The original purpose of computer hard drives in cars was to store all the data needed for in-car navigation systems in a way that would allow for easy and frequent updating. Considering that most navigation systems can get by using 4 gigabytes of data stored on a DVD, 20 or 30 gigabytes or so of space on a hard drive presents a lot of unused real estate ripe for exploitation.
A digital music library is one obvious choice. What's more, an easy-to-use in-car hard drive could be a way for drivers lacking in technical skills to create an easily usable digital music library in their cars.
There really isn't much required beyond knowing how to insert a CD. After you do that, just press a button or touch the screen, and the copying begins.
Just copying the tracks isn't enough, though, because you would end up with a hard drive filled with "track 1," "track 2," "track 3," etc. You'd never be able to find anything later. So, in some of the more sophisticated systems, the car wirelessly connects to the Internet and collects album and track name data from an online database.
Then the songs can be sorted by album, track name and even genre.
This option is available in some Chrysler, Jeep, Cadillac and Lexus cars, among others.
