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AUTO PC POWER
A survey of resources for Auto PC owners
By Mark Moeller
If you're one of the pioneers buying new technology such as the Auto PC, it can be a rewarding and simultaneously a frustrating experience. Initially, the relative lack of support for a new purchase of this kind can leave those who are not dyed-in-the-wool technophiles wondering if they made a good choice. On one hand, you are guaranteed that something better and less expensive will come around. However, it's also true that it's the early adopters that end up shaping the future of the product. There's perhaps no better time to shape the future of a product than in the version 1.0 time frame. Also, being able to show your new toy to your buddies can be lots of fun.
If you were involved in the computer world when the original IBM PC came out, perhaps you or one of your friends were one of the pioneers that then purchased IBM's initial PC offering. [My PC XT with 10MB hard drive and 640K RAM cost over $6,500 back in the early 80s! - DG] The owners of those early PC's found themselves in much the same position as those of us who have purchased this first version of the Auto PC. Like the original PC, the Auto PC was designed to be an open, expandable platform for which software developers can freely develop and create software.
History has clearly shown the world-changing impact that ensued after the original IBM PC was released. I believe that the Auto PC will have a similar impact in the world of motor vehicles. I'm not alone in the belief. Beside the many individuals who are committing hard earned cash to purchasing Auto PC's and/or developing software for them, the multitude of automotive manufacturers who have publicly announced support for the platform speaks loudly. These manufacturers include Alpine Japan, Clarion, Daewoo Telecom Ltd., Delphi Delco, Harman Kardon, Hyundai Electronics, Infinity Systems, Intel, JBL, Inc., MD-Co., Nissan USA, PSA - Citroen, United Technologies Automotive (UTA), Visteon, Volkswagen. Visit the Microsoft site for the latest list at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/Products/apc/manufacturers.asp.
The success of the principles on which the Auto PC was designed have been clearly demonstrated and nobody wants to be left out of the next major innovation based on those principles.
Like the IBM PC, the initial third party software and support for the Auto PC comes largely from enthusiasts. However, there are some companies who have recently come out with products for the Auto PC. There is also a growing number of Auto PC enthusiast Web sites where you can learn more about your Auto PC.
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