"We know how computers in the home proliferated, and then PDAs. So it makes sense that computers would do the same in the car," said Audiovox product manager David Shalam. "But the issue is getting information to and from the car with a fast connection [as in high-speed Internet]. From Audiovox's point of view, we want to see how the market develops and what the technology is going to be."

TRC says its computer is unique in that it runs Windows XP and uses a standard format hard drive. It also has a touch-sensitive VGA screen with 800 by 480 resolution, eliminating the need for a mouse or keyboard.

The MIS computer measures 8 inches wide by 12 inches and can mount anywhere. It runs any Windows XP-compatible software and comes with a 40MB hard drive that can hold tens of thousands of compressed music files. Users can also store Divx video files and games. They can attach a camera for a back-up camera system or add any feature that is USB compatible.

TRC's marketing manager Nick Klaers said, "A proprietary navigation system is $2,000, a full DVD system is $1,500, and a 10-disc CD changer is $500 — and that takes up a lot of real estate in the car."

He added, "TRC was selling all this video for the car and we realized there had to be a better storage solution and that there must be a market for a higher-quality VGA screen. This is the way the industry is heading."

The MIS system uses an Intel 1.2GHz Celeron processor with 256MB of RAM, three USB ports and one Firewire port. The customer can purchase an optional portable USB hard drive to shuttle information, music and/or video to and from the car. Screens are also available in 10.4-, 12- and 15-inch sizes.

Klaers says the company has installed a special interface that simplifies navigating through Windows while driving. Users can launch most files with a single touch of the screen, he said.

TRC is a wholesale distributor, primarily of 12-volt products such as cables, clamps and peripherals. The company also developed its own line of security and video products.