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Ask HN: What is a good CHEAP laptop to run Windows?

2 points by dieselgate ↗ HN
I would like to purchase/use some automotive diagnostic/monitoring software (and hardware) that runs exclusively on Windows (VCDS for a VW). I only have a personal Macbook and bootcamp/dualboot is not recommended. Is it possible to purchase a cheap (but also somewhat decent) laptop running a modern/LTS Windows version for under ~$250 USD? If so, what would you recommend?

I'm a software dev and am just more familiar with Mac hardware/machines at present moment. Not really sure where to start and what good options may be in the PC realm.

Thanks!

8 comments

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Nextgrid
Any second-hand business-grade laptop (Lenovo Thinkpad or Dell Latitude) on eBay will do. VCDS and other diagnostics software isn't resource-heavy at all so you can actually go much lower than 250 bucks if needed (and spend the difference on a solid state drive and potentially new battery?)

However if you have an Intel Mac I suggest you give virtualization a try. It's gone a long way since the early days and I would bet good money it will work just fine in a VM with USB passthrough.

dieselgate
Thanks for the reply, this spurred me learning about the ross-tech forum. Part of me wants to gain a cheap backup machine the other "anything that works"
p0d
I haven't tried it but someone has ported the software, or something similar to Linux. If it works you could get much cheaper hardware, like a Raspberry PI, and be paying much less.

https://github.com/cryinkfly/VCDS-VAG-COM-Diagnosis-system-f...

toast0
Car diagnostics are often easier with a laptop. It's easier to use a computer on your lap while in the drivers seat to cycle power as needed.

I'd look for off-lease corporate laptops, maybe CDW outlet. Chromebooks can work too, but you've got to be careful about specs. Need to be sure you can get a 3rd party firmware, that there's windows drivers for the mouse and keyboard, that there's enough storage (ChromeOS needs much less than Windows, and some Chromebooks are using soldered storage). For modern Windows, be sure to boot from a SSD or there will be much sadness.

Nextgrid
The problem with running such software under Wine is that they need direct access to a USB device.

Some interfaces present themselves as a serial port (USB-to-serial converter) which Wine may support, but modern Ross Tech interfaces use lower-level, direct USB communication which I don't believe Wine supports.

KomoD
> Is it possible to purchase a cheap (but also somewhat decent) laptop running a modern/LTS Windows version for under ~$250 USD?

Oh yeah, for $250 it shouldn't be a problem