Dream system to monitor new driver?

There are 12 VDC embedded DVR's made specifically for mobile applications. Harddrive damping and heat are two other issues to consider. Google "mobile DVR" for some ideas.

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Most computer have an option in the BIOS setup (usually under Power Management) for how to handle loss-of-power - either to remain off, to return to the previous state, or to power up regardless.

Most UPS (UNINTERUPTABLE Power Supply, not "universal" as many claim... aka "battery backup") units will connect to the computer via USB or serial port, and with installed drivers/software, can signal the system to shut down gracefully, either immediately upon input power loss, after a set period of time, or when the battery discharges to a certain level. They generally have several outlets that feed off the battery, so you could run the cameras off battery as well, and keep them recording for several minutes after the car is shut off.

Another poster had a better suggestion though: look into a dedicated mobile DVR.

Instead of recording locally with a DVR, maybe look into using a video encoder (Bosch or Verint or Axis) and send it wirelessly via Internet back to your place. You'll get real time and recorded video.

They need to be line-of-sight, won't work in a car.

You don't always need line of sight for wireless video. In areas where there is a city-wide WiFi network, you could use that. In fact there is an 802.11x standard being developed specifically for mobile applications. That's how some jurisdictions are sending video to police cars and cops using PDA's in places like Seal Beach, CA. In areas where there is highspeed cellular interent access, theoretically you could use a Bosch VIP module, Verint Smartsight, or probably Axis (mnever used them) to convert video to IP. An alternative would be to use IP cameras. You would then have to use an highspeed aircard to get the video on the network. I've never attempted this, so I'm unsure if it would work.