Computer recommend

[Wayne Orwig]

  I don't know what an operating system is.  I don't speak computereese.  That's why I need an instruction manual.

Does it have a logo. A model name or number.

[John A]

Jim, what David is asking is it a Microsoft based system, Windows 10 for example.

[charlie b]

Jim,

It is probably a windows machine with win10 since it is new.

So, after startup there should be a "toolbar" across the bottom of the screen with a bunch of little icons.  On the right hand side there should be one that looks like a 1/4 piece of pie.  That's the wifi network status (it might be a dark grey color).  Click on it and you should get a popup with the signals that it sees.  Pick the one for your house/store/etc.  It should then ask you to connect and a password (if needed).

[old head]

if its windows, on the bottom left side there is window's icon, looks like window panes. right click and choose network connections

select connect to, and you will see all the connects your wifi sees, choose the one in your house  and that should get you going.

Old Head

[charlie b]

Forgot.

You might not see either of those if the wifi was not 'turned on' during the install.  If that is the case it takes a bit more work  :(

PS I looked it up, you do have a windows 10 home edition laptop

[Sasquatch Jim]

  I took it back to Wally World and got my money back.

[GearheadGrrrl]

My 6 year old netbook is on life support so I'm shopping for a laptop to run Guzzidaig, BMW manual on CD, VAG-COM for the VWs, etc.. First try is a $200 Acer from Costco. Has no hard drive and only one USB port, an begs for an internet connection at every opportunity. Plugged in a known good external CD player with known good CDs and it finds the CD player but can't figure out what to do with it. Found the "secure" BIOS but don't see any tweaks I can do there that will make it play CDs... I suspect they've disabled CD playing to avoid overwhelming the RAM "hard disk". Next try will be to feed it a manual on a USB memory stick and see if it can figure that out and maybe see if it will play with the Guzzidiag and VAG-COM cables. But looks like it's going back to Costco...

[Dave Swanson]

I picked up this Lenovo for GuzziDiag work.  It works great.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-110-15ibr-15-6-laptop-intel-celeron-4gb-500gb-hard-drive-black/5091163.p?id=bb5091163&skuId=5091163

[charlie b]

FWIW, 'playing' CDs on a computer is OLD tech.  :)  Now days you either stream music or use iTunes (or similar) and play directly from the internal drive.

When I got my current laptop it did not come with a CD.  All of the software I had purchased on CD I just downloaded from the company web sites.

If you think about it....CD's are VERY low capacity.  Even DVD's don't hold much.  8 and 16GB chips are pocket change these days.

[vstevens]

Still using an old Apple G4 iBook running 10.5.7 .  It was expensive back in 2004 when purchased but I still love the feel of the keys.  The new apples aren't quite as good.

After asking him about it, Beetle says it will work fine with guzzidialog.  For a word processor and light duty internet device it works fine.  Gonna order cables this summer and play with guzzidialog

[GearheadGrrrl]

Out here where we get our internet by cell modems and pay by the megabyte, a "free" OS update for a Mac costs over $50. Also need CD functionality to use the CD only BMW repair manuals that aren't available in print.

FWIW, 'playing' CDs on a computer is OLD tech.  :)  Now days you either stream music or use iTunes (or similar) and play directly from the internal drive.

When I got my current laptop it did not come with a CD.  All of the software I had purchased on CD I just downloaded from the company web sites.

If you think about it....CD's are VERY low capacity.  Even DVD's don't hold much.  8 and 16GB chips are pocket change these days.

[GearheadGrrrl]

A CEL on the '13 VW TDI provided a chance to test the new computer out with VAG-COM. Seems to work OK and diagnosed a questionable exhaust flapper valve sensor. But I need to upgrade to the newer cable for CanBus VWs, will wait and see if VW is buying the '13 back before I spend the money.

[charlie b]

Out here where we get our internet by cell modems and pay by the megabyte, a "free" OS update for a Mac costs over $50. Also need CD functionality to use the CD only BMW repair manuals that aren't available in print.

Must be way out.  I managed to get some of my downloads at a local McDonald's.

I took everything I have on CD and copied it to sticks/SD cards a long time ago.  I emptied a dresser drawer full of old CD's (music and pictures mostly) onto a handful of chips.

But. I also understand needing to have at least one machine with a CD drive.  Mine is the computer I have attached to my laser cutter.

