I recently purchased a tuner for my truck. The only problem is, I need to have windows to be able to run it. I have a MacBook. Can anyone recommend a cheap laptop that will work for what I need? Something in the $200-$400 range? Or some application that will let me run windows from my MacBook? I have little experience with computers. Thanks.
EDIT: Initially recommended Parallels, but then remembered all the trouble I've had trying to get oddball USB/UART devices to port through to VMs. @MVA25, buy this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lenovo-ideapad-330-15-6-Laptop-Intel-Core-i3-8130U-Dual-Core-Processor-4GB-RAM-1TB-Hard-Drive-Windows-10-Plum-Purple-81DE00T1US/359491314?irgwc=1&sourceid=imp_xli17:WdGxyJRcqwUx0Mo34VUklTYN2OPVsRys0&veh=aff&wmlspartner=imp_221109&clickid=xli17:WdGxyJRcqwUx0Mo34VUklTYN2OPVsRys0
Parallels will likely do the trick, if the connection to the tuner is USB. If it is a serial connection, it won’t work.
I doubt it because I have an iPhone. I reached out to the company to see what they said. It’s Blackbear Performance in case anyone was wondering.
Assuming you were replying to my recommendation before I changed it - no, the Windows part runs very much isolated from the Mac part. But, again, I'm actually changing my rec: I've had a ton of trouble trying to get Bazzaz and YEC programmers to connect to Windows machines running under VMs. The laptop linked is decent enough and looks like a good price.
That was before you updated. I’ll check out the link. Thank you. I guess I could also use the computer for my bike info as well.
Never had a problem with VMware Virtual Machine in this regard. I ran a Windows-only Spectrum Analyzer that way for years.
I would just borrow a PC laptop from someone, upload your software/firmware and return said laptop. To purchase a laptop only to use it once, or a handful of times seems a bit excessive. If that's the road you're going to go, just get a used one off of craigslist. lol
Also, what tuner do you have? Typically the tuner only needs to be connected to a laptop to update software/firmware or import new tunes. You should be able to do everything else directly between your tuner and the truck.
I've never used parallels but have never had trouble running usb devices, even with obscure hardware, through Virtual Box which is free. Of course you'd need a windows license but you can get one cheap on Ebay.
Jesus, you dopes are insane. Someone asks you what time it is and you, once again, tell him how to build a clock! At $400 or less, see what Acer or Asus is around at Walmart or Worstbuy. Don't get a chromebook, just a cheap laptop.
I though about using my buddies laptop, but then my truck file is with his laptop. It would get a little more use than one time.
It’s Blackbear Performance. I will need to use the computer to communicate the tunes with BBP. If I ever add mods to the truck and want to change the tune, I’ll need to access the file on the computer. Basically it’s like an in person tune, but through email.
I know they are trying to help. I just don’t know much about computers, so a lot of this stuff is going right over my head. I heard those two companies are pretty good. I just need something cheap and easy that can handle doing this type of crap.
I got a cheap HP a year or two back for my kid to mess around on and it's a complete pile of crap but it works for what she uses it for. Find out what you need the computer to do and any parameters it needs (Win 10 pro, XP, whatever) and just go to walmart, sams club or wherever and buy it. It'll save you a lot of time 'cause the IT Melvins are about to come and tell you how to set up your router infrastructure, how to gleam the cube, why Chewbacca hung out with ewoks and how their latest maze is unbeatable in D&D. and then there's the Mac cultists, they have been called and they're coming.
