Slashdot Mirror
Internet-Ready Car
bark76 writes: "Volkswagen is going to be selling VW Golfs with an MP3 player, a computer and a mobile phone, it will be the first mass-produced car that is internet ready. You can see the car and read the specks here here (warning, it's in German) or you can read an article over at abcnews.com." Another submitter sent in a gas-electric hybrid minivan from Toyota, so if you liked the hybrid vehicles but didn't like the subcompact form factor, there's hope yet. Your grandchildren will never know a gasoline-only car or one without internet access.
Especially if the car had a WebCam that remote joyriders could use to watch their handiwork.
Some needs are better left unfulfilled.
After years of building the information superhighway, we finally have something to drive on it.
Go here instead of here.
Secret windows code
Clinton made me a Republican. Bush made me a Libertarian. Trump is making me question reality.
I would assume these things would be pretty safe if used by a passenger, and perhaps useful to the passenger as well. The MP3 player ought to be more safe then a CD player as one should be able to have it run much much longer without repeats, so you won't be as likely to change the "CD" at the wrong time.
Probably also useful and mostly safe when stopped dead in traffic, at least as long as you put it in neutral and pull up the parking break. A paper back works well then too though.
Hasn't it already? Isn't that why the USA didn't get nav systems in cars until years after european models?
Or more so, the people are the ones using the toys at a unsafe time or in an unsafe manner (or who just plain got unlucky).
I think this was once featured on slashdot - The Megacar. The flash site makes it sound so cool.
150KB/s throughput, or something really up there.
--
--
#include <malloc.h>
free(your.mind);
hehe so they've (rather crudely) bolted a palm pilot or something to the fascia. Even worse, it's almost behind the steering wheel. Similarly, the mobile phone is s seperate thing in yet another bolt on cradle. I could have bought those bits from Dixons for £600!!
I was expecting to see a nice built in LCD touch screen actually in the dash, integrating the phone functions, mp3, radio, Nav/Traffic and Web functions, with possible some voice recognition, and text to voice to avoid crashing the damm car whilst reading Slashdot..
Ideally, what I would want to see is something like an Ipaq or Palm, in colour, with built in cellular radio for voice and data functions, a permanent Internet connection with a cradle in the car that hooks it up to a large hard disk (with all those mp3's), and external antenna.
VW's attempt is crude and overpriced, not to mention downright dangerous. Geez I could do that to my old Ford in a weekend.
I'm not sure that's a great idea.. I mean, some people are so bogged with work. They carry around PDA's, Cell Phones, Laptops and are expected to work all the time. So, your in your nice new Golf and wham, suddenly your employer demands that every oppurtunity you stop you work on that projec that in all fairness should be done on their time only. The mp3 part seems cool, but who really needs to surf the net, in a car? Propietary browser that propably won't support much, and it could be used for DoS's, if the Browser and the Mp3 player are connected, then a website that forces your mp3 browser to play hamster dance at 3000 Db, could cause a bunch of accidents.
---
--
Insert Witty Sig Here
You can just see it: "VW Golf driver causes major downs: car falls down cliff just after driver sold all his Microsoft shares in an online deal resulting in 5% fall in Microsoft's share price"
This announcement bodes well, very soon after truck driver caused accident in UK while writing a text message on his mobile.
"With this it's possible for the first time to check e-mail, do banking, check directions or call up information about the weather, traffic and the stock market while under way," Volkswagen said.
Let us hope "under way" means while stationary, because as the above poster quite rightly says, it could be very dangerous for drivers to do banking while at 50 miles per hour. Hopefully Volkwagen have made it so that the driver cannot do this while moving. However I dont see any wrong in letting the passengers using the facility.
