Cheap FORscan Computer?

[mapnerd]

Anyone have any suggestions on a cheap computer that would essentially be relegated to just making FORscan mods? I have some interest in changing a few things but all of my computers are Mac and I'm not going to buy a laptop just to run FORscan on it. Has anyone gotten it running on a Raspberry Pi via Wine or anything else really low cost? I was also thinking about maybe trying to find an old Microsoft Surface or something.

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[Carlitos_92]

Cheap used or hand-me-down laptop is usually the best way. It needs a full Windows OS, but any version in the last 25 years will work according to the Forscan site. So if you can make something else run/emulate even a basic old version of Windows and use a USB-A interface, maybe could work.

 

[EVH5150]

I bought an El Cheapo Acer laptop from Walmart specifically for Forscan. You don't need anything fancy or special, as long as it has Windows, a USB, and WiFi.

 

[SFBay]

agree with everyone here. if youre really trying to pinch pennies, go to your local computer store and check out their used inventory

 

[mapnerd]

I actually forgot about an old dell 5320 I had sitting in a cabinet. Needs a new Motherboard which I found for $75 on eBay. Hard to beat that.

 

[Tbone289]

Just about anything will work, as long as it has a USB port and Windows 2000 or newer.

Supported hardware can be found here: https://forscan.org/home.html

 

[Gullzway]

A $50 Netbook would also work I would think.

https://ebay.us/m/cdyxlg

$24 + shipping
https://ebay.us/m/kBciye

 

[mapnerd]

A $50 Netbook would also work I would think.

https://ebay.us/m/cdyxlg

$24 + shipping
https://ebay.us/m/kBciye

Do netbooks run legit Windows? I thought they ran Windows for ARM and FORscan wouldn't run on that. Too late for me but that's a dirt cheap option for someone else with the same question. If that's possible, that's a perfect solution.

 

[Cancunbadlands]

Pawn shop is the way
Some cheap windows PC

 

[Robot-Wrangler]

Bye bye i-pad, hello Windows. I love it!

 

[MavBO4T]

I was able to run it on my Mac by following this guide. No cost beyond the adapter.

 

[mapnerd]

I forgot about Crossover!

 

[nbmav]

I debated doing a setup to run on my Mac but decided to go the cheap laptop route. Found a local electronic recycler who had a selection of cheap Windows laptops for sale. Ended up picking up a Dell Lattitude 3570 with a 512GB SSD and 8GB ram and Windows 11 installed on it. They had it listed for $130, I offered $100 and they accepted. They have stuff for sale on eBay too: https://www.ebay.com/str/computercirciutboards?_trksid=p4432023.m570.l113337

 

[chiko]

I got a refurb Surface (not Pro) from Amazon that worked great for $99. Some sort of Atom processor but it works fine.
Full size USB for data. USB-micro apparently only charging. Kick stand for setting it up on the instrument cluster. Pre-loaded with Win 10 Pro. Touch-screen fixes the thing about Forscan that I hate the most: Touchpad to the bottom. Touchpad to the top.
I already had a blue-tooth keyboard so you can separate the two pieces.

Super-minor things that could be better:
1) To get the USB to the left nearer the OBD port, you have to run it "upside down." Screen flips fine but now the power and volume buttons are underneath. The buttons did NOT hit in this configuration and I added a bit of weather-stripping to reduce slippage and provide more clearance. Kick-stand is in it final of 45 /90 /135 degrees.

2) Slightly smaller would be better. It looks like it want to slip off the instrument cluster

I had to go to the store anyway.

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