Finally, I can't take it anymore, after comparing all of the cool hardware out there i have pulled out the credit card and started picking up the hardware for this project, i expect it to take me 3 months to build/order/pay/install. My major reason for wanting this is purely business related.

I work as a Computer Consultant and live or die depending on my ability to access my customer database. Anytime i need a number or any info, its seconds away as long as i am online. When i am on the road, late to a service call or just need a map to the clients site, i need internet access to get to it. All i am wanting to do is have my LAMP apps available, sync the databases everytime the car associates with my AP. A good friend of mine Phil Gomes (PR man extraordinaire) is requesting that i document the parts used and my progress along the way, so here is the first installment.

Last night was the big ticket purchase night. I have been looking at all the hardware for quite a while and already knew most of what i wanted but it never hurts to look around as much as possible to see what is out there.

I had wanted to get as small a system as possible but as i made the list of my requirements it became obvious that function was going to dictate the hardware choice more than size. Here is the list of functionality i am wanting witht items purchased already shown as links.

* Touchscreen LCD *
* Slotloader DVD/CDRW ComboDrive *
* One Handed Frogpad *
* 802.11 b&g *
* Bluetooth *
* EPIA M10000 1 Ghz Mini-ITX *
* 1 Gig DDR Ram *
* 60Gig HD *
* Black Aluminum Mini-ITX case *

The end goal is a system with a touchscreen running Debian Sarge with wifi and LAMP and a script that syncs my databases ever time i leave or come home. I finally have gotten my bookkeeping migrated to a web based package so finally i can invoice everyone before i even leave the jobsite, now i will be able to invoice them even if they do not have internet access and most importantly i will have all my customer data available everywhere i go. Which begs the question of security so i think the HD will run and encrypted filesystem just for good measure.

Another nice feature will be the ability to tie the pc to my in-dash mp3 cd deck since it has the ability to handle auxilary inputs. I will post progress reports once parts start coming in.