HP Jornada with MP3 Player ! First : It's Windows CE stuff - As we say in german - eeegitt... ! Second : It has a maximum of 64 Mb capacity - only 30 minutes of music. Not much fun I really prefer my golf of the shelf and something like the CAJUN system for my car (http://cajun.sourceforge.net/)
I don't live in a car, but i work in one. I'm a consultant, and constantly go from one client to the next, and it's not always practial, or possible to check my email at a client's site. I use a cell phone and pager extensively, and having an internet connection in the car would be quite handy.
Redmond, WA Microsoft announced they were working with Volkswagon on a joint venture where WindowsXP would be used to power the Internet car of the future. Announced as possible features:
- MicroCarSoft would use two forms of gasoline. One of the standard format, and another developed by Microsoft. Due to licensing agreements with the auto manufacturers, though, the standard format will burn far less efficently then the Microsoft format. Microsoft officials are even toying with the idea of going strictly with the Microsoft format gas. Microsoft gas will be available from common retailers such as CompUSA and Best Buy.
- In beta test, the MicroCarSoft has been found to be fairly stable with only 1 out of 500,000 testers reporting system crashes which led the engine core dumping on the pavement right on the highway.
- Finally, the MicroCarSoft will not accept gas from retailers that do not adhere to the P3P standard, as the car accepts cookies to allow Microsoft and Volkswagon to track where your family has been on vacation.
As you can see, the future is now. Be prepared.Bryan R.
Bryan R.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, or $12.50 as seen on eBay.....
Do any of you even look at the articles? This is no different than the Trek or K2 Jettas we got in the states, without the blatant branding.
There's no info at all on the MP3 player, but I'd bet it's part of the "mini computer."
Which is [drum roll please] an HP Jornada. Look carefully.
And since GSM is the norm in Europe, I'm quite certain that the bundled PDA uses the bundled phone.
Which means that the cool innovation here is...
A car kit for the Jornada 540.
At least NetBSD is working on a port.
You have violated Robot's Rules of Order and will be asked to leave the future immediately.
They sure do! Any woman that's ever ridden in my Jetta has oohed and ahhed over it. Even the ones that ordinarily don't give a crap about cars.
'99.5 Jetta GLS VR6 :) (ps, love the rims on the Wolfsburg Edition)
--Thad
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Much like a newborn puppy...
It's worth noting that VW is bringing the 180HP 1.8T here to the US. (Read about it here: http://www.vwvortex.com/news/03_01/03_13/index.sht ml )
Currently, you can buy a 5-door Golf with the 150HP 1.8T engine. (cite: http://www.vw.com/configurator2001/country35/langu age70/model16100/version16440/engine56712/exterior 16125/interior16139/index.html )
It stands to reason that you will be able to buy a 2002 Golf with the exact same specifications, only with 180HP rather than 150.
You can thank me later. :)
--Thad ('99.5 Jetta GLS VR6, aww yeah)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Much like a newborn puppy...
Just to clarify, you meant "gas turbo" not "gas diesel"... because not even VW makes a 150HP diesel...
That is unless something has changed, but as of two weeks ago, official word was 2.0, turbodiesel, or nothing in the five door Golf.
Check the forums linked from the page you listed. That will confirm my interpretation.
I stand corrected then! I guess they don't want the Golf to be anywhere near as fast as the GTI, which it might be if it came with 180HP. On the other hand, currently both the GTI and the Golf can come with the same 150HP 1.8T. So I dunno, I guess it's just arbitrary then, which would explain your frustration!
In that case, I guess that does suck for you. If you like hatchbacks and want 4 doors, unless you can order the GTI with four doors, you're out of luck.
Which is what you said in the first place.
D'oh! ;)
I guess you have to decide which is more important, 4 doors+trunk w/ 1.8T or a 2 doors+hatchback w/ 1.8T! (I chose the Jetta, VR6...)
--Thad
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Much like a newborn puppy...
Yeah, I've checked it out; another VW driver pointed it out to me. I've picked up a few interesting tidbits of info there. But man, what a flame-fest, when they start arguing over 1.8T vs VR6... Jeeze...
