Computer as a tool in your garage?

[cascivic]

im sure some of you guys know this and trust me ...im no computer expert. ! what i did with my pdf of factory service manuals is i uploaded them to google drive(free storage integrated thru your google/gmail account) and then when i take my laptop my moms laptop out into her garage( I own a condo unfortunately so i have to do my work over there) i just sign in and can look at my manuals. i dont think they give you enough space to hold hundreds of them at least without paying for it..but it can be accessed by any computer or smartphone so in case your on the side of the road or at a friends house etc

 

[Vvmvbb]

For those of you with Ipad/Touch screen in the garage. Do you take special care to keep greasy gritty fingers off the screen? Do you have it in some kind of protection, mounted in a holder??

The glass gets dirty. I don't mind it cleans up easily. Better than any keyboard I have seen. I might put the cover aside if it's going to be especially grimy that session.
I will sometimes change gloves, but usually not, just wipe my gloved hands with a paper towel.
And no holder or stylus for me. I just put it down in a safe-ish place (a dropped tool can be fatal). A lot of times I want to look at something (picture, procedure, etc) while I am at the part of the car I am working on so I grab it.
With just a little care, it's been fine.

 

[O_M_Jeep]

^^^ I've been thinking about a tablet for precisely that reason ^^^

 

[deter]

what is the best way to do that? (the remote-connect)
When i use teamviewer, inventor becomes so slow i give up after 3 minutes, leave the garage and work in my office. ending up walking back an forth the garage for measuring, etc..

I just use windows remote desktop connection. Its a little choppy, but not terrible.

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

I have one laptop for internet use and one for Auto use.

My Auto use Laptop has factory service manuals, factory parts manuals along with HP Tuners VCM Suite with an editor and scanner that allows me to tune my cars, datalog, read or clear codes along with reading my my wideband sensor's.

Both of my cars including my g.f's car also have their own pod mounted live monitoring scanners, data logging & recording, code reading and clearing gauges too.

 

[The Frisco Kid]

I've been stockpiling manuals in PDF form over the years... they get harder and harder to come by these days!

 

[1Garageman]

dirtrider, glad to see I am not alone in the IT world!

I am an IT man also

I take my laptop out there for instructions on how to do some things.
I just recently for my birthday got a PortaCable Dovetail Jig
I have been watching youtube videos and some woodworking website video tips on how to use it. Having a laptop out here comes in handy!

 

[lestat]

I keep an older IBM X31 dedicated for car work. Diagnostics and programming (DIS, Progman, INPA, Ediabas, NCS Expert), part diagrams with prices, electrical diagrams, repair instructions etc. Couldn't live without it.

 

[Toolhorder]

I had a CF29 Toughbook and just replaced it with a faster Dell that's thinner. Running OEM Honda HDS software on it for now. Have a Solus Ultra for anything non Honda.

 

[scotte]

2 desktops,1 laptop and one 10" screen windows 7 tablet

mitchell ondemand repair info,various pdf service manuals(for weird stuff like the 86 rolls royce corniche II convertable I have been working on

toyota techstream,ford ids,starmobile desktop client/witech drb3 emulator,tech2 remote display(almost never use that),gm sps reflashing and vcds

 

[sanddrag]

I actually enjoy going inside if I need a computer because in SoCal there's hardly a day where it isn't too hot in the garage. I do have a computer in the garage running DOS and TurboCNC for the little CNC mill. Haven't used it in a while though.

 

[bimmerZ5]

i have an older "All-in-one" Sony computer from the Pentium4 era that a friend gave me on my workbench with something called Fedora Linux on it as an operating system. The computer and widescreen monitor is all one unit and i just plug a USB keyboard+mouse to it; it has built-in ethernet, but I don't have a run of cable into the garage so I just use a wireless card in it; which is plenty enough for what i use it for in the garage.

I tend to use it to look up DIY info from either car forums or youtube when I need to fix something i'm not that familiar with. I also have links to a website that has BMW TIS and BMW part number stuff. so, it's mostly web browsing. I do have manuals for my cars, but i find it easier to search the internet 1st and then resort to finding a page in the manual. Or, if something doesn't look quite right, like a torque spec that just seems off, I'll double check it with multiple sources. when i'm fixing other people's cars, they some times use it to look up parts they need and place orders for stuff.

additionally, since the all-in-one has built-in speakers, i also use it to listen to online radio channels when i'm working on something for some background music... that count as a tool too? ;-D

 

[dankicksass]

I use an HP core2duo laptop in the shop, it's got some years on it but the battery lasts forever. Much better than my Macbook Pro. It's a little bulky at 17in, but the price was right and I wanted to stop using the Mac out there. Love to upgrade to something touchscreen, but not today. Maybe tomorrow.

I run Alldata, Toyota Techstream/TIS, VW-Audi VAS-PC/ELSA, GM-SI2K, FORscan and OBD-Pro when I have to. Runs virtual machines for the more invasive OEM stuff that needs XP and the just right java setup. Pretty much keep it in Techstream and the VAG Group OEM area. Best to use the dealer level software if you can. In a pinch, it'll provide sounds via Last.fm, but I try and keep the music pumping from the stereo at the wall. Louder is better.

 

[dc5itr329]

I had a CF29 Toughbook and just replaced it with a faster Dell that's thinner. Running OEM Honda HDS software on it for now. Have a Solus Ultra for anything non Honda.

with the Honda HDS software do you use the MVCI kit?