Braineack

iTrader: (62)

I bought an Asus X401U-BE20602Z last year. Probably the biggest POS I've ever touched in my life.

We just wanted a cheap surfing laptop when we are on the couch, but it can't even handle opening webpages without going to 100% processor activity, overheating, and runnings like complete ****.

Not to mention the spacebar doesn't even work.

bahurd

iTrader: (8)

Actually, there is except the screen is 11.9"

Samsung Smart PC A500 (my model # may be off) which is a full 8.1 tablet with the detachable keyboard and runs Tunerstudio just fine.

With the keyboard attached you get about 14 hrs of battery.

I have one but continue to use the Netbook.

I think you can still find them on Amazon or I may part with mine. At this point it's extra to my needs.

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

Yeah Joe, all the netbook's I've had are 1024x600 or some bullshit like that but at capable of 1024x768 and if its not 768 tall the ok box on some setting's screens go off the page. This was also a problem on some windows pages I had before and other programs opening windows I had to re-size to fit the screen. HP Tuners also had an issue with the 600 height and some options boxes ok buttons but at leas that one you could scroll within the program window and it would scroll the box with it so you could click ok.

bahurd

iTrader: (8)

This is a well known problem with the Netbooks and really boils down to Microsoft dropping the ball in the windows architecture and never putting forth a fix.

Pretty much doomed what was a reliable, simple platform.

Even Microsoft Office had the problem. There were a couple kludgy fixes depending on the actual hardware used for driving the display but left the display a bit fuzzy.

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, my first eeepc the fix mode would make it an edge scroll 1024x768, so it would still have 1024x600 resolution but would scroll down if you moved the mouse to the bottom of the page. The newer eeepc just goes to a fuzzy non-native resolution.

Mazduh

I have an old Lenovo thinkpad something I don't remember the designation but it came out the same time netbooks got really popular. But the problem with it is it has the AMD equivalent of the atom processor but is 10x slower than that. With 2gb of ram and a 80gb ssd it still peaks 100% cpu usage with just opening a browser. The 2 advantages I do like about it is it's a 12" screen so better resolution and it's battery lasts like 9 hours. But booting it up and getting tuner studio open takes 10 minutes and the trackpad is kinda awful.

I've just had my eye on a surface pro 2 and wanted to see if others are using them successfully or not. I know most netbooks are the go-to option.

I will look into the Lenovo Yoga series... @Erat Thanks for the heads up!

freedomgli

I just don't get why you would want to use a cheap Windows machine when there are two much better options:
- Spend $1G and get a Macbook Air that's pretty good at everything; or
- Spend $250 on a Chromebook or cheap Windows 7 laptop and install Ubuntu

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

Cause macs are for ------s. Just think of how much better of a windows ultra book you could get for the same $1k. And I thought we were talking about the 250-350 range of windows pcs right now.

concealer404

iTrader: (3)

An all-around laptop for me has to be 15" or bigger.

Ever used a 17" laptop trying to tune a Miata?

TheNuge24 has. It sucks dick.

bahurd

iTrader: (8)

I read about mucho problems with them running Tunserstudio. Most seem to be centered around Java revisions/issues and the usual USB drivers.

But really... some people just prefer Windows over OSX.

Could you make this any harder? Some people just prefer Windows over Linux.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

I have been running TS in OSX since I was on an MS1 which was sometime back in 2010. MS3 with its built in USB has never had an issue on any OSX laptop I have tried it on. Nor have I ever had issues with Java and TS.

bahurd

iTrader: (8)

Great... didn't mean to start the old Windows vs OSX flame.

To each his own.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

The OP has a Megasquirt, therefore odd screen resolutions are not an issue. I've personally run both TS and MT at 800x600 (Fujitsu Stylistic tablet) and 1024x600 (EeePC 901) and it's just fine running natively at either rez with no scaling, no scrolling, etc.

Just because certain ECUs come with limpdick tuning software doesn't mean that a whole class of PCs is useless for the ones that don't.

arrgh

iTrader: (1)

I've been thinking of getting a Surface Pro for fun/work as well as to tune with, but it's a fairly big price tag considering my needs. Good to know the tuning software is fine at low screen resolutions.