Still loving my Jetta! Almost two years now. I think that this will be the first car I sell that I actually miss afterwords. (Though that's a couple years away.)
--Thad
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Much like a newborn puppy...
Check out John's pages at http://home.att.net/~john1701a/. He's had a Toyota Prius since 9/09/2000, and he lives in Minnesota. How does -13F sound? http://home.att.net/~john1701a/prius/prius-album7. htm
The Prius has no starter. The 270v NiMH battery pack directly starts the engine, not the usual 12v lead-acid car battery you're thinking of. Actually, the Prius battery performs better (retains its charge better) in the winter. The car has electric heaters, besides the usual heaters that steal waste heat from the engine, so you start receiving heat the moment you turn on the car, and you don't have to wait 10min for the engine to warm up for the cabin to toasty. Your actual mileage will be a bit less in winter (like all cars suffer in winter), because the engine will need to warm up the emissions-related components (like the catalytic converter) so that the car retains its SULEV status.
Also remember, you do not charge the Prius with a plug! The car generates its own electricity from using the gas engine as a generator, and also regenerates electricity when you are coasting or braking. The Prius enjoys the slow driving brought on by traffic, lights and stop signs, and from slow-going snowy weather!
-mrv
Coming soon:
There are a few others, but most currently sound like vaporware...
-mrv
Well, BMW at least saw the market (granted, at what a price) for their "better" engine in the 2001 M3... which, if I ever scrape the cash, I'd buy in a heartbeat.
And there is a definite difference between American sports cars and Foreign -- the foreign ones seem to handle better (roomate's '95 M3) compared to the american (My '95 Z28). Obviously they're two totally different classes (pricewise), but I just wish that we'd have the ability to have quick, responsive, agile cars that don't have that plasticy feel for 35 grand. Heck, even the new corvette reeks of plastic on the inside, but oh, the outside.
sorry for that rant.....
Karnal
Does Mitsu still make the 3000 GT VR4, or a descendant thereof, and offer it in Japan? Axed in the US in 1997. Maybe it was too close in performance, and way cheaper than, a Viper?
As for your general question of capping the HP, probably insurance, but maybe EPA as well? A small difference in a car makes a big difference in insurance. When I went to insure my Dakota, they asked if it was an R/T or not. No huge HP difference (15 ponies) but jsut the "image" is enough to increase insurance rates.
People are already distracted in the same way while listening to Howard Stern in the morning on the way to work. Especially lately. He's had some great material lately! Anyone hear the show with those 2 girls who... :)
Heck, I don't even need a WRX or Lancer levels of power (I ride motorcycles for a real speed/acceleration rush. I just like to be able to hit the loud peddle hard enough to get out of my own way in a car. For me, that translates into about 0-60 ~ 9 seconds)
I'm not sure about the HP cap. It could be insurance, but that is usually based on repair costs, chances of theft, etc. HP is coincidental with those factors, not causal, and I think the insurance cos. know that.
I've often wondered if it's not a way for the Germans and Japanese to thumb their noses at us. OR, it could be emissions related. I'm not sure of the specific laws, but I do have a good example of their general stupidity:
When the Nissan Altima was originally released, you could see, quite clearly, the Stanza sticker on the back. You see, the proper name of the car was the Nissan Stanza Altima. This allowed them to pass EPA and CARB regs. for about 10% what it would have cost had they called it the Nissan Altima.
Bureaucrats: your dollars at work.
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
Two problems: terminology and history.
First, look at how the M3 and the Z28 were derived. The former was a decendant (sp) of the 2002 and other touring coupes, which in turn derived from the many true sports cars (MGs, Alfa's, Porsche's) of the 50's.
The Z28 can trace its timeline through muscle-cars and pony-cars, neither or which could be said to be particular good handlers.
And while in the past, we had so many good phrases to describe cars (muscle cars, touring cars, pony cars, sports cars) they have all been lumped into the same, and somewhat generic, sports cars. Or worse, sporty cars, which is even more broad and useless a term.
