My SIL recently purchased a Gateway laptop (I didn't know that company was still around?) at Wally for under $300 which got me thinking. There is an application available for re-mapping the ECM on a couple motorcycles I have but it only works with Windows. So I'm thinking of buying a new Windows computer for that purpose. I also could shift my finance and on-line banking over to that dedicated computer, possibly photos as well.
I know little of computers and nothing about Windows computers (I'm on a 2017 MacBook Pro). It needs to be portable so I can occasionally take it out to the shop. Durability and stability are more important than blazing speed, are any brands less trouble prone? I hope it can do its job for many years w/o having to upgrade it.
Are there different versions of Windows? If so what one would I want?
I'm not used to touch screen so I don't think that's important but a decent keyboard is.
Are there any processors that I should prefer, or avoid, for any reason?

I'm not limiting myself to Walmart but this link gives you an idea of what I'm looking at. https://www.walmart.com/browse..._3951_1089430_132960

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ridewv,

I have an older Microsoft Surface that I used to use for ForScan on my Ford cars.
I need to get it out & see what I can do on the new Expedition we just bought.

Might be an option for you, possibly used to mitigate cost. Compact & mine has a detachable keyboard, so it can be used as a tablet of a laptop-style 'computer'

See if the application you're using for your bikes has a Chrome or Android version. Given your very limited needs, a Chromebook might serve your purposes well, and a decent one should be really inexpensive.

I supposed used can be an option, to be honest I was surprised to learn new ones can be so cheap now though. If used I'd just want to have everything wiped off before using it.

We bought an Acer Swift 3 a while back on Amazon, it had great reviews and is a nice laptop for the price.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
See if the application you're using for your bikes has a Chrome or Android version. Given your very limited needs, a Chromebook might serve your purposes well, and a decent one should be really inexpensive.

I don't see Chrome or Android mentioned? While it does show for Mac, Mac users have had issues and they're now not advising to do this on anything but Windows. https://www.griso.org/GuzziDia...15M-15RC-5AM-7SM.pdf

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
See if the application you're using for your bikes has a Chrome or Android version. Given your very limited needs, a Chromebook might serve your purposes well, and a decent one should be really inexpensive.

I don't see Chrome or Android mentioned? While it does show for Mac, Mac users have had issues and they're now not advising to do this on anything but Windows. https://www.griso.org/GuzziDia...15M-15RC-5AM-7SM.pdf

Was just a thought. I recently forced myself to use only a Lenovo Chromebook for a week, and was amazed at how little I missed my Windows laptop. The Chrome operating system and Chromebooks in general have come a long way since I last touched one a few years ago.

There are so many good inexpensive Windows laptops available right now you should have no issue finding what you need.

Also I'd prefer it not come from China.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
Also I'd prefer it not come from China.

^^^ LOL on that

Under or circa $300 you won't get anything current and new.
However, you could find some older units which will be fine for the ECM mapping.
Suggest getting at least a Gen 8 Intel cpu but something less will work too.
also suggest not getting a Celeron but at least a I3 CPU.
Windows 10.

Plenty of RB's, used and discontinued units out there at good deals in or about your price range.
Not a fan of AMD but YMMV.

So all of the $500 and under come from China? Darn. Any from Taiwan, India, or Korea?

I just bought 2 Dell 3180 laptops sold by WOOT.
I paid $82 each (refurbished but look un-used).
I was looking for a laptop that I could use in my shop/re-loading room that I could watch YouTube channels on, they have WiFi and Bluetooth and run Windows 10 Pro, SSD hard drive, 4GB ram.
I also wanted one that I could run diagnostic programs on for my Motorhome.
The second laptop will be used for my Caldewll target camera system when I go to the gun range.

quote:

So all of the $500 and under come from China?

I would say most all are Chicom built ~ at least many parts.
Electronics aren't exactly great product to protest with ....unfortunately.

Thanks armored looking at WOOT now......

I bought a cheap 11" dell with windows 10S and unlocked the S to use with my bmw tuning / diagnostic software.

of course, i lost the computer somewhere. lol

Basically what I'm looking to do, and have done. Years back I bought a cheap Acer to use with my GS911, and V&H FP3 on the Harley but over the years it became outmoded and Microsoft no longer supported it. When it got to the point that it only worked if plugged in I finally threw it away.
Maybe I should just buy another cheap, Chinese Acer?

I buy all my computers used. We have used computer place in town that is awesome.
I tell them what I am wanting out of the machine and they show me what would be best as a great price.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
I have an older Microsoft Surface that I used to use for ForScan on my Ford cars.
I need to get it out & see what I can do on the new Expedition we just bought.

Should be an up to date verified spreadsheet somewhere in the linked thread.
2015+ Expedition ForScan Tweaks

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
My SIL recently purchased a Gateway laptop (I didn't know that company was still around?) at Wally for under $300 which got me thinking.

I had to google Gateway as I thought your thread was from a time warp. Those were the days.

I found out that Acer, a Taiwan company, bought the company and they are using the name for Walmart.

smschulz and others here seem to be correct in that all the cheap ones originate in China now

"Acer seems to still be the owner of the Gateway brand—but EVOO is doing the importing, and Bmorn is doing the manufacturing.

More accurately, EVOO imports devices made by Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, a Chinese national brand. We found US Customs records of EVOO importing from Bmorn, with devices under both the Gateway brand and EVOO's own inside the same shipment......

https://arstechnica.com/gadget...ps-and-its-bad-news/

I've always had good luck with the cheapie HP and Lenovos

I purchased a Lenovo inexpensive Windows 10 machine at Costco for $399 during the late summer of 2019, so 3 years and a month or 2 ago.

It has worked just fine for me, no issues.

The only complaint I have is that the battery runs down in about 2 hours from the full charge state. And there are only 2 USB ports.

I understand there will not be a much better battery for that price point, so I have no actual complaint. The battery seems to be, I think, built in. It doesn't seem to be one you can slide out easily and replace.

All that's fine for the price.

Next time I'll spend a little more and get better battery capacity.
.
.