Buy an iPAQ and get a free MINI Cooper!

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.mini2.com/news/news.php?id=134">http://www.mini2.com/news/news.php?id=134</a><br /><br />I <i>might</i> have that heading backwards. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2002/20020927-miniipaq.jpg" /><br /><br />"MINI will be offering a fully-integrated portable Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) in the form of the iPAQ Pocket PC from Compaq. The hand-held PDA slots into a bracket on the dashboard above the speedo and features up to four inter-connected systems that download information digitally. When not in the MINI, the PDA can be connected to a desk-top PC allowing any relevant information to be up- or down-loaded. The four systems are Navigation, Telephone/SMS, MINI Assist/MINI Online and Entertainment and each can be customised to the MINI owner's requirements. Integrating all four systems offers features including navigation, traffic news, text messages, e-mail, an address book, news, entertainment information, links to the emergency services and weather. Additional hardware and software offers the opportunity to download MP-3 music files and convert the PDA into a mobile 'phone or digital camera. "<br /><br />Note that this is <i><b>not</i></b> in front of the driver. The Mini has the instrument cluster in the center of the dash except for the tach, which is directly in front of the driver. This looks like a 3600/3700 model iPAQ in a custom sleeve. Thanks to <a href="http://www.pocketfun.co.uk/">Neil from PocketFun</a> for the link.

[bbarker]

Now that would be cool. It should be featured in the next Bond film.

[takotchi]

AHH! This combines two of my very favorite things... the MINI Cooper S and the PocketPC.

This just makes me want a MINI Cooper S even more... anybody have $26,000 they wanna donate to me?

But as I configured it... the MINI Cooper S (2003) had a GPS system where the speedometer is (moving the speedometer from the stupid, center position to in front of the driver), so why would you have both the iPAQ and the MINI's own navigation system?

[Iznot Gold]

Well I'm speachless: -

BMW spend xmillions designing a chic & gorgeous interior for the mini and someone wants to strap an IPAQ to the dash!

This is as asthetically pleasing as a 't**d in a swimming pool'.

I don't know about Mini being able to pin point your car but every criminal in here in the UK certainly would! You'd be returning to your car to find the window smashed and the IPAQ gone.

Surely its location on the dash would impede the swinging fury dice!

In (almost) the final words of Michael Caine in 'The Italian Job'...."I've got a great idea lads.....don't do it!"

[Intrigue]

I'd *love* this, but can't seem to find any more recent information ... does anyone know whether this is still on the horizon?

Thanks,

Gina

[GoldKey]

Seems they could have come up with a better mounting solution. The cords make it look very un-integrated.

[trachy]

One day someone will truly integrate a PDA/Phone into a car's architecture, so you could plug it in and have access to music, GPS, communications, etc. Rip out that cigarette lighter and replace it with an integrated, powered cradle, for cryin' out loud. This reminds me of another lame marketing gimmick - the one where VW gave away a Trek bike rack with the Jetta.

[GoldKey]

VW is doing an Ipod on the beetle now. They show a mounting bracket in the commercial. Wonder how well integrated it is in the vehicle.

[Kati Compton]

VW is doing an Ipod on the beetle now. They show a mounting bracket in the commercial. Wonder how well integrated it is in the vehicle.
The mounting bracket goes in the driver's cupholder.