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
Part of VW's problem is the lack of ability to special order cars, or develop your own options packages. With the bulk of their stuff coming out of Mexico, why wouldn't this be possible? Corporate management.
So what? Well, it's quite possible that without all of the junk that comes on most of the GLS that we are given, they would sell better. There is also the chicken-and-egg problem: I can't test drive one, or get one equipped like I want, so why would I buy one.
I don't care for the size or appearance of the Jetta Wagon. I also don't care for the price. I priced both the Jetta Wagon and the Golf (for 2001) to the spec I wanted (which meant identical equipment, although because of the model/equipment overlaps, it wasn't necessarily the same) and the Jetta was almost $2000 (US) more than the Golf.
GTI causes problems (I need four doors) and the Passat is just too freakin' big to get along with that engine. And let's not forget that the price is getting TRULY outrageous at that point. I could spend a couple more dollars and get the EuroVan (or whatever it is called this week) or better yet, a BMW 323iT.
I've seen the Focus, and it looks cheap. The Golf was/is much nicer, and not much more expensive.
But to the general message of your post: how difficult is it for Herr Piech to call Mexico and say "Hey, load up a couple of Golfs and send them to the mid-atlantic"? VW has already gone through EPA and CARB. It's now just a shipping cost.
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
For most people, those engines aren't enough, and that's a big problem. See, Americans say "horsepower" when they really mean "torque". Personally, I like horsepower. I don't mind an engine that gets peak power at an RPM>4000. A five digit redline is no problem. And Honda's S2000 is no big deal.
It just requires a different driving style, and one that I can deal with.
The common saying is "no replacement for displacement". I can think of two, both of which are answered well by the imports (and not badly by my Mondeo, err, Mercury Mystique). The first is forced induction. With a water-jacketed and/or double impeller bearing, longevity is no big whoop. Mileage, economy, and weight are all improved over a larger (physically) engine making similar power.
The second replacement for displacement is weight. Lop off 100 lbs., gain 10 hp (or some such thing). That's why my bike, with a measly 100 or so HP can embarass a Corvette with, what, 400 hp?
That's also another point in favor of the Golf over the Jetta Wagon: about 300 lbs, I believe.
USians are idiots about V-8's, anyway. Someone convinced them that 305's and 302's were big killer engines. I've got some people at Mopar Performance and Cadillac Motorsports Development who could show them a thing or two.
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
Yes, there are (at least) two different 2.0 engines. The one available for the past several years in the US is an eight valve, single overhead cam engine.
There used to be a 16 valve, twin cam engine in the US. There still is abroad. It has much better power characteristics, and is not much more expensive.
But I believe that VW dropped it to prevent taking from Audi sales (like people buying VWs are comparing to Audis).
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
Forgot to answer your first sentence:
I'm sure it's possible to do a grey import (heck, I could probably just buy one from some embassy hack up in DC:) but it's much more difficult in the US than in the UK (and presumably elsewhere).
As a matter of fact, just read in a UK VW magazine that prices for optioned cars can run as much as 30% higher in the UK vs. a couple hundred miles down the road in Germany.
Anyway, if I were grey importing, I'd save my pennies and dimes and grey import one of those 3 series BMW diesel wagons.
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
Nope. Actually, I can't thank you later. You just made my point (err, sorta) The 2002 Golf will specifically not be made available with the 150 HP or the 180 HP gas diesel. That is unless something has changed, but as of two weeks ago, official word was 2.0, turbodiesel, or nothing in the five door Golf.
Check the forums linked from the page you listed. That will confirm my interpretation.
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
Yeah, actually, I would prefer two doors, but a little package arrived at the doorstep (okay, in a hospital:) that sort of mandates four doors. And I've also liked the insurance cut on four doors.
One thing I liked about the Golf vs. Jetta is that comparably equipped, the Golf was about $2000 less. I also prefer the styling.