[GearheadGrrrl]

Update: This Winblows 10 zombie is going back to Costco! I turned off every "connect automatically" and "automatic update" I could find, then downloaded the software I wanted over a local brewpub's free WiFi. Turned it on a couple times to check e-mail and Facebook. Got some e-mails from my cell modem "hotspot" provider that I've used 5GB and $50 of data in the 36 hours since I unpacked this zombie and turned it on! I just put this zombie in the storm cellar behind a foot of concrete where it can't get any wi-fi, and it's going back to Costco on my next trip!

It appears that Microsoft is trying to become a phone company with Windows 10, charging you "rent" for every little thing and making your data provider rich if you're paying by the megabyte too. The implications for networks are evil too... With every Windows 10 machine constantly "calling home", networks will slow to a crawl. Gonna talk with my local librarian about this when I visit today, they're getting due to replace their half dozen public access PCs and their network slows noticeably now when they're all in use, with Windows 10 the whole library and town's network may become hopelessly clogged.

So if you're thinking of buying a new computer with Windows 10, please don't!

[atavar]

Can you say UBUNTU ?

[GearheadGrrrl]

Yup, already got it on a thumb drive!

[rss29]

A CEL on the '13 VW TDI provided a chance to test the new computer out with VAG-COM. Seems to work OK and diagnosed a questionable exhaust flapper valve sensor. But I need to upgrade to the newer cable for CanBus VWs, will wait and see if VW is buying the '13 back before I spend the money.

I can't tell if you're talking about waiting to buy a new cable or the exhaust valve. If it's the valve, they have an extended warranty of 10/120, since they all fail.

[GearheadGrrrl]

I've got an old Vag-Com cable for my 2003 TDI, but the 2013 needs a newer cable to accommodate it's CANBUS system. Did manage to pull the codes with the old cable, was a P048C "sensor for exhaust flap". Car is still under warranty and there's an extension (hopefully) on this part too. I'm going to wait to hear the details of the emissions settlement when they're revealed tuesday before I bug the VW dealer about it. From the rumors it sounds like VW is going to give me just about what I paid for it new, and though I love the Sportswagon it'd be hard to say no to that offer. I'd like another VW to replace it, but the nearest VW dealer to me is hanging on by a thread and the next nearest is over a hundred miles away. I'm also concerned about VW's viability as a business, as they've committed to building a couple million electric cars a year, probably at a loss.

[Seagondollar]

$200 should do it.

[LowRyter]

FWIW, 'playing' CDs on a computer is OLD tech.  :)  Now days you either stream music or use iTunes (or similar) and play directly from the internal drive.

When I got my current laptop it did not come with a CD.  All of the software I had purchased on CD I just downloaded from the company web sites.

If you think about it....CD's are VERY low capacity.  Even DVD's don't hold much.  8 and 16GB chips are pocket change these days.

some of us still have quite a few CDs that we want to record and put on a USB stick or phone.

I am looking for a 14 in laptop with a CD burner DVD.  I can't even get one at Best Buy.

[atavar]

Dell Inspiron 15 5000 . Has CD/DVD writer.

[Moto Fugazzi]

Very good timing. I just bought an Acer One 10 from Best Buy for $159.99. It's a Windows 10 tablet, and the screen is removable from the keyboard (has a touch screen). It took me all of 30 minutes to unbox it, load all Guzzidiag programs and Tunerpro.

The downsides are:
1. No backlit keys
2. With keyboard attached, it tends to fall over if it sits on your lap (display is way heavier than the keyboard).
3. The USB port is attached to the keyboard. There's a mini USB attached to the display part of it, but you'll need a mini to regular USB adapter to make it work. I haven't tried it yet, but it should work fine.
4. Only a 32 GB hard drive, and I have 9GB filled up with Guzzidiag (including Tunerpro and BIN files) and Windows OS.

Positives:
1. Very small. Easily fits in my HB saddle bag.
2. Easy to setup if you know how to deal with Windows.
3. Affordable.
4. You can remove the keyboard, and use the touchscreen instead.

I transferred all of my Guzzidiag maps from my old Windows XP computer via thumb drive, and all is well. My old laptop was killing my back lugging it around in a backpack.

I'm no computer expert, but everything went quite smoothly with downloading and getting it set up. Info on the Acer here: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-one-10-10-1-intel-atom-32gb-with-keyboard-silver/4379401.p?id=1219740708139&skuId=4379401

Hope this helps.
Ken

P.S. If you want to go even cheaper, Acer and Lenovo have a website outlet for open box and refurbished computers.

P.P.S. You need at least 1 GB of RAM AND at least Windows XP SP3 to run Tunerpro

P.P.P.S. I'll most likely bring my tablet to the WI rally, if you want to check it out.

[charlie b]

The micro to std USB connectors are easy to use.  Have used them on my phone and tablets.

Is there a micro SD slot on the display part?  If so go down and pick up a memory card for it.  I put an extra 64GB in mine that way.  You can go to 128GB if you want too.

I like a bit more storage memory as I use mine for CAD and graphics drawing programs.  They take up a bit of space :)

[GearheadGrrrl]

The problem isn't the computer, the problem is the zombie "always connected" disaster that is Windows 10. Talking to my local librarian, they're having the same problem with the lone computer they've got running Windows 10- excessive bandwidth use while it refuses to work with legacy devices like the only couple year old networked printer. In this typical small town where the only broadband internet available is Cable or DSL that noticeably slows during periods of high usage, if the library and city with a dozen or so computers and the school with dozens of computers "upgrades" to Windows 10, it's going to drag everyone's internet access down. For those of us beyond the reach of cable and DSL, that means we have to rely on cell modems and pay by the megabyte for internet access. This Windows 10 computer went through my normal monthly allotment of bandwidth in 36 hours just "calling home"... No way can I afford that.

So the solution is not to switch computers, because the problem is the Windows 10 operating system. I've got about 4 programs that require Windows, and with the older versions of Windows disappearing from the marketplace I'm going to horde older versions for now. But in the long run if it requires Windows, I'm not going to buy or use it. And Apple evangelists, the current Mac OS isn't much better, and there is no sales or service for Macs out here. And the Apple Store's "Geniuses"? They botched a simple OS upgrade and lost all my data! Could have done the whole upgrade myself if Apple still supplied software on CDs.

So I'm going back to linux- free, doesn't "call home", and adaptable to everything from postage stamp sized devices to mainframes, even legacy devices. And if any vehicle requires Windows to maintain, I ain't buyin' it!

[LowRyter]

Dell Inspiron 15 5000 . Has CD/DVD writer.

15.6 in is too big and heavy.  I want a 14 in

[ITSec]

The problem isn't the computer, the problem is the zombie "always connected" disaster that is Windows 10. This Windows 10 computer went through my normal monthly allotment of bandwidth in 36 hours just "calling home"... No way can I afford that.

So the solution is not to switch computers, because the problem is the Windows 10 operating system.

So I'm going back to linux- free, doesn't "call home", and adaptable to everything from postage stamp sized devices to mainframes, even legacy devices. And if any vehicle requires Windows to maintain, I ain't buyin' it!

Did you ever try Spybot Anti-Beacon (https://www.safer-networking.org/spybot-anti-beacon/)? Or set Windows to only do updates when on a specific network type (set network type to 'metered' and turn off updates on metered networks, and also see http://www.pcworld.com/article/2955491/windows/how-to-stop-windows-10-from-using-your-pcs-bandwidth-to-update-strangers-systems.html)? Combined, this would significantly reduce the chattiness of Windows 10. I am not a fan of Win10, but with a very small amount of work it can be made to behave itself fairly well.

[GearheadGrrrl]

Sorry, can't get past the popup to the PC World article. Sounds like what I did as soon as I turned the new computer on, and it didn't work.

[GearheadGrrrl]

Got past the popup and no, this isn't the solution. What MS is trying to do is become a Google or Facebook, but they're so greedy at it that they're doomed to failure.

[Wayne Orwig]

I have 5 Win 10 machines on my slow home network and never noticed any slowdowns. I look at the routers data usage meter occasionally and never noticed a change in the amount of data used with the switch to Win 10.

[jreagan]

You can turn off most of that telemetry back to Microsoft.  "Settings" -> "Privacy" -> "Feedback and diagnostics".  Change the "Diagnostic and user data" from FULL to BASIC.  I suspect there is some registry key that would get it all the way to NONE, but after various things I've read online, the BASIC setting is very low bandwidth.  There was a good description of all that stuff on the Security Now podcast sometime last year since folks were concerned that there was some additional security risk.