Ok, I've purchased the Xenarc 700TSV from some place called spysupply007.com. Here's hoping they're on the up and up! I couldn't find any info on them from the web and that makes me nervous but they were the only ones selling the 700TSV. Anyhow, given a perfect world I'll have the two most important components to play with by the weekend. I'll take pictures of the products and post them up here. Any requests? Things you'd like me to test?

Bobby, the playback of DVDs on a computer varies with the software you use. Most will let you change the size of the video screen to fit your needs. Whatever I plan on using (windvd or powerdvd) will allow me to do that. Since the 700TSV is 16x9 (widescreen) I think it'll work out just great with widescreen DVDs.

The commercial options available out there (even in Japan) wont give me what I'm looking for. They're awesome little units but I'm looking for a car computer in the truest sense of the word. I think you loose some geek factor too if you end up buying a packaged deal.