Anyway, I'm glad you see the source of my frustration. I just wish you were right:)
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
(BTW, please flame me. I don't really give a rat's ass what the VW defenders have to say. I'm not making judgements based on business or anything other than the fact that they make something that I want, and they will not sell it in the United States. It's my right as a consumer in a capitalist country to bitch to high heaven about what I want, can afford, but still can't get.)
So, we can get a stripped golf with a built-in MP3 player (BFD) but we (in the US) will NOT be able to get the four door Golf with the 180hp turbo gas engine? (Before flaming, read that spec carefully, and then go research it. I know I did. That's exactly what I want, and according to VW, I can sit and spin).
So, Herr Piech, stick it up your ass and light it.
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
Not to mention exchanging all sorts of other data about the cars - think about it, black boxes, etc could be incorporated to tell who did what when, and how each driver reacted, giving more evidence for the insurance companies and cops to hash over, in addition to any witnesses who (oh so rarely) happened to stop (as a witness for several accidents, I have seen people blatently lie about what happened, especially if they are the ones in the wrong. It pisses me off)...
Worldcom - Generation Duh!
Reason is the Path to God - Anon
The main story in last Thursday's Circuits section in the NYTimes was all about this. The byline: "The restless desire to get away from it all has been replaced by an anxious desire to stay connected. And for an increasing number of Americans, that means turning the car into a fuel-injected, free-range workstation. " click here to read.
this mmmm, new beetle al a dune. They got a little pickup truck that looks pretty goddamn sweet too.
"If you love someone, set them free. If they come home, set them on fire." - George Carlin
Remember the 6th Day? With Arnold Schwarzenneger? Computer chauferring will probably start on the highway first, like cruise control. According to the manufacturers, cruise control doesn't work below 30 mph because if you're driving slower than that, you're not on a highway and therefore need more control and need to be more alert.
As if cell phones and driving didn't spell enough danger now we have to worry about people driving and getting into an accident for typig fp
Want Root?
Computing and sensors will ultimately solve this problem (except, perhaps, in the US where the tort legal system will make them impossible to deploy).
I hope that the fallout from the military, always useful to the personal technology industry, will bring autonomous vehicle technology before I am too old to enjoy it!
Furthermore, once robotic cars are working (and not on those silly, very expensive automatic highways), mileage will go up, pollution down, safety up (which means I may not need my monster SUV to protect me from other drivers), etc. All around... good stuff if it ever gets done!
The only good weather is bad weather.
I would love to buy a hybrid or electric car, but liveing in Minnesota I have my doubts.
When it is -30 F the car battery can hardly power the starter to start the car. I can not imagine a battery powered car working very well. And without the combustion where would the heat come from -- more battery drain.
I am still waiting for a reduced emission car that would work for me.
Fuck that.
<---[singularity sig]
For example, if you buy an Audi you can get it in any Audi/VW/Porshe color.
If you pushed hard enough I bet you could get a Golf GTI in the Beetle's Reflex color.
--
Free Mac Mini
Germany is either already, or going to ban smoking while driving. And until they ban eating, drinking (non-alcholic beverages), listening to the radio, and other such distractions. They should leave cell phones alone.
Some studies have even pointed out that after you hang up the phone and think about your recent conversation is more likely to cause an accident then when you were on the phone. Are we going to ban thinking while driving now too?? Oh yeah, no more talking to your passengers as well.
--
Free Mac Mini
Here's some examples of what I'm talking about:/ medic/2607-0105-pat_nytimes.html . html
http://199.97.97.16/contWriter/yhdweek/2001/03/19
http://www.motorists.com/issues/cellphones/policy
--
Free Mac Mini
My grandkids will know of such things ... why? Because I will always drive big ass trucks that could never go hybrid for if they did, they would loose all the power that I need. You won't catch me in any such car any time soon
The ultimate network admin tool needs HELP!
