Navisurfer II Brings Ubuntu, GPS, and More Into Your Car [Navisurfer II Provides A Host of Computerized Dashboard Options In an Aftermarket Package]

Posted on TFTS by Steve Anderson on Tuesday, 22. February 2011 under: Cars, Computers & Computing, Devices, Transportation Tech

If you remember the series Knight Rider, you’ll probably remember how everybody wanted their own KITT. The thing was entirely too smart and too useful not to want to have around, but thanks to the folks out at VIC Ltd., you can have the next best thing: the Navisurfer II.

The Navisurfer II is a touchscreen computer running Ubuntu Linux that even comes with a 3G HSPA modem and a GPS receiver, virtually ensuring that you can’t get lost ever again. But it’s not just communications that this sucker’s packing, either–you’ll also get access to three USB ports (just 2.0, which is still pretty good), two PS2 ports, a microphone jack, a line-in port, a serial port, two 12 volt inputs to plug in other devices, two AV inputs, and, get this, a rear view camera.

Plain and simple, this is just a preposterously well-equipped item; you’ll have communications tools, networking capability, internet access, and a whole lot more besides. It’s about the closest things I’ve heard of yet to a do-it-all platform that can be installed in your car’s dashboard.

And the price isn’t even out of line, considering what all you get with this–if you want one of these loaded into your dashboard (though you’ll likely have to pay extra to have it installed), you can get hands on one for 300.50 in euros (about $407 US), which is a pretty decent price considering you’re essentially getting the equivalent of a touchscreen laptop with 3G and GPS. Or you can think of it as a slightly bulky tablet that you permanently install in your car.

Sounds like the kind of thing that could prove indispensable to people who do a lot of traveling, especially if you’re a business traveler who finds him- or herself in the car a lot as opposed to running the TSA gauntlet to get on an airplane.

Source

Paul
Ubuntu is becoming ubiquitous.
evan
ordered one of these car pc recently, paid the total amount in two transfers and have been waiting for shipping advice. none has come. emailed inquiring to vic. no response. emailed again asking if they had received both payments. still no response. emailed again, another week later. still no response. now two weeks and a half since second payment and i still have no shipping advice from vic or email explaining why the status of my order has not changed. I do not recommend this product to other buyers

hey evan same here
I have been waiting a month and still no car pc.

hey evan same here
I ordered this thing on 07/02/2011 sent a bank transfer to china.
Emailed them and they changed my status from processing to payment recieved on 07/13/2011
Now its 07/26/2011 and they have not shipped my device. They haven’t changed my order status and they won’t respond to my emails. And their phone numbers for their finland and Hong Kong offices are fake or out of order.
I’m beginning to believe I got ripped off.
god I hate buying stuff in China
China is no good at doing business. Horrible!!!!!