Laptops for tuning

rusty105 · Post by **rusty105** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 1:25 pm

This might be slightly off topic or not so here goes. I am looking for a laptop to mork on a MS, for tuning, data logging, and whetever. Tax return is coming, and PIIIs os e-bay are in the $300 range, which i think migt be a good deal. I would also be using the Laptop for other day to day stuff, so something relatively new would be nice. Can anybody recommend something in particular to look for, or to stay away from?

Thanks!!
Rusty

keithmac · Post by **keithmac** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:30 pm

If you can get a "real" rs232 serial port you`ll be a lot better off, my Toshiba Satelite has a proper port. Tuning and datalogging can be done well on a pentium1 setup so any faster is just a bonus for your other uses.

the bubbler · Post by **the bubbler** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 3:20 pm

I got a IBM Thinkpad 770z (pentium II 366mhz) for Â£60 off ebay.

I'm well pleased with it, the build quality is very impressive on these, and the performance is pretty good too considering the vintage.

Megatune runs like a rocket on it.

Andy

deviousKA · Post by **deviousKA** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:11 pm

It would be hard to beat one of those IBM A(22,30,31) or T(23,30) series on ebay, really good deals. I think the A series has titanium shell like the T and X, but not sure. Most of these have serial db9 port.

Personally, I just picked up an IBM X30, doesnt have serial port but it doesnt have cd rom or floppy built in either, really small and light.

I would go ibm, lots of them around, you can be sure spare parts will be easy to come by in the future.

Edit: forgot to mention that many of these ibm computers I seen like the t30's, a30/31's, x30/31's were still under warranty, mine was

bluetrepidation · Post by **bluetrepidation** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:09 pm

I got a IBM ThinkPad with a P3 running 900MHz and 256MB RAM for $300 on eBay. Works great. Even came with Windows XP.

wes kiser · Post by **wes kiser** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:07 pm

Get a panasonic toughbook . Just do a search on ebay. They are great for "rugged" applications. You can likely find one for close to the same price as other laptops of the same performance (maybe a little more). I have found anything over 300mhz seems to do fine for everything I do on a computer (and obvious overkill for tuning). The toughbooks have magnesium cases, gel encased hard drives, and tougher screens. You can run over them and they still work. No joke, they are made for field techs and such.

snillet · Post by **snillet** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 10:43 pm

I have a toshiba satellite 610CT.
ItÂ´s a early Pentium of some sort... probably 150MHz or something like that.

It handles MT like a charm.

And itÂ´s nifty and small to carry around to.

Cost me about $30

. Had a good battery to, can stay on for about 1.5 to 2 hours on battery which isnÂ´t bad for a old computer i think. So for just tuning MS with MT almost any old "banger" laptop would do i think.