Only a public school student/teacher would give that post a C+. He failed. F. FAILURE! No need to give him a friggen C+. That is almost a B.
The ultimate network admin tool needs HELP!
Nein. Pr0n dates back to the ol school BBS days. ASCII pr0n. Later it filtered into the gaming world for a few quake servers that would kb people with porn in their names or used mm1 and said porn. Thus, pr0n translated over. Tambien, if a filter-spider see pr0n ! porn, the site won't be filtered (hopefully).
The ultimate network admin tool needs HELP!
I don't know the last time you drove in Kansas but, if I am going from Wichita to Radium and I am on US50 and limited to a god awful 60mph with troopers waiting for me to pop 70, I Damn well better be able to make generic posts to /. that will 'bring my karma down'. I could intently read a webpage while tracking through mp3s, cruise control on, hands off the wheel, and w/ good alignment I would expect from a new car, drive perfectly straight, never even swerve into the other lane (not plural, 2lane) for a good 10-15 minutes.
The ultimate network admin tool needs HELP!
They will have an MP3 player, a computer and a mobile phone but hey - why stop there?
Scenario One: Repo Man is Obsolete
Why hire a heavy to get back a car when a customer fails to keep up payments?
John Doe walked to his car this morning, opened the door, put his key in the ignition - and nothing happened.
John Doe had missed a car payment, and his dealership's computer knew this. The dealership's computer simply failed to activate John Doe's car for the coming month.
John Doe walked to work.
Scenario Two: Accident Mode
John Doe just had an accident with Mary Contrary. Both automobiles automatically registered the "jolt" and through GPS located one another. They have already exchanged pertinent data such as insurance companies and the time of the accident before the police arrive on the scene.
Scenario Three: The LA Freeway Avenger
The FBI has long sought the identity of what locals call the LA Freeway Avenger, a nasty individual who deliberately hacks into automobiles traveling at high speeds on the LA freeways, disables them, and causes fatal accidents.
Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft, the company which makes the Internet connection software for today's vehicles, refused to comment.
radsoft.net
Looks like you know your VWs. Have you been to vwvortex.com? The biggest VW forum.
Yeah, but chicks dig the Jetta. That's why I got my Wolfie.
I can't drive with both hands on the wheel. Who would shift my gears if I did?
Have you been to vwvortex.com? The biggest VW forum. Some cool stuff there.
The ABC article says the golf will include a MINI COMPUTER. I'm hoping for one of the DEC PDP machines myself - you could hack while driving.
After i overclock my car, i can frag that trucker who cut me off !
No realy, spending a lot of time stationary in trafic jams (+30 mins a day ) this is nice,
sending a few mails from the trafic jam, checking where the speedtraps are, ircing already like the idee
building a beowulf in the trafic jam
sorry could not resist
42
I think they should have went with beige.
Need a website host? Try out http://WebQualityHost.net
This is not the first car with this kind of features. Citroën has the Xsara Windows CE, which is already featured in the commercials as being almost shipping.
Woefdram, l'apprenti sorcier
Try the new Renault Laguna or Citroën C5. After all it's not a coincidence that limousine and comfort are French words :)
Woefdram, l'apprenti sorcier
To all our German /.ers: Entschuldigung, ich mache nur Spaß ;)
Woefdram, l'apprenti sorcier
The Jetta (called the Bora everywhere but North America) is built on the Golf IV platform. So is the New Beetle. So is the Audi TT (surprise!). You can get far, far more aftermarket parts for a Golf than you can for a Jetta simply because of the fact that the Golf vastly outsells its Jetta counterpart in Europe -- I have some lovely aftermarket taillights (not Altezzas; you're safe!) on mine that look very tasteful and were made by Hella, who made the OEM units. The Golf is also more practical and has more rear-seat headroom because the roof doesn't slope down at the rear as it does on the Jetta.