Mazduh

The idea is a relatively cheap throw-away laptop that's easy to use. Macbooks are expensive, and do you really want to be banging it around in your car while tuning? Let alone leaving it in your car on occasion when convertibles are so easy to break into?


I have no idea how you'd manage to run TS on a chromebook. It's not generic linux like you'd think.

I use Ubuntu on the daily at work and home and getting it to work with running TS isn't very hard but you loose the "plug and play" ease of use you get with windows. Often times I connect my laptop to my buddies mr2 that has a megasquirt as well but different firmware and cable. So that means i have to spend time re-configuring TS everytime I want to go back and forth.

Lastly, Macs suck at everything unless you commit to all the other Apple services and sign over your soul to them and do what they tell you. Sure there are work arounds to get things done, but I shouldn't have to fire up a virtual machine to use a 3rd party application occasionally.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

If you do decide that you need a Win8 tablet for some reason (wouldn't be my first choice), don't forget that MS Surface isn't the only game in town. Lots of manufacturers have 8.1 tablets nowadays:

TOSHIBA Encore 2 Tablet Intel Atom 1GB Memory 32GB 8.0" HD Touchscreen Tablet- Windows 8.1 (WT8-B32CN) - Gold - Newegg.com

ASUS VivoTab ME400C-C1-BK 2GB DDR3 -64GB- 10.1" Windows 8 Tablet Black - Newegg.com

Dell Venue 8 Pro Tablet PC – Intel Atom Z3740D (Quad Core) 2GB RAM 32GB SSD, Windows 8.1 - Newegg.com




I'd assume that you'd start by installing Linux on it:

How to Install Ubuntu Linux on Your Chromebook with Crouton

How to Install Linux on a Chromebook and Unlock Its Full Potential

HP’s Chromebook 11 is even better with Ubuntu installed | Apps and Software | Geek.com


Though, of course, I see no reason to do this, given how cheap WinXP Netbooks are.

arrgh

iTrader: (1)

[QUOTE=Joe Perez;1163511]If you do decide that you need a Win8 tablet for some reason (wouldn't be my first choice), don't forget that MS Surface isn't the only game in town. Lots of manufacturers have 8.1 tablets nowadays:

TOSHIBA Encore 2 Tablet Intel Atom 1GB Memory 32GB 8.0" HD Touchscreen Tablet- Windows 8.1 (WT8-B32CN) - Gold - Newegg.com

ASUS VivoTab ME400C-C1-BK 2GB DDR3 -64GB- 10.1" Windows 8 Tablet Black - Newegg.com

Dell Venue 8 Pro Tablet PC – Intel Atom Z3740D (Quad Core) 2GB RAM 32GB SSD, Windows 8.1 - Newegg.com


Pretty sure my friend has the Venue. Apparently there is a simple hack to add a full size USB port which makes it much more usable. I'm going to get a better look at it this weekend, it might do the trick nicely.

Erat

iTrader: (5)

I know i'm not the only one who needs to use the internet and be able to render youtube videos as well as open up PDF files when i'm tuning. Or even in the garage working...

You don't want a netbook or a super light atom processor 1gb of ram tablet for this. It may work, but it will be slow and cumbersome.

This is the next generation of the one i bought, i think. Maybe it's the same one i can't remember.
See if this may work for you.
Lenovo Yoga 2 2in1 11.6" TouchScreen Laptop Intel Pentium 4GB Memory 500GB Hard Drive LENOVO YOGA 2 11 - 59417913 - Best Buy

freedomgli

You can't find a better ultrabook for the same price unless you happen to stumble upon some open box special or a super duper sale. I looked a few months ago and found the Macbook hardware was better than any Windows machine, dollar for dollar. All the Windows machines at the $1k price point still have spinning magnetic disc drives and if they do have SSD at all they're tiny and barely hold the OS let alone other programs. Macbook can run Windows via Bootcamp or if you want a virtual machine to run Windows-only programs on a laptop (which really only applies to gamers as heavy users will use a dedicated workstation and Apple has a solution for every common PC task) then there's always Parallels or VMWare Fusion.

freedomgli

Precisely. For a cheap dedicated car laptop to tune your Miata and do nothing else then it's hard to beat for people on a tight budget.

Just say no to WinXP. No one should be using them. Suggesting WinXP is like telling people that MS1 is still a good choice.