The cheapest of the cheap tuning laptops
#1
Boost Pope
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The cheapest of the cheap tuning laptops
Alpha 400 MIPS 400MHz 128MB 1GB 7" Linux Ultralite Notebook Belco ALPHA-400
$169.
Wow.
Ok, the specs aren't amazing. 400 Mhz processor, 128 MB of RAM. But heck, my in-car tuning PC is only 233 Mhz and came with 64 MB of RAM (now 128), and I run Windows on it.
It's got a 1 gig SSD built in, which is more than enough, plus an SDHC slot and 3 USB ports. 800x480 display (same as the Eee 701) and it's slightly smaller and lighter than the Eee.
The downside: with the Ingenic XBurst CPU, your OS choices are limited. Windows anything isn't going to run. (Well, WinCE maybe, but you don't want that.)
The upside: although the 2.4-based Linux distro it comes with is described as crippleware at best, there's a group doing a 2.6 port that seems to support normal operation: Little Linux Laptop .com - The ultimate unofficial software and modding resource site for the: Trendtac 700 EPC, Elonex One T, Silverstar, Yinlips Micro PC, Sub Notebook, 3k Razorbook 400 CE, Bestlink Alpha 400, and many more brands put one that one
Ok, it ain't Ubuntu, so you're going to have to compile your own copy of MegaTunix, and probably sacrifice a chicken or two to get your RS-232 dongle operating.
Reviews:
"The crappiest netbook you'll ever hate." - Engadget
"I have to say its not as bad as I’d expected." - Laptop Magazine
Sounds tempting.
More: xburst netbook
#6
I'm thinking you could get tuner studio working more easily than tunix. Installing apps on linux is not hard, just different. However, as Joe pointed out, there is a great chance tat you'll never figure out how to get the serial dongle working.
I love the reviews haha! Other than that, I think 169 bucks could get you a sufficient used older laptop that may not be small like that but atleast it'll save you headache.
#7
You *might* be able to get megatunix using a program like Code Weavers. There are a couple other programs around that will make Linux run Windows code. For $169 you could try it and if that didn't work you could always run a stripped down Windows 2000 on it.
#11
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I bought mine at Best Buy brand new for $300. I love it for tuning, in fact it has a wireless connection...I am sitting at the local bar typing on it right now.
Acer Aspire One Notebook...Intel Atom 1.6 Ghz, 1 gig RAM, no cd drive...all I can say it, it does what I need it to do and it's a windows XP environment.
Acer Aspire One Notebook...Intel Atom 1.6 Ghz, 1 gig RAM, no cd drive...all I can say it, it does what I need it to do and it's a windows XP environment.
#13
You *might* be able to get megatunix using a program like Code Weavers. There are a couple other programs around that will make Linux run Windows code. For $169 you could try it and if that didn't work you could always run a stripped down Windows 2000 on it.
And no... you could not run Windows 2000 on it. NT 4 was the last version of windows to support MIPS.
#14
BS Buy has the Asus Eee 900A for $160 on clearance. SKU 9050206, gotta have them check their computer for it in store. There were still tons left the last I checked, but that was almost a month ago.
8.9", 1.6 GHz Atom, 4GB SSD, 1GB RAM, and it'll run XP. I had one and hated it, but it's a far sight better than this thing. I personally upgraded to a 1000HA and love the **** out of it, but it was also $100 more.
8.9", 1.6 GHz Atom, 4GB SSD, 1GB RAM, and it'll run XP. I had one and hated it, but it's a far sight better than this thing. I personally upgraded to a 1000HA and love the **** out of it, but it was also $100 more.
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