In fact, the Golf and Jetta are so closely related that you can switch the front bumper, grille, headlights, hood, and front fenders between a Golf and Jetta and wind up with a pair of "Jolfs" -- a Jetta with a Golf front end and a Golf with a Jetta front end. I've seen it done both ways.
The US Jetta Wagon is just that -- a Golf Variant with a Jetta nose grafted on it. Why? Because the Jetta is better-known to US buyers and VW reasoned that it would sell better that way. True, I suppose, but the Golf has far superior headlights and you can get aftermarket fog light kits from Hella for the outer grilles -- not so for the Jetta, whose bumper is slightly different.
I am indeed the proud owner of a 2000 Golf GLS. Love it!
i am a soviet space shuttle
I'm still waiting for a chopper in every drive way like they said in the 50's
Does anyone actually have a Java program designed to control air traffic, or for the operation of a nuclear facility?
...now I'll be stuck in a Beowulf 10 miles long travelling at 5MPH on the way into work!
Great, now accidents will be caused by people distracted by p0rn.
I wonder if laws will be passed prohibiting people from viewing p0rn while driving.
...disturbs me. Not to sound like a Luddite, but what happened to the idea that technology would free us from the 'bonds' of work for more pleasure. Now, this is not a workstation in an auto or anything of that nature, but how long before our employers require us to have computers in the car to work while we drive. If and when the highways and surface streets of the cities of the world are wired to drive our automobiles for us, what will replace driving for our attention? If it is anything like now, take every chance to increase your 'productivity'.
My thought has always been that the purpose of technology is to increase our time to improve ourselves and our quality of life. What has happened with the advent of connecting the world? The requirement by our employer invades into our private life more and more with the further higher technology reaches into our lives.
I work for a social service agency. I have a cell phone, in case my truck breaks down. However, because I have patients in residental living, and staff at the homes often need to contact me, then I get contacted. Wherever. I realize, this may be a matter of keeping the number a secret, but the thing is that one is expected to make one's self available at all times, if the potential to do so exists.
Quality is the other issue, in my humble opinion. After all, placing an emphasis on quantity inherently suggests that the quality must take a backseat, when the only thing important is pumping out productivity.
end of rant
This makes a pretty big assumption about how old your readers are...
Anyway, my old car ran off damn near anything I poured into it. Volvo 340, with the 1.4 PRV engine, twin-choke Weber and contact breaker ignition. You could set it to run on anything thin enough to pour. Of course it ran *best* on petrol, and you needed very careful setting up to make it run on diesel...
Hey, remember kids, don't try this if you've got strict emissions laws!
He is only missing the word "it", and since the subject of the sentence is the same as the subject of the previous sentence, it doesn't seem to matter much because an intelligent reader would realize that.
Numbers 31:17,18 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man,but save for yourselves every virg
I already get blank stares from some of the younger folk when I try to explain leaded gas to them.
Bryguy
microsoftword.mp3 - it doesn't care that they're not words...
When will the care industry stop trying to make vehicles more like mobile homes? They spend all that time and money in crash tests, but then turn around and add distractions that can only be detrimental. Certainly people can do without these features while they're commutting from place to place.
Sooner than later, we're going to start clogging the courts with lawsuits involving people in accidents where these toys were involved. Cell phones included. When the time comes, I say they do the same thing they did with the tobacco industry. Slap them with a hugh lawsuit. It's not like anyone can't see it coming. Of course, the people using these devices are equally as guilty.
C'mon don't you remember the commercials from the old days?
-Jeff
http://www.volkswagen.de/international/english/ind ex_2.htm
Didn't you see the recent poll? Only 26% of the votes actually (said they) had children!
But who am I to quote a /. poll...? CowboyNeal probably stuffed the ballot box anyway...
This "innovation" will disappear as quickly as the video screens and dashboards, (for some reason, GM still seems to like these...), that infected cars in the eighties, not to mention "Bitchin Betty" that kept telling you "Your door is ajar!" I can only hope the same thing happens for car-based cellphones...
Well, not quite yet.
I have a p120 with 32 megs of Ram running Mpxplay (Gasp! Dos!) on boot.
I am also in the midst of buying a 4x40 Text lcd, and that goes in my second Din Slot.
For input, I have a numeric Keypad Velcroed to the dash.
I was really looking into getting a 4" NTSC LCD, but you would then have to buy a GPS system, since it is illegal to have a LCD in view of the driver if it does not have GPS.
The AOL CEO Steve Ballmer was in a car crash earlier ths evening while testing one of the new VW Golfs, after drifting over into the left lane. The AOL CEO was quoted as saying "It wasn't my fault Officer! I got distracted by the car repeatedly telling me "You've got mail!"
Like hell my "grandchildren won't know of a gasoline powered car without net acess". As soon as those little shits can use thier opposable thumbs they're learning to change fluids in cars from the glory days of the 40's - 70's. The time when cars were simple and your neighbor had a copy of the shop manual so if one wanted to do it themselves they could but mechanics weren't over priced and over worked like now so they could do it.
The gas/electric hybrid is great, but it's not for me and many other people in all nations. These cars are very complicated. In fact most new cars (built after 1980) are so full of electronics and "proprietary" equipment that it has become increasingly difficult to work on one's own car. I like the older classics, they have more power, more style, and are much easier to work on. Body panels can be fixed with a hammer and some time, where as today body panels are usually replaced which take more time. A major repair can be done without any knowledge or special tools for the #%^&^ computer components.
Now on to the internet within a car. I find it bad enough dealing with drivers who use their cell phones while driving. Cars are becoming filled with more distractions and drivers are not being taught to deal with them in a responsible manner. Even something ass innocuops as an mp3 player could be dangerous. Think, you're driving along and know you have a song in your playlist that you really want to hear, but you dont know where it is. As you scan through the 100 or so titles (that take 1/2 sec to display)in the list your eyes are off the road for even more time than if you were just dialing a fone. Adding technology to cars should be given serious thought before its done.
I apologize for my ramblinig, but i think it got the message out.
Anchorperson: Mr. Katz, what is your take on this?
Jon Katz: Well, I have to admire the inginuity of these kids, and after all, they were running their server off of Red Hat linux. In addition, they killed at least two satanistic Microsoft employees, which could be considered a public service...
Maskirovka
Disclaimer: This is a joke. Don't take it seriously.
The new car, available only in a German pilot program, comes only in blue.
I suppose when these crash we can say it was a Blue Jetta of Death. Sorry, but I just had to say it. (:
Keep Austin Weird!
Ever heard of Canada and Mexico?
Hybrid cars are pictured at the North American International Auto Show 2001".
Flying cars are cool!
do we really need more soccer moms driving canyoneros with internet explorer?they're already a menace with low tech suv's....
And in the news today:
A 40-year old white male, causes a 10 car collision.
Watching pr0n in his VW Golf he says.
Remember, when you are downloading MP3's, you are downloading communism!!!
badness 10000
WTF?! I'm still waiting for those fscking flying cars that GM promised back in the 60's!!! Oh well, at least they'll be more morons trying to read they're email, talk on the phone *and* drive at the same time... geez this is starting to get redlicious. Next they'll put a friggin' beowulf cluster your trunk so everyone can give away shell accounts and participate in d.net on they're way to work!!! (actually, that would be pretty cool)
This is nothing more then a Golf with a cellphone, PDA and MP3 player thrown in. If you call a car "internet ready" based on that, then the VW marketing department has scored a major victory. BTW, ABC calls the PDA a "mini computer", which at least at one time meant something completely different then PDA.
Hmmm, wonder if they'll keep the retro thing going and put an Amiga in the beatles?
"Are you ok dear? We've been in an accident, but I think we'll be able to pay the repair bill with this new NextCard Visa!"