Since I've had 5 people ask me this question.

The laptop I use for MTH is a Compaq Evo n600c. They're dirt cheap on ebay, work perfectly, and can double as a 14" DVD player/MP3 player/Datalog tool. Also parts are cheap for it, since there are so many out there. I just replaced my motherboard (w/ 1.2ghz PIII), and added WiFi for less than $80. Not to mention it goes for 2-3 hours on a full battery.

As to minimum specs for a laptop, I would say it has to be able to run Windows 98, 2000, XP, and have over the minimum required ammount of ram (64mb w/ XP wont cut it). It has to have enough battery life to go for 30minutes without dying, since losing power mid-upload would really suck. One other very important component, it has to have a way to connect to the internet (via WiFi, Ethernet, or Modem) to send off the files!

 

The laptop has to connect ??? , bummer . I thought you could just transfer the required files to a floppy and put them on a base computer , to send the required files off.

 

cabemeister said: I use an old acer model 86 100 mhz laptop with windows 95. power adapter to run it off the car. This model only has a floppy drive. no Internet connection. It works find with cartune and i use floppy to switch to a base comp. It just would make it easier if you had the setup like tradiuz is using.

oh btw i bought the comp for 10.00

 

Any laptop will work that runs windows. There is nothing special needed whatsoever.

 

Good news Guys , Thought I had missed something .Thanks .

 

Yes you can use floppies, CD-R's. I just like sending the files from the car personally.

You dont need anything special, but I like having something that works as a full time out of office machine, instead of something so slow I cant possible use it for anything else.

 

Tradiuz, thanks for the good info. I've been wondering what I need in a laptop for MTH, now I know!

 

There are two other computer options that I think are worth mentioning:

1) Panasonic Toughbooks
2) Toshiba Librettos

The first is a "combat" ready design, magnesium case, spill proof keyboard etc. The only thing is that when you buy one from ebay, as an example, they may have been subject to more abuse than other laptops. You can buy these around $150.00. I have one in the trunk ...

The libretto actually is a very small design: the size of a VHS tape. Don't let the size of this laptop fool you though: a very capable machine. Runs Windows 95 and up.

Talking about Windows, obviously there are different flavours: 95, 98(SE), NT (3.51 - 4.0), 2000, and XP - with a less than noble mention of ME. Our suggestion is to, where possible, use a NT platform: considerably more reliable than the consumer based OSs.

Oh, as with any used laptop, battery life is always an issue. You might want to invest in a good 12V to Computer adapter - stay away from the Radio Shack model: 237-1827! We highly recommend the ones made by Lind Electronics (www.lindelectronics.com).

Cheers,

Martin

 

I used to have a Liberreto, and it truely is the size of a VHS. If I was only going to be doing MTH on this I would look for one for the light weight and size (would fit in the glovebox). Great suggestion.


A note for those older laptops (pre-usb), is you need a serial -> obd2 cable such as the MONO-COM.

 

I thought there was a issue with the USB cable and Toshiba laptops???????


I use a HP Pavillion zv5000 and it works flawlessly with the car tune and USB cable.


John.

 

Some Toshiba laptops use a very convoluted USB driver that causes